BIT 512 (a 1.5-credit, 7-week course on "Expert-Level Excel 2007" taught each Sep/Oct; and each Jan/Feb) covers charting; time-and-date functions; financial functions; working with internal and external databases; sorting, filtering, extracting, and querying; pivot tables; models based on systems of worksheets and workbooks; shared models; spreadsheet-based access to information on the Web; introductory linear and nonlinear optimization using Solver in Excel; one-variable and two-variable data tables; scenarios and scenario management; and material on the creation of Excel macros using Visual Basic for Applications.
The principal book used in the course, "Microsoft Excel 2007, Comprehensive," ISBN-13: 978-1-4239-0585-1, is certified at the Expert level by Microsoft. (This means the material in the book is Microsoft-Certified at the level of Application Specialist, so that after mastering the book’s content, a person is prepared to pass the exams required to become a Microsoft Certified Application Specialist or a Microsoft Certified Application Professional.) The book is available in the local bookstores, and a copy is on two-hour reserve for inspection in the Ross Business School's Kresge and Commerce Park Libraries.
Assuming prior knowledge of Excel fundamentals (which can be self-studied from the first three chapters of the book, if need be), BIT 512 starts with Chapter 4 in the book, and then covers the rest of the book.
The course following BIT 512 (BIT 513: "Excel-Based Risk Analysis, Decision Analysis, and Optimization, ", also a 1.5-credit, 7-week course taught in Nov/Dec; and in Mar/Apr) covers such topics from the broad area of management science as risk analysis using probabilistic spreadsheet-based simulation (implemented with Excel's commercial third-party @Risk add-in), decision analysis using decision trees (implemented with Excel's commercial third-party PrecisionTree add-in), and linear and nonlinear optimization in depth (using Excel's commercial third-party Solver add-in). The commercial @Risk and PrecisionTree add-ins are provided on the Internet to those who have the course textbook, and are also in the Ross Business School's computer network for on the spot use or remote access. Solver ships with Excel. The BIT 513 book, "Practical Management Science", revised 3rd edition, by Winston and Albright, ISBN 978-0-324-66250-4.
The two courses emphasize hands-on problem solving. BIT 512 moves fast and covers expert-level Excel comprehensively in six weeks. An advanced level of spreadsheet use for modeling is reached by the end of BIT 513. Lecture/demonstrations illustrate characteristics of software and problem solving techniques. Computer use involves implementing applications from a broad range of business areas, including marketing, finance, and operations management.
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