Help for Students in PA557, Operations Research in Public Administration

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Note: Sections referred to below reference the sections in the course syllabus.

• Computer assignments: To find computer assignment number x, look for the "CompAssnx_PA557.doc" file in the PA557 directory.

• Project papers

• An overview of the development and history of the field of Operations Research

• Another overview of the Operations Research, with special attention to terminology

• Course materials for sections 1-2

• Course materials for sections 3-4

• Course materials for sections 5

• Course materials for sections 6

• Course materials for sections 7

• Course materials for sections 8

• Course materials for sections 9-11

• Example showing different content of spreadsheet cells

• Applications of Reilly's Law of Retail Gravitation

• Gravity Model, example of a spreadsheet implementation (computer assn 1)

• Inventory Model, example of a spreadsheet implementation (computer assn 2)

• Inventory Model homework problem, help on figuring out the constraints

• Replacement Model, example of a spreadsheet implementation, no discounting (computer assn 3)

• Replacement Model, example of a spreadsheet implementation, with discounting (computer assn 3)

• Queuing Model, example of a spreadsheet implementation (computer assn 4)

• Queuing Model Formulas, single-server model

• Queuing Model Formulas, double-server model

• Linear Programming problem (see below for spreadsheet solution)

• Linear Programming, example of a spreadsheet implementation

• Another Linear Programming problem

• Linear Programming, answers to selected problems

• Integer Programming, answers to selected problems

• Forecasting Examples: Moving averages; Time regression, including using dummy variables for cycles; More complex MRA application.

• Second Order Exponential Smoothing, example spreadsheet for in-class example

• Second Order Exponential Smoothing, example spreadsheet with graph of actual versus forecasted values

• Forecast error analysis in spreadsheets

• Forecast error analysis in spreadsheets, minimizing MSE

• Time-Series Data on Election Turnouts (good for modeling both a trend and a cycle)

• Time-Series Data on Population of U.S.

• PERT/CPM, an overview

• PERT/CPM, another overview

• Open Workbench, open-source (free) project management software alternative to Microsoft Project

• Gantt Chart Tool: Excel add-in (freeware version available)

• Microsoft Project software availability

• Decision Analysis, an overview

• Decision Analysis, homework problem

• Decision Theory, an overview

• Example of a great product resulting from operations research analysis