A Model for a First MBA Course in Management Science/Operations Research

Abstract

Our design for the first MS/OR course in an MBA curriculum aims to prepare all students to be consumers of MS/OR and to motivate a few to take further courses to become MS/OR producers. MS/OR is a way of perceiving, analyzing, and interacting with the world, and the first course should be utilitarian. Above all, students should understand the role of modeling as managers make decisions and solve problems. They should also develop an appreciation for the entire decision support process, understanding what MS/OR analysts do and why that work is important to an organization, and becoming excited by MS/OR. The pedagogy we propose focuses on problem formulation, on applications, and on understanding what practitioners do.