Course Syllabus
Contact Information
Course Details
This course provides the fundamentals of decision analysis and explores how analyzing risk can be incorporated into good decision making. Normative and prescriptive approaches to making decisions when uncertainty exists are central to this course. Topics covered include structuring decision problems, developing alternatives, single and multiple objectives, utility theory, risk tolerance, data-driven and subjective probability, and psychological pitfalls, among others. Computer programs and graphical tools such as influence diagrams and decision trees will be discussed. Principles are applied to decisions in engineering, with potential applications in business, healthcare, and public policy, among others.
Course Prerequisites
Graduate standing
Course Materials
- Making Hard Decisions with Decision Tools, 3rd Edition, Robert T. Clemen, Terence Reilly, Published: © 2014, Print ISBN: 9780538797573
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Exams | There will be two exams in this course: a midterm and a final. | 50% |
| Project | Project demonstrates the application of Decision Analysis to a structured multi-criteria problem provided by the instructor. | 20% |
| Assignments | Seven assignments that are tied to specific topics. | 21% |
| Oral Presentation | Presentation is visually appealing and well-constructed to convey information. Student confidently demonstrates command of project knowledge and insights derived from the analysis. | 9% |
| Total | 100% |
Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90–100% | A |
| 80–89% | B |
| 70–79% | C |
| 60–69% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Course Components
Exams
There will be a midterm examination in Week 9 that will cover all material through week 7, chapter 9 in the textbook. The final will cover all material with an emphasis on material in the second half of the semester.
Project
A project will be distributed after the midterm. A written report on the analysis of the project is due at the end of week 15 and an oral presentation is due during week 16.
Assignments
There will be an assignment due at the last class of each even week (Weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14) of the semester. The assignments will be given to you in the odd weeks (Weeks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13). Each assignment carries equal credit.
The written part of the Project Report and other deliverables will be due on the 15th week of the course. The presentation of the project will be made in the 16th week.
Oral Presentation
This is a ten-minute presentation of the results of the class project. The presentation is due in week 16 and details will be provided when the project is assigned.
Course Policies
Communication
Email is the primary means of communication between students and the instructor. Messages will be answered promptly and responded to in the order in which they are received and processed. Include the course number in the subject line of all emails.
Late Policy
Approval for late work must be requested from, and approved by, the instructor before submission.
Course Expectations
Graduate students in the course are expected to engage in discussions, learning groups, experiential activities, and programming constraints. Each of these will be structured and you will be notified via Canvas.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Course Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalog.
Student Handbook
Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.
Academic Misconduct
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.
It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the definitions, policies, and procedures concerning academic misconduct. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity.
This site also defines misconduct, provides examples of prohibited conduct, and explains the sanctions available for those found guilty of misconduct.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The University of Oklahoma is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for all students with disabilities. Students with disabilities who require accommodations in this course should contact their professor as early in the semester as possible.
Students with disabilities must be registered with the Disability Resource Center before receiving accommodations in this course.
If you have a disability and you would like to request reasonable accommodation, please see the Graduate Student Handbook or get in touch with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center.
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office.
Title IX Resources
For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24/7, counseling services, mutual no-contact orders, scheduling adjustments, and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. Please contact the Sexual Misconduct Office at 405-325-2215 (8-5, M-F) or OU Advocates at 405-615-0013 (24/7) to learn more or to report an incident.
Religious Holidays
It is the policy of the University to excuse absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays without penalty. It is the responsibility of the student to make alternate arrangements with the instructor at least one week before the actual date of the religious holiday.
Copyright Policy
It is illegal to download, upload, reproduce, or distribute any copyrighted material, in any form and any fashion, without permission from the copyright holder or his/her authorized agent. The University of Oklahoma expects all members of its community to comply fully with federal copyright laws. If such laws appear to have been violated by any user, the university reserves the right (1) to terminate that user’s access to some or all of the university’s computer systems and information resources and (2) to take additional disciplinary actions as deemed necessary or appropriate. Repeat offenders will be sanctioned and their privileges terminated.
Registration and Withdrawal
If you choose to withdraw from this course, you must complete the appropriate University form and turn the form in before the deadline. If you stop attending the course and doing the coursework without doing the required paperwork, your grade will be calculated with missed homework and examination grades entered as zero. This could result in receiving a grade of F in the course. Deadlines are shown in the Academic Calendar, which is available from the Office of the Registrar.
Student Grievances
In addition to any policies outlined related to submitting an informal or formal grievance by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook for more information about the process of submitting a formal grievance.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|