IEE 574: Applied Deterministic Operations Research Models (Fall 2018)

T,Th 7:30am-8:45am, BYAC 150

Instructor: Adolfo R. Escobedo

Email: adres@asu.edu (please write “IEE 574” at the beginning of email subject line).
Office location and hours: BYENG 346 on TW 9:00am-10:15am or by appointment.
Office phone: (480) 965-5248.
Teaching assistant: TBD
Email:
Office location and hours: TBD
Grader: Vishwa Vasani
Email: vvasani1@asu.edu
Office location and hours: TBD

Class number: 73212.

Course description: This is an advanced course on deterministic Operations Research (OR) theory and application. In
the course, we will formulate mathematical models and introduce solution methods for optimal decision-making. We will
study several fundamental classes of mathematical models, but our primary emphasis will be on linear and mixed-integer
programming. The course will focus on translating real-life problems into the appropriate modeling classes, as well as
general methodologies for solving the corresponding problems. Assigned activities for enhancing the practicality of the
course will include implementing course concepts via mathematical modeling/programming software.

Prerequisite: Undergrad OR course (IEE 376 or equivalent), differential calculus, and basic linear algebra.

Course web page: https://asu.instructure.com/courses/3857 (Canvas). The Canvas site for this course will serve as
a repository for course materials including announcements, downloadable software, and assignments. Please check this
website frequently for up-to-date course information including suggested readings and a list of upcoming topics to be
covered in class. Additionally, make sure to stay current with the class announcements delivered via e-mail.

Required textbook: W. L. Winston and M. Venkataramanan, Introduction to Mathematical Programming: Applications

and Algorithms, 4th ed., Volume 1, Duxbury Press/Brooks/Cole Publishing Company, 2002. ISBN: 0-534-35964-7.

Reference books:

• F. S. Hillier & G. J. Lieberman, Introduction to Operations Research, 9th Ed., McGraw Hill Higher Education,
2010. ISBN: 978-0-07-337629-5.

• K. G. Murty, Operations Research: Deterministic Optimization Models, Prentice Hall, 1995. ISBN:0-13-056517-2.

• A. R. Ravindran Operations Research Applications, CRC Press, 2009. ISBN: 978-1-281-94093-3. Available online
through ASU Libraries.

• L. Wolsey, Integer Programming, John Wiley & Sons, 1998. ISBN:978-0-471-38366-9.

Course Learning Outcomes: After completing this course, students should be able to:

• Represent various types of real-world problems as mathematical models.

• Distinguish between distinct classes of mathematical models: linear, mixed-integer, pure integer, nonlinear, etc.
• Implement sets, indices, symbols, and other short-hand notation to model large-scale problems effectively.
• Determine suitable techniques for solving OR models and the tradeoffs between alternatives.
• Use mathematical modeling/programming software to solve problems.

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 • Interpret optimization solver output and perform sensitivity analysis, when applicable.
• Perform the basic roles required of a junior operations research analyst.

Grading: There will be two midterm exams and a cumulative final exam during the semester. Short quizzes will be
given approximately once per week. Computer exercises and projects will also be assigned for credit. The grades will be
weighed as follows:
Quizzes 12%; Midterms (2) 25% each; Final 20%. Special assignments 18%.

Baseline grades for the course will be decided according to the following scale:

A: 90% or greater; B: 80-89%; C: 70-79%; D: 60-69%; F: less than 60%.

However, the instructor maintains discretion over final grades. If a student disagrees with the grading, that student has
the right to confer with the TA/grader or instructor before the conclusion of the next class period after the initial
grade is recorded to discuss concerns. The instructor reserves the right to amend or let stand the assigned evaluation
(see Quiz/Exam Regrading Requests).

Important Note about Grading Disputes: According to the academic integrity code, it is an academic violation to
bring up the impact of a course grade on your enrollment status, graduation, scholarships, job prospects, etc. as an
explicit or implicit attempt to influence a change in said grade. Therefore, you are strongly advised against approaching
me or the course TA/grader with grading disputes that are unrelated to actual academic achievement, as we will be
forced to report these occurrences as potential academic code violations.

Attendance: Each student is responsible for his/her attendance and any material missed during an absence. Any work
submitted after a university-approved absence must be accompanied by the appropriate written documentation, when
applicable. Excused absences are well defined by the university rules (documented illnesses, university-sponsored events,
religious practices—e.g., ACD 304-02, ACD 304-04). Job interviews are NOT excused events.

Homework Procedures: Homework will be assigned regularly for practice, but it will not be graded.

Special Assignment Procedures: During the semester, there will be special assignments that reinforce the practical
aspects of the course. For these assignments, students are to work individually, unless instructed otherwise. The instructor
will provide specific guidelines for submission.

Quiz Procedures: Short quizzes will be administered weekly (typically, but not always, on Tuesdays). Hence, students
are advised to attend class regularly. There will not be any make-up quizzes, but the lowest quiz score will be dropped.

Exam Procedures: Specific dates of exams will be announced in class ahead of time. It is strongly recommended for
students to arrive promptly with the approved materials to make full use of the testing period. Students who fulfill a
concrete set of conditions may be granted the privilege of skipping the final exam with a locked adjusted grade that
considers all other grade components accordingly. No exceptions will be made for these conditions—even if a condition
is violated by ≈1 percentage point. The conditions will be outlined a few weeks into the semester. Asking for exceptions
to these conditions will be considered as an academic violation (see Important Note about Grading Disputes).
Moreover, the instructor retains the right to require students to take the final exam even when these concrete conditions
are met, e.g., too many quizzes are missed, a significant downward trend in class performance, etc.

Quiz/Exam Regrading Requests: In the event of a quiz/exam regrading request, the TA/grader and instructor reserve
the right to regrade the entire exam (not just the specific question requested by the student). Hence, these requests can
result in a grade that is lower, equal, or higher than the original grade. The purpose of this policy is to ensure grading
fairness for the class and to discourage “one-point wonders” from taking a disproportionate amount of grading resources.

Make-up Policy: There will be no make up exams or quizzes. In the event of a university-approved absence on the day
of a midterm, the final exam grade will be used as a substitute for the missed exam. Absences on the day of a quiz
and unapproved absences on the day of a midterm will result in a score of “0” for the respective assessments. In the

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exceptional cases of multiple university-approved absences on the days of quizzes and midterms or on the day of the
final exam, the student is expected to talk to the instructor ahead of time, whenever possible.

About Cell Phones and Computing Gadgets: Please silence cellphones during class and avoid texting/browsing
entirely. Cell phone and tablet use during an exam will result in the exam being forfeited immediately. The use of
recording devices is not permitted during class. Any violent or threatening conduct by an ASU student in this class will
be reported to the ASU Police Department and the Office of the Dean of Students.

Copyrighted Content: Lectures, assignments, and other class content are copyrighted material with all the appropriate
rights reserved. As such, students may not sell notes and all other materials related to the course (see ACD 304-06),
and they are expected not to distribute course materials to potential future students.

Academic Integrity Statement and Policy:

“At Arizona State University academic honesty is expected of all students in all examinations, papers,
academic transactions and records. The possible sanctions include, but are not limited to: appropriate grade
penalties, loss of registration privileges, disqualification and dismissal. ASU strictly adheres to the academic
integrity policy. This policy sets forth the ASU Student Academic Integrity Policy and appeal procedures.”

It is the responsibility of students and instructors to help maintain scholastic integrity at the university by refusing to
participate in or tolerate scholastic dishonesty. I take this policy very seriously: I will not hesitate to report cheating,
and to assign failing grades to offenders. Please refer to the full Academic Integrity Policy online for more details.

Disability Accommodations: Qualified students with disabilities who will require disability accommodations in this class
are encouraged to make their requests to me at the beginning of the semester either during office hours or by appointment;
disability information is confidential. Note: Prior to receiving disability accommodations, verification of eligibility from
the Disability Resource Center (DRC) is required. Students who feel they will need disability accommodations in this
class but have not registered with the DRC should contact their office immediately and on the campus that your class is
being held. DRC offices are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Friday. Check the DRC website for campus-specific
locations, contact information, eligibility and documentation policies.

Policies Against Discrimination and Harrassment: Title IX is a federal law that provides that no person be excluded on
the basis of sex from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program
or activity. Both Title IX and university policy make clear that sexual violence and harassment based on sex is prohibited.
An individual who believes they have been subjected to sexual violence or harassed on the basis of sex can seek support,
including counseling and academic support, from the university. If you or someone you know has been harassed on the
basis of sex or sexually assaulted, you can find information and resources at https://sexualviolenceprevention.asu.edu/faqs
As a mandated reporter, I am obligated to report any information I become aware of regarding alleged acts of sexual
discrimination, including sexual violence and dating violence. ASU Counseling Services, https://eoss.asu.edu/counseling,
is available if you wish discuss any concerns confidentially and privately.