Master of IT in Business

Course Outline

IS602 Spreadsheet Modelling for T&O Decisions

Version 4.0

30 December 2010
SMU School of Information Systems (SIS)

Table of Content
1.0 Version History ..........................................................................................................................4
2.0 Overview .....................................................................................................................................5
2.1 Synopsis.................................................................................................................................... 5
2.2 Prerequisites ............................................................................................................................. 5
2.3 Objectives ................................................................................................................................. 5
3.0 Grading Summary......................................................................................................................6
3.1 Participation (15%) ................................................................................................................... 6
3.2 Assignment (20%) .................................................................................................................... 6
3.3 Mid Term Test (30%) in session 8 ........................................................................................ 6
3.4 Team Project (35%) .................................................................................................................. 6
4.0 Course Schedule .......................................................................................................................7
5.0 Tooling ........................................................................................................................................9

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1.0 Version History

Version Change Description Author Date

1.0 Initial release Leong Thin Yin 21 Mar 2008
2.0 Reduce number of projects by 1 Leong Thin Yin 9 Sep 2009
Change textbook to Leong & Cheong
3.0 Change course title Leong Thin Yin 29 Dec 2009
4.0 Update overview Michelle Cheong 30 Dec 2010
Change project requirements
Change to 7-week calendar
Change exercises
Add pre-readings
Add section on objectives & scope of
exercises
Update visual representation

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2.0 Overview

2.1 Synopsis

Managers need to quickly make important decisions related to managing IT

investments, assets, operations and projects. Understanding how to analyze data, and
analyze trade-offs between alternatives are difficult to do without a good model and
tool. This course focuses on using Microsoft Excel as a spreadsheet tool to build
such decision models and to do business analysis. Students will be able to analyze
trade-offs and understand the sensitivity impact of uncertainties and risks. The key
emphasis of this course is on developing the art of modeling, rather than just
learning about the available models, in the context of managing IT resources and
operations.

The primary focus is on using personal computers as platforms for soliciting,

consolidating, and presenting information (data, assumptions and relationships) as a
model for a variety of business settings; consequent use of this model to drive
understanding and consensus towards generating possible actions; and finally, the
selection of a final course of action and assurance of execution success.

2.2 Prerequisites
Rudimentary knowledge of Excel, Statistics and Mathematics is assumed. Students
with no prior experience of Excel should on their own go through the on-line
learning material on Microsofts website, do additional problems or consult the
teaching assistant or instructor outside class.

2.3 Objectives
Upon completing this course, students would be
able to frame problems, and integrate other business analysis skills (statistics,
mathematics, business processes, and quantitative methods) to model and
address broad business problems
comfortable with the personal computer, motivated to self-learn problem
analysis computer tools and know where to get such information and system
resources
familiar with a variety of software solutions (e.g. add-ins) and gained
competency in using Excel as an analysis, model verification, simulation and
management reporting tool, for possible use in other courses in their study
program and professional career

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SMU School of Information Systems (SIS)

3.0 Grading Summary

3.1 Participation (15%)

5% for class attendance
10% for class contribution

3.2 Assignment (20%)

Assignment 1 (10%) due in Session 4: Spreadsheet modeling with basics
features
Assignment 2 (10%) due in Session 6: Spreadsheet modeling with advanced
features

3.3 Mid Term Test (30%) in session 8

Open-book (1.5 hours, 2 questions) test covers a reasonably wide range of
spreadsheet modeling skills.
Questions would be posed as business problems and students are to return
numerical values or spreadsheet formulas in spaces provided in the test
(hardcopy) workbook.

3.4 Team Project (35%)

Due in Sessions 10, 13 and 14
- Teams of 3 members each are expected. No exceptions.
- Each team will choose own team members.
- Project framework document is provided to students as reference.
- Teams will need to formulate the project themselves based on any
technology and/or operations problems.
- Marks allocation
o Proposal report - maximum 2 pages (5%) due in session 10
o Final Presentation (10%) due in session 13 or 14
o Final Report maximum 5 pages (5%) due in session 14
o Excel Workbook (final) (15%) due in session 14

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SMU School of Information Systems (SIS)

4.0 Course Schedule

Session Topic Classroom Activities Events
Session 1 Session 2
(first 1.5 hours) (second 1.5
hours)
0 Pre-readings History of spreadsheet
and self- What we know about spreadsheet errors
assessment Spreadsheet documentation
Self-assessment
1 Basic Course Introduction to Reading
Modeling in introduction and Modeling Leong &
Excel team project Data Centre Cheong,
briefing Assets exercise Chapter 1&
Retail Gasoline Form project Appendix A
exercise team
Multiplication
Table exercise
2 Spreadsheet Inkjet Printer Web Store Reading
Engineering Casino Hotel Leong &
Form project Cheong,
team (if not Chapter2
done) Try
Project team Assignment 0
meeting
3 Data Lookup Review Transport Cost Reading
& Linkup Assignment 0 exercise Leong &
Echo Office Project team Cheong,
Supplies meeting Chapters 3 &
exercise Appendix B
4 Financial Time Value Flexible Loan Reading
Modeling exercise exercise Leong
Charity Donation & Cheong,
exercise Chapter 4
Project team Assignment 1
meeting due
5 Making FlyByDay Air Village Water Reading
Assumptions exercise exercise Leong &
Google Adwords Project team Cheong,
exercise meeting Chapter 5
6 Monte-Carlo Monte Hall Data Sim Reading
Simulation exercise exercise Leong &
Frequency Project team Cheong,
Distribution meeting Chapter 6
review Assignment 2
due
Try Mid-Term
Test Samples
7 Its About Time Timer Clicker Reading

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Time management in exercise Leong &

Excel Review Mid- Cheong,
Call Center term test Chapter 7
exercise samples
8 Mid Term Mid-Term test Excel Macros & Reading
Test & VBA VBA Leong &
Useful Macro Cheong,
exercise Appendix B
9 NO CLASS (Chinese New Year)
10 Data Data Fit Goodness of Fit Reading
Analysis exercise exercise Leong &
Hotel Apex Project team Cheong,
exercise meeting Chapter 8
Project
Proposal due
11 Decision Offshore Grand Grocery Reading
Support Development exercise Leong &
exercise Main project Cheong,
team meeting Chapter 8 & 9
12 NO CLASS
13(A)* Economic Buy, Share and Crazy Auction Reading
Modeling Rent exercise WXYZ Leong &
Construction Cheong,
exercise Chapter 5
Project team
meeting

13(B)* Project Group Group Project

Presentation presentation presentation presentation
Peer & Peer &
instructor instructor
feedback feedback
14 Project Group Group Project
Presentation presentation presentation presentation,
Peer & Peer & report and
instructor instructor workbook due
feedback feedback

* Note that Session 13 can be flexible depending on the number of students in class. If there are
more than 20 students in class, 2 sessions of project presentation will be needed, so Session 13(B)
will be executed. Otherwise, Session 13(A) will be executed.

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5.0 Tooling

Tool Purpose Remarks

Microsoft Excel 2007 Class exercises & projects Older versions may be
used, but not preferred
Data Analysis Add-in Class exercises & projects
Solver Add-in Class exercises & projects

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