INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT KOZHIKODE
Post Graduate Programme in Management
Course Outline
Course Code & Course Title PGP 207 Optimization with Spreadsheets (OS)
Course type Compulsory
Pre-requisites (if any) -
Course Credit 3
Total no. of sessions 24
Session Duration 75 mins
Term/ Quarter Term 2
Year and Batch PGP 27
Sections (if any) C and D
Instructor Dr. Srikanth K
Contact Details Srikanth@iimk.ac.in
Office Room no – FC 02, Phase 5, IIM Kozhikode
Consultation Hours By appointment
Introduction
Optimization, by definition, is the action of making the best or the most effective use of a
situation or resource. It is concerned with the analysis and algorithmic aspects of maximizing or
minimizing an objective function subject to various constraints representing user preferences
and/or limitations. With the help of mathematical tools and techniques, this important field of
management provides today’s managers with capabilities for formulating and solving large-scale
decision-making problems. This course provides an overview of such techniques through hands-
on exercises and project exercises.
Learning Outcomes/Course Objectives
Course CLO Linked
Learning Programme
Objective Level Objective
(CLO) No. (PLO) No.
CLO 1 Develop an understanding of the relevance of operations research
in different business domains
CLO 2 Understand the nitty-gritties of developing PLO 4.1
mathematical/analytical models for real-life complex managerial
problems
CLO 3 Acknowledge the strengths and weaknesses of different solution
Textbook (TB)
An Introduction to Management Science: Quantitative approaches to Decision Making
- authored by Anderson, R. D., Sweeney, J. D., Williams, A. T., Camm D. J., Cocharn J.
J, Fry, J. M., & Ohlmann, W. J.
Cengage publication, 15th edition. 2023.
Reference Books (RB)
Introduction to Management Science [RB1]
- authored by Frederick S. Hillier & Mark S. Hillier
Tata McGraw Hill, Latest Edition
Introduction to Operations Research [RB2]
- authored by Hillier & Lieberman
McGraw Hill, 8th edition. 2011.
Additional Reading(s)
Electronic copies of relevant reading materials will be distributed as and when required in the
classroom by the instructor.
Technology and Software (if any)
Microsoft Excel with Solver Add-in
Other Resources (Journals, Internet Websites)
Journals: Management Science, Interfaces
Pedagogy/Learning Process
This course would use a mix of pedagogical tools such as lectures, case discussions, simulations,
and videos to support learning
Evaluation Components/Assessment of Student Learning
Assessment Tool Weight Remarks PLO
tested
Quizzes 15% This component ensures that students come
prepared for each class rather than prepare only
for examinations.
Mid-term 25% These components help in assessing students’
conceptual understanding of the topics discussed
in the class and their ability to adapt them to real-
life managerial problems.
End-term 30% These components help in assessing students’ 4.1
conceptual understanding of the topics discussed
in the class and their ability to adapt them to real-
life managerial problems.
Assignments and 10% This component helps in placing the students in
Case analysis the role of the decisionmaker, through the context
provided by the case, and identify the problems
they are faced with to perform the necessary
analysis i.e., examining the causes and
considering alternative courses of actions to arrive
at a set of recommendations.
Term paper 10% To examine, in detail, a topic related to the course
presentation being studied that has a useful application to the
student’s current or future professional endeavors
Class participation 10% To motivate students to actively participate in
class discussions and brainstorming sessions.
Session Plan
Sessions
Topic Reading Material/Case
(75 min)
Introduction to management science,
1: Introduction Chapter 1 (TB)
modelling, operations research
Decision making under uncertainty
2: Decision Trees Chapter 13 (TB)
and risk
Chapters 2, 4, 5 (TB)
Formulation of mathematical
3-7: Applications
models, Graphical method, Working
of Linear Cases:
of Simplex method, Excel solver for
Programming Auto assembly ( RB1)
solving LP problems
Chapter 3 (TB)
Interpretation of sensitivity analysis
8-9: Sensitivity Cases:
reports, shadow prices of resources,
Analysis and Farm Management (RB1)
duality models, complimentary
Duality Controlling Air Pollution (RB1)
slackness conditions
Mumbai Waste Management (RB2)
Chapter 6 (TB)
10: Transportation,
Transportation models, Northwest-
Transhipment and Cases:
corner method, MODI method,
Assignment Aiding Allies (RB1)
Hungarian method
problems Money in action (RB1)
Knapsack problem, Fixed charge
11-12: Integer
problem, Traveling Salesman
Programming Chapter 7 (TB)
Problem, Set covering and set
Problems
partitioning problems
Chapter 7 (TB)
Knapsack problem, Fixed charge
13-15: Integer
problem, Traveling Salesman
Programming Cases:
Problem, Set covering and set
Problems Assessing art (RB1)
partitioning problems
Discrete vs. continuous, steps
16-17: Simulation Chapter 12 (TB)
involved, Monte Carlo method
18-19: Dynamic
Brief introduction to DP, Stagecoach
Programming Handouts
problem, etc.
20-21: Multi-
Pareto front, Analytic Hierarchy
criteria Decision Chapter 14 (TB)
Process, Goal programming.
Making
Work Breakdown Structure, PERT
22: Project and CPM networks, Critical path
Chapter 9 (TB)
Management computation, crashing project
networks using LPP
23-24: Students’
Term Paper Presentation
Presentation
Additional Instructions (If any)
a. Group formation: Case analysis and project work are team based tasks with a ceiling of 5
students each. Students are expected to form teams disregarding caste, creed and religion.
b. Case analysis: Analysis of all the cases should be carried out by all the groups and PPTs have
to be sent to the instructor in advance. Randomly picked groups will make presentations in the
class. It may so happen that a group may be required to make more than one presentation and
some groups may not get an opportunity to make presentation at all. In the case of former, the
best presentation will be accounted for and in the case of latter, evaluation will be based on the
content quality of PPT.
c. Term paper presentation: The presentations are scheduled for the last two sessions of this
course. By then, students are expected to be ready with their PPTs and write-up of about 5 pages
on the topic assigned to them. For those groups which do not get an opportunity to present their
work in the class, the quality of write-up will be taken into consideration for evaluation.
d. Class conduct and Plagiarism: Any material included in the reports, PPTs without
acknowledging the source summarily qualifies to be treated as a case of plagiarism and will be
dealt in accordance with extant rules. Students misbehaving during class/tutorial/exam sessions
will be awarded a non-negotiable ‘F’ grade for the entire course, regardless of their past
performance at IIMK or in their earlier education or professional career.
