Lahore University of Management Sciences

DISC 112 Computers and Problem Solving

Spring Semester 2015
Instructors
Office Hours
Email
Telephone
Secretary/TA
TA Office Hours
Course URL (if any)

Shakeel Sadiq Jajja (SSJ)

Zehra Waheed (ZW)
By appointment
ssj@lums.edu.pk
zehra.waheed@lums.edu.pk
8435 SSJ
8426 ZW
TBA
TBA
Suraj.lums.edu.pk

COURSE BASICS
Credit Hours
Lecture(s)
Recitation/Lab (per week)
Tutorial (per week)

3
Nbr of Lec(s) Per Week
Nbr of Lec(s) Per Week
Nbr of Lec(s) Per Week

Duration
Duration
Duration

75 minutes

COURSE DISTRIBUTION
Core
Elective
Open for Student Category
Close for Student Category

Yes

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Problem solving is an essential skill that managers use in their daily task of decision-making on behalf of their departments,
divisions and organizations. The contemporary manager must be aware of the computer-based tools and techniques that can
make his/her work more efficient and effective. Computers support problem solving in two essential ways: (1) handling heavy
data-driven decisions; and (2) solving problems where the number of component issues is too many for the human mind to handle
mathematically.
Built around the spreadsheet software, Microsoft Excel, this course is an introduction to problem-solving using computers.
However the course is not merely about the skills involved in spreadsheet modeling, but also the craft of modeling, which
includes abstracting the essential features of a situation into a model and translating model results into managerial insights.

COURSE PREREQUISITE(S)
None

COURSE OBJECTIVES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

To introduce students to the concept of modeling as the process of building, refining and analyzing the representation of
data for greater insights and improved decision-making
To equip students with technical skills of working with the spreadsheet software, Excel.
To develop the students analytical and craft skills to model managerial problems using computer software.
To develop skills that enable effective data representation
To introduce students to databases and explain how data can be extracted from these into decision models

LEARNING OUTCOMES
After completing this course student will be able to
o Understand basic concept of modeling and how this approach can help in using computers to solve problems
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Lahore University of Management Sciences

o
o
o
o
o

Use computer-based tools to model business problems effectively

Extract essential analysis from a spreadsheet of data, or even external data
Represent data using charts
Automate very basic repetitive tasks of analysis and user input and output
Understand, in general terms, key elements of IT infrastructure (e.g. databases and network protocols) and how they
support distributed problem-solving.

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM LEARNING GOALS & OBJECTIVES

General Learning Goals & Objectives
Goal 1 Effective Written and Oral Communication
Objective: Students will demonstrate effective writing and oral communication skills
Goal 2 Ethical Understanding and Reasoning
Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to identify and address ethical issues in an organizational
context.
Goal 3 Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills
Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to identify key problems and generate viable solutions.
Goal 4 Application of Information Technology
Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to use current technologies in business and management
context.
Goal 5 Teamwork in Diverse and Multicultural Environments
Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to work effectively in diverse environments.
Goal 6 Understanding Organizational Ecosystems
Objective: Students will demonstrate that they have an understanding of Economic, Political, Regulatory, Legal,
Technological, and Social environment of organizations.
Major Specific Learning Goals & Objectives
Goal 7 (a) Discipline Specific Knowledge and Understanding
Objective: Students will demonstrate knowledge of key business disciplines and how they interact including
application to real world situations (Including subject knowledge).
Goal 7 (b) Understanding the science behind the decision-making process (for MGS Majors)
Objective: Students will demonstrate ability to analyze a business problem, design and apply appropriate
decision-support tools, interpret results and make meaningful recommendations to support the decision-maker

Indicate below how the course learning objectives specifically relate to any program learning goals and objectives.

PROGRAM LEARNING GOALS AND

OBJECTIVES

COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

COURSE ASSESSMENT ITEM

Goal 1 Effective Written and Oral

Communication
Goal 2 Ethical Understanding and
Reasoning
Goal 3 Analytical Thinking and Problem
Solving Skills
Goal 4 Application of Information
Technology
Goal 5 Teamwork in Diverse and
Multicultural Environments
Goal 6 Understanding Organizational
Ecosystems
Goal 7 (a) Discipline Specific Knowledge

Objective 4

Midterm, Final

Objectives 1, 3

Final, Quizzes, Exercises

Objectives 1,2,3,4 and 5

Midterm, Final, Quizzes, Exercises

Objectives 1,2,3,4 and 5

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Midterm, Final, Quizzes, Exercises

Lahore University of Management Sciences

and Understanding
Goal 7 (b) Understanding the science
behind the decision-making process

Objectives 1,2 and 3

Midterm, Final

GRADING BREAKUP AND POLICY

Quizzes: .................................................................................................................. 30% (total 11 quizzes, n-2 applies)
Exercises: ............................................................................................................... 10%
Midterm Examination: ........................................................................................... 30%
Final Examination:.................................................................................................. 30% (Post-mid only)

EXAMINATION DETAIL

Midterm
Exam

Final Exam

Yes/No: Yes
Combine Separate: Combine
Duration: 3 hours
nd
Preferred Date: Saturday, February 22
Exam Specifications: Pre Mid Syllabus, Calculator and Formula Help sheet Allowed. Close Book and Notes

Yes/No: Yes
Combine Separate:
Duration: 3 hours
Exam Specifications: Post Mid Syllabus, Calculator and Formula Help sheet Allowed. Close Book and Notes

TEXTBOOK(S)/SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS
Frye, Curtis D. (2010) Step-by-Step: Microsoft Excel 2010, Microsoft Press.
Powell, S. G. and Baker, K. R. (2009) Management Science: the Art of Modeling with Spreadsheets, 3/e, Wiley.
Fairhurst, D.S. (2012) Using Excel for business analysis a guide to financial modeling fundamentals. Wiley.
Harvey, G. (2010) Excel 2010 for dummies. Hoboken, NJ, Wiley Pub.

Attendance, Quizzes and Class Policy

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Lahore University of Management Sciences

Your class presence is required. Therefore by missing a class you forfeit an opportunity to participate in class activities. Maximum
four (4) absences are tolerated. Any further absences shall count towards deduction from your overall grade. Petitions should be
submitted along with proper documentation (e.g. a medical certificate certifying illnesses or OSA certifying participation in OSA
activity) and shall be approved on case by case basis.
You are also expected to arrive in class exactly at the prescribed time. There will be no grace for late arrivals and you will be marked
absent. Once all four absences have been used up, 1% deduction from the grade will made for every extra absence. Cell phone usage
will not be tolerated. Therefore make sure they are switched off when you arrive in class.
You are required to attend with your designated section. Neither quiz nor attendance can be transferred to any other section.
A total of eleven (11) announced quizzes shall be given throughout the course, usually at the beginning of the class. The best nine
quizzes (for each student) shall count towards quiz component of overall grade. A missed (without petition approval) quiz will
automatically be graded zero (0).
Course Outline*

SESSION
NO.
1

3, 4

TOPICS
Course Introduction, File
Management, Assignment submission
@ LUMS, Basic framework of model
building
Problem Solving by Computer
Modeling
Introduction to Spreadsheets: Cells,
Ranges, Worksheets & Workbooks,
Formatting and Entering Data,
Performing Calculations of Data

5,6,7

Filtering Specific Data, Sorting Data,

Creating Charts

Advance Excel Functions (logical,

statistical and lookup functions)

Influence Diagram Introduction

10

Influence Diagrams Exercise Iceberg

for Kuwait

11

Modeling Icebergs for Kuwait

TEXT TO READ

AUDITORIUM/ SESSION OBJECTIVES

LAB
Auditorium

Fairhurst- - Chapter 1 & 2

Curtis Frye: Chapter 1 &
2;
Curtis Frye: Chapter 3 & 4

Curtis Frye: Chapter 5, 6,

10

Auditorium

Lab

Lab

Lab
Powell & Baker Chapter 2
Powell & Baker Chapter
2, Case: Ice Berg for
Kuwait
Powell and Baker Chapter
5, Case: Ice Berg for
Kuwait

Lab
Lab

Lab

12

Analysing Alternative Data (Goal Seek,

Scenario Manager and Descriptive
Statistics)

Curtis Frye: Chapter 8

Lab

13

Iceberg for Kuwait (What if Analysis)

Case: Ice Berg for Kuwait

Lab

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To introduce the students to

model building
As above
To familiarize the students
with the basic skills required
for using MS Excel
To develop MS Excel skills
such as limiting data,
manipulating worksheet data,
sorting worksheet data,
organizing data into levels
and creating charts
To present some advanced
functions in excel
To introduce students to
Influence Diagrams
To understand the use of
Influence Diagrams in a real
context
To learn model building using
a case
To define an alternative data
set; to vary data to get a
desired result by using Goal
Seek and Scenario Manager;
and to
Analyze data by using
descriptive statistics
To learn What-If Analysis
using a case

Lahore University of Management Sciences

14

Mid Term Exam

15

Combining Data from Multiple

Sources

16

Databases, DBMS & Networks

17,18,
19,20

Developer Ribbon, Automating

Repetitive Task by using Macros and
VBA

Chapter 12 Curtis Frye;

Chapters 4,5,7,8,9
HarveyG

Lab

Solver, Advance Array Functions

Solver Part from Chapter

8 Curtis Frye
Array Functions,
Chapters7 Harvey G

Lab

22

Reid Rasin (Spreadsheet Engineering)

Powell and Baker Chapter

5, Case: Reid Rasin

Lab

23

Reid Rasin (What if Analysis and

Solver)

Powell and Baker Chapter

6 Case: Reid Rasin

Lab

24, 25

Creating Dynamic Worksheets by

using Pivot Tables

Curtis Frye: Chapter 9

Lab

26,27

Case Study on Spread Application

Design

To be announced

Lab

28

Review

21

Curtis Frye: Chapter 7

Lab

Lab

To link to data in other

worksheets and workbooks
and consolidate multiple sets
of data into a single
workbook
To introduce the use of
databases
To develop an understanding
of further concepts including
the use of a developer ribbon,
Macros and Visual Basic
To introduce Solver and
Advanced Array Functions

To explain the use of

spreadsheet engineering
using a case
To build upon the previous
knowledge of What-If
Analysis and Solver using a
case
To teach the effective use of
Pivot tables
To integrate all the concepts
and skills learnt during the
course to create an MS Excelbased application

Lab

*NOTE
The instructor reserves the right to make changes to the grading system and the syllabus as appropriate during the semester.

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