Curricular Unit:			Code:
Operational Research			870IO
Year:	Level:	Course:	Credits:
3	Undergraduate	Commercial Management and Accounting	4 ects
Learning Period:		Language of Instruction:	Total Hours:
Spring Semester		Portuguese/English	52
Learning Outcomes of the Curricular Unit:
To understand the importance of OR in decision-making. To represent a real system in a mathematical model and, subsequently, to obtain solutions to the model using computational techniques. To interpret the meaning of the solutions and analyse the impact of changes in the parameters of the model. To recognize and solve transportation and assignment problems as special types of linear programming model. In the context of project management, to determine critical activities using CPM and PERT methods. Skills: acquisition of specific knowledge and tools of OR methods to support decision-making in different contexts; adaptation to new situations; autonomy.
Syllabus:
Introduction: OR and management science; object; methodology and applications of OR. Linear Programming: mathematical formulation and properties of the model; graphical solution; spreadsheet modelling and optimization; sensitivity analysis; duality. Linear Programming Applications: transportation problem; assignment problem. Planning and Control of Projects: network representation; CPM; PERT.
Demonstration of the Syllabus Coherence with the Curricular Unit's Objectives:
1. Introduction. Allows understanding the importance of OR in management, by presenting of its nature, scope and its modelling approach based on the scientific method. 2. Linear Programming. Allows representing a problem via a linear programming model, by formulating it as a mathematical model. Allows solving the model, using the graphical method and MS Excel Solver. The interpretation of the solution of the problem is accompanied by duality and sensitivity analysis to model parameters. 3. Linear Programming Applications. Allows recognizing and solving particular types of linear programming models, such as the transportation and assignment problems, by constructing a LP model, finding the solution and reporting the results for decision-making purposes. 4. Project Management. Allows finding the critical activities of a project (with deterministic or probabilistic duration), by building a network with activities on arrows and applying CPM and PERT methods.
Teaching Methodologies (Including Evaluation):
The course relies on theoretical presentations, conceptual clarification and computational calculation. Lectures combine theory and practice, and analysis of case-study scenarios. Assessment is based on two midterm tests (45% + 45%) and homework (10%).
Demonstration of the Coherence between the Teaching Methodologies and the Learning Outcomes:
The combination of theoretical presentations and problem solving tasks enables students to acquire specific theoretic knowledge in operations research, as well as to practice its application to specific case-scenarios.
Reading:
Hill, M. M. e Santos, M. M. (2015). Investigação Operacional, Volume I, Programação Linear, 3ª Ed.. Lisboa: Edições Sílabo. Hill, M. M., Santos, M. M. e Monteiro, A. L. (2015). Investigação Operacional, Volume 3, Transportes, Afetação e Otimização em Redes, 2ª Ed.. Lisboa: Edições Sílabo. Hillier, F.S. e Lieberman, G.J. (2014). Introduction to Operations Research, 10th Ed . Boston: McGraw Hill. Hillier, F. S. and Hillier, M. S. (2019). Introduction to Management Science: A Modelling and Case Studies Approach with Spreadsheets, 6th Ed. Boston: McGraw Hill. Menezes, L. (2009). Gestão de projetos, 3ª Ed.. São Paulo: Atlas.