UNIVERSITY OF BAHRAIN
College of Information Technology
‫قسم نظم املعلومات‬
Information Systems Department
Code
BIS314
Pre/co-requisites
Course Instructor
Title
Business Applications
CS271 OR BIS202
Web Page
Email
Dr. Jaflah AlAmmary
[email protected]
Mrs. Ghazwa B. Sulaibeekh
[email protected]
Ms. Roohi Mahboob
[email protected]
Office Tel. Ext.
Dr. Jafla 7610
Mrs. Ghazwa 7834
Ms. Rohi 7751
Credit Hours
2-3-3
http://staff.uob.bh/ Ghazwa’s
Website
Course Coordinator
Dr. Jaflah Al-Ammary
Office
S40 – 2019
S40-2029
S40-1020
Course Overview
The world of qualitative analysis and decision-making is continuously changing. Managers are constantly
faced with the challenges of developing accurate, manageable and “auditable” models. In addition, they are
faced with the challenges of modeling various scenarios as a basis for analyzing complex business
situations. The extent to which they meet these challenges can determine the survival of an organization.
Managers usually find spreadsheets natural, intuitive and user-friendly platforms for organizing information
and performing “what-if” analysis. In fact, Excel is a creativity tool that can help make organizations more
competitive and efficient. It offers new better approaches for dealing with many types of practical operation
managements situations and problems. Therefore, this course is not about learning spreadsheet skills;
instead it is about modeling including the structuring, analyzing, and solving managerial decision problems
on Excel spreadsheets.
The course objectives
1. To introduce the student to the essentials of management operations and applications of quantitative
techniques and computer analysis for business decision making
2. To demonstrate an understanding of the modeling process by building analytical models for a
variety of practical problems
3. To teach the student how to apply their experience in using spreadsheets for analyzing several
operations management decision problems. The course will address problems such as forecasting,
planning models, risk management and simulation, optimization model and learning curve.
4. To enhance the student managerial thinking in studying the business interpretations of the solutions
obtained from analyzing the Excel model
5. To analyze data and convert it to useful information and using this information to enhance critical
thinking
6. Work in groups and became a contributing team member
7. Enhance the student skills in business analysis and writing
Text books and material



Operations Analysis Using Microsoft Excel, by Weida, Richardson, Vazsonyi, Duxbury– Thomson
learning publisher (recommended)
Practical Management Science, second edition, by W. Winston and C. Albright, Duxbury, 2001
Operations management by Heizer/ Render, (recent edition)
Academic Conduct Policies
Cheating and Plagiarism: “Cheating is the actual or attempted practice of fraudulent or deceptive acts for
the purpose of improving one's grade or obtaining course credit; such acts also include assisting another
student to do so”. Typically, such acts occur in relation to examinations. However, it is the intent of this
definition that the term 'cheating' not be limited to examination situations only, but that it include any and
all actions by a student that are intended to gain an unearned academic advantage by fraudulent or deceptive
means. Plagiarism is a specific form of cheating. Plagiarism is the act of using someone else’s work, as
one’s own, without giving appropriate references. Plagiarism can include the following but is not limited to
it: Copying and pasting text from any Web site; Copying text from any printed material, such as books,
magazines, or newspapers; Using photographs, video or audio without permission or acknowledgment;
Using another student’s work and claiming it as your own. Ignorance of the rules about plagiarism is no
excuse for it.
Penalties for cheating and plagiarism range from a 0 or F on a particular exam or assignment, through an F
for the course, to expulsion from the university.
Note: Students who share their work with others are as responsible for academic dishonesty as the student
receiving the material. Students are not to show work to other students prior to the exam and assignment
due date, in the class or not. Students are responsible for the security of their work and should ensure that
printed copies are not left in accessible places.
Grading
The grade for the course will be based on three components (assignment, presentation and exam) as shown
in the table:
Assignments 1
Assignments 2
Assignments 3
Presentation
Take home -Exam 1
Take home -Exam 2
Take home -Exam 3
Assignments
10%
10%
10%
10%
20%
20%
20%
The assignments are designed to enhance the student understanding of the process of modeling and analysis
on spreadsheets learned in class. Sufficient guidelines and numerical answers will be provided for each
assignment. The grading of the assignment is based on the demonstrated comprehension of the problem, the
logic of the model, and application of the spreadsheet skills learned in class. The credit will be distributed
approximately as follows:
 (60%) for the spreadsheet organization, clarity and documentation, using formula list, row and
column headings, color coding, and shading.
 (40%) for the write-up explaining the problem, model, analysis and results.
Assignment Guidelines:
Each submission should include a write-up along with the spreadsheet model. Students must think of their
submission as a business report that they present to their client or supervisor. So their report should be
concise, logically organized, well documented and aesthetically pleasing.
Assignment Format:
Each submission should be a typewritten and stapled hard-copy with

Assignment title page, group members and names; ID; and section no

Font size of at least 10 points, page margins of at least (1/2), and double-spaced

“Spell checking” should be used to avoid any unnecessary spelling or grammatical errors.
Assignment Write-up
Write-up should include:
Executive summary: overview of the problem addressed, key issues involved, and the solution which
demonstrates the student understanding of the assignment.
Model: explanation of the logical structure of the model by outlining its step-by-step development which
summarizes the student’s thought process in setting up problem. State the decisions and the objectives of
the problems, as well as the key assumptions made to simplify the analysis.
Analysis: how key spreadsheet functions, command and tools were used to analyze the model.
Conclusion: concrete answer to the specific question asked or problem addressed. Highlight the key results,
and provide their intuitive interpretation.
The student is responsible for getting assignments to/from instructors for missed classes. All assignments
are due at the beginning of class on the date listed in the course schedule. Unless prior arrangements have
been made for extenuating circumstances, group will lose 3 points for each late assignment.
Presentation
Each group will conduct a presentation. The presentation should not be less than 15 minutes and not exceed
30 minutes. Based on the selected Module on which the group decided to present, the topics for
presentation can be chosen. For example, for Module 1, topics such as management scenarios, manager
thinking, risk management techniques can be selected. Presentations should include visual media
(PowerPoint) as well as handouts for students. Moreover, the day and date for the presentation can be
selected based on the Module as shown on the course schedule.
Take-home Exams
There will be three take-home exams administrated during the semester as shown in the course schedule.
All groups will have one week to complete the exam. Any one missing the class session when the exam is
handed out is expected to see the instructor or any member of his/her group as soon as possible. Picking up
the exam late will not alter the due date. The exam will be due at the beginning of class on the due date.
Exams turned in up to one week late will have 10% deducted from the initial grade. Exams turned in more
than one week late will not be graded; a grade of zero will be recorded. Answer on the exam reflects the
group work. However, a peer evaluation sheet will be administrated after each take-home exam on which
answers will reflect individual’s work.
Attendance

Attendance is required and if you miss the class it is your responsibility to make arrangement with
other students for the class notes.
Exam Guidelines
1. There will be no makeup exams, unless approved by the course instructor and the chairperson of
the department; this is only under strict rules and valid excuses.
2. If no such valid excuse is presented, a grade of zero will be given to the student.
3. Students are responsible for ensuring that all files are saved correctly for all of their submissions
Course Schedule
Module One: From 26th February To 3rd April
Module Content
Chapter One : Decision
making and modeling
Chapter Two: Forecasting
Chapter Three: Advanced
Forecasting
Chapter Twelve:
Risk analysis and Simulation
Assignment
Presentations
Decision making and
modeling
Wednesday
19th March
Given Date:
19th March
Submission Date:
27th March
Max 4 groups
Take home exam
Given Date:
3rd April
Submission Date:
10th April
Module Two: From 6th April To 15th May
Module Content
Chapter Four: Planning
model
Chapter Five: Aggregate
planning
Chapter Seven: Material
requirement planning
Assignment
Presentations
Planning and Aggregate
planning
Wednesday
30th April
Given Date:
8th May
Submission Date:
15th May
Max 4 groups
Take home exam
Given date:
15th May
Submission Date:
22nd May
Module Three: From 18th May To 10th June
Module Content
Optimization models
(External materials)
Assignment
Optimization models
Presentations
Wednesday
4th June
Take home exam
Given date:
10th June
Submission Date:
Max 4 groups
Chapter Five: Learning
Curve
Given Date:
29th May
Submission Date:
5th June
16th June