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Overview

Course Prescription

Explores methods for using data to assist in decision making in business and industrial applications. Software packages will be used to solve practical problems. Topics such as linear programming, transportation and assignment models, network algorithms, queues, Markov chains, inventory models, simulation, analytics and visualisation will be considered.

Course Overview

This course covers three aspects of data-driven optimisation and decision-making:

  • linear programming models, including transportation and transshipment models.
  • decision making and data models
  • modelling and simulation

There is an emphasis on the use of software, namely Excel and/or R, throughout the course. We do not assume that you are able to program, but we expect that you will be comfortable using a command-line to run code. We also expect that you are able to manipulate and rearrange algebraic expressions.


The topics covered in this course provide ideal preparation for the following courses that can be taken in the Statistics major:

  • ENGSCI 391: Optimisation in Operations Research
  • STATS 320: Applied Stochastic Modelling

Key Topics

  • Linear Programming (Weeks 1-4) - covers the formulation of linear programs, both algebraically and in Excel, and interpretation of the solutions. Integer programming models, transportation and transshipment problems are considered.
  • Decision Making and Data Models (Weeks 5-8) -  covers decision trees, models for inventory management, project management and quality control.
  • Modelling and Simulation (Weeks 9-12) - covers modelling random processes in R, with applications to queues, epidemic modelling, inventory management, revenue management and optimisation.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 12.5 hours per week involved in each 15-point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, a typical weekly workload includes:

  • 3 hours of lectures
  • A 1-hour tutorial
  • 4 hours of reviewing the course content
  • 4.5 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation

Course Prerequisites, Corequisites and Restrictions

Restriction

Additional Advice on Prerequisites

Prerequisite: ENGSCI 211 or STATS 201 or 208, or a B+ or higher in either MATHS 108 or 120 or 130 or 162 or 199 or STATS 101 or 108, or a concurrent enrolment in either ENGSCI 211 or STATS 201 or 208

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
City

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

Lectures and tutorials will also be available as recordings.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

In-person attendance at the test and exam is required. No online version will be available.

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Additional Information on Learning Resources

Course notes will be available as PDFs on Canvas, for annotation or printing.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.


You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Health and Safety

Students must ensure they are familiar with their Health and Safety responsibilities, as described in the University's Health and Safety Policy.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Additional Information on Assessment

A passing mark is 50% or higher, according to University policy.

Students must sit the exam to pass the course. Otherwise, a DNS (did not sit) result will be returned.

Students must score at least 45% in the final exam to pass the course.

The exam mode will be Type C - In Person Invigilated.

Any assignments submitted late will be penalised at 4% of the total mark for each hour that they are late.

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type12345678

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

Based on the 2024 SET results, the following were all mentioned multiple times as being helpful to students learning:
    • The coursebook/notes/slides
    • The assignments
    • The tutorials
    • The Stats Assistance Hub
The following were all mentioned multiple times as challenges or suggestions for improvements:
    • The course is fast-paced/too much content
    • Having a single highly weighted test
    • The format of the coursebook
    • No solutions to past exams
For Sections A and B we will look at changing the formatting of the coursebook to allow for more annotation, and attempt to provide as much of the book as possible as early as possible.
We will also consider changing the format/structure of the tutorials, to make them more engaging.

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.