OMGT 3223 - Business Decision Modeling

Summer Session I 2026, Section 602 & 603

Online Section

 

Course Description / Grading / Attendance / About the Instructor / Course Outline / Class List / Home

Click below to listen to Dr. Kros discuss the syllabus - Then follow along on the web page

Click here for the Narration of the Syllabus

Text:

Spreadsheet Modeling for Business Decisions, Kros, 5th Edition, Kendall/Hunt Order the eBook of the text directly from KendallHunt: http://www.kendallhunt.com/kros/ or obtain from ECU Bookstore, UBE, etc.

Text Website: Website for Spreadsheet Modeling for Business Decisions. Contains Excel Templates, STUDY GUIDE, interactive models, etc. You need to use the code that accompanies the textbook to access the site. If you procure a used hard copy text you will not have access to the Online Text Materials.

Software:

Solver for Excel will be used in this course - it is a free program that is included with all legal versions or Excel.  Below are links to a set of tutorials on how to install Solver on your PC or Apple (these links can also be found later in the syllabus on the June 4th date.

Video Tutorial for Adding in Solver to Excel for PC's

Video Tutorial for Adding in Solver to Excel for Apple Computers

Risk Solver Platform:  RSP (OPTIONAL advanced version of Solver) - a web based version can be found here if you are interested in an advanced version of basic Solver (this is the best way to access and only way Mac users can use the software) Google Sheets Risk Solver Add-on - if wanted a full term download included with text is at http://www.solver.com/risk-solver-platform

Treeplan (OPTIONAL Excel add-in for Decision Trees) - included on the Text Website or at TreePlan.com

Course Description and Goals:

Catalog Description - Managerial problem solving and decision making skills using quantitative methods and computer skills. This course covers the quantitative methods used to formulate and solve problems in business, supply chain management, economics, and the social and life sciences (Prerequisite:  MATH2283).

This course engages diverse opinions & scholarly perspectives to develop critical thinking, analysis, & discussion as well as these tenets:

Think Critically

     Develop skills and judgment in becoming more effective & efficient problem solvers.  Apply the DECIDE framework to identify business problems & solutions.

Value

     Utilize EDGE perspective to evaluate "real life" problems and alternative solutions to quantitative business problems.

Communicate

     Develop skills to effectively communicate quantitative information and recommendations, and to articulate professional, quality written reports based on complex analysis.

Lead

     Demonstrate effective leadership skills to successfully structure and complete collaborative group work.

Laptop Requirement:  The College of Business requires that all students enrolled in a College of Business course acquire and have available a laptop or mobile computer for use in and out of the classroom environment. The laptop or mobile computer must be capable of running Microsoft Windows and the latest version of Microsoft Office. Faculty may also require other specialized software applications. Additional information may be found at https://business.ecu.edu/technology/

Assignments and Grading: Assignments are summarized later in this syllabus. Grading will be calculated roughly along the following guidelines and weights with student to student and student to faculty interaction via ongoing, moderated discussion board/chats (e.g. Homework):

Grading:

Homework - Including Discussion Board Posts	4 @ 10%	40%
Quizzes	4 total @ 1%	4%
Spreadsheet Tutorial Videos - contains 3 tutorials with 3 accompanying quizzes that all must be taken by 12 midnight May 20th to receive credit	3%	3%
Exam I Exam Posted by 6/9 and due by 12 midnight 6/10	43%	43%
Final Exam - Individual Timed Assignment, Posted 6/22 and due by 12 midnight 6/23	.	10%

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PLEASE USE THE FOLLOWING NAMING CONVENTION WHEN SAVING AND SUBMITTING COMPLETED ASSIGNMENT FILES:

lastnamefirstinitialassignment.suffix

For example, for myself I would name my first homework assignment file:

krosjhomework#1.doc

Be forewarned, I will either send your assignments back to you ungraded or downgrade your work if you do not follow this naming convention.

Homework will be assigned according to the tentative schedule presented. Please attempt every problem and feel free to ask me or your fellow students for assistance. However, all homework turned in must be your own work and missed assignments will receive a zero grade. Late homework will not be accepted.

Quizzes will cover material from the previous classes and the problems will be straightforward.  They are multiple choise & are completed via Canvas.  YOU CAN TAKE EACH QUIZ MULTIPLE TIMES AND TO RECEIVE FULL CREDIT YOU MUST COMPLETE EACH QUIZ WITH A 100% GRADE.  Missed quizzes can not be made up and will receive a zero grade.

The exam will cover material from the text and my lectures. The problems on the exam will be similar to the quiz and homework problems.  A missed exam will receive a zero grade. Please make prior arrangements if the exam will be missed.

Final grades will be assigned by letter and will be derived approximately from the grading percentages shown above roughly following the standard +/- scale. I will assign grades on individual assignments according to the ECU +/- scale (A = 4.0, A-=3.7, B+=3.3, B = 3.0, B-=2.7, C+=2.3, C = 2.0, C-=1.7, D+ = 1.3, D = 1.0, D- = 0.7, F = 0.0).

Roughly the following grade cut-offs will be used: above 3.7 = A, above 3.3 through 3.7 = A-, above 3.0 through 3.3 = B+, above 2.8 through 3.0 = B, above 2.5 through 2.8 = B-, above 2.2 through 2.5 = C+, above 1.9 through 2.2 = C, above 1.6 through 1.9 = C-, above 1.3 through 1.6 = D+, above 1.0 through 1.3 = D, above 0.8 through 1.0 = D-, below 0.8 = F. Percentage scores will not be assigned.

COB PROCTOR POLICY
I will not be requiring proctors for this class.  However, many of the online courses you enroll in may require a proctor.  A proctor is someone who is approved to administer examinations or other course material on behalf of the course instructor.  The purpose of the proctor is to assure the integrity of the examination process.  The university academic integrity policy may be reviewed at http://www.ecu.edu/studenthandbook/III.htm.

HOWEVER, YOU ARE ON YOUR HONOR TO COMPLETE ANY EXAMS WITHOUT OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE FROM ANYONE WITHIN THE COURSE OR ANY OUTSIDE PERSON/ENTITY.  DO NOT COLLABORATE OR COLLUDE ON ANY EXAM.  PLEASE EMAIL OR CALL OR STOP BY IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS POLICY.

Attendance: Timely attendance is the responsibility of the student.  There is no penalty for missed lectures.

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Retention Requirements:  Students at East Carolina University are expected to be in Good Academic Standing. For students to be considered in Good Academic Standing, a cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required. If a student fails to meet Good Academic Standing, he or she will be placed on academic warning, probation, or suspension as shown below.  

Consequences of Not Maintaining Good Academic Standing

Good Academic Standing	End of Semester 2	End of Semester 3
GPA = 2.0+	GPA < 2.0	GPA < 2.0
Good Standing	Probation	1 Semester Suspension

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Academic Integrity: Any academic dishonesty will result in a failing grade and appropriate university disciplinary actions taken. Please do your own work. If you do not understand the academic integrity policy of the ECU Marketing and Supply Chain Management Department please see the instructor.

 

Suggestions: To do well in this class the following hints might help.

1. Complete the homework, quizzes, and exams - correct or incorrect, I will do my best to reward effort.

 

2. Work with others - feel free to discuss problems and methodology on homeworks*.

 

3. Ask the instructor for help and PLEASE FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS!!!

 

* Exams and quizzes are individual assignments and are expected to be completed without collaboration or discussion with any other student.

East Carolina University seeks to comply fully with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Students requesting accommodations based on a disability must be registered with the Department for Disability Support Services located in Mendenhall Suite 109, (252) 737-1016 (Voice/TTY).

About the Instructor: John F. Kros has a bachelors degree in business administration from The University of Texas, a master of business administration from Santa Clara University, and a Ph.D. in systems engineering from The University of Virginia. He enjoys spending his free time traveling, snow skiing, watching college football, and attempting to locate establishments that provide inexpensive food and liquid refreshment. Suggestions are always welcome!!

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