Practical Management Science (with CD-ROM, Decision Tools and Stat Tools Suite, and Microsoft Project 2003 120 Day Version): Spreadsheet Modeling and Applications (with CD-ROM Update) Review

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(More customer reviews)Unlike most textbooks on OR/MS, Winston and Albright's PracticalManagement Science's has, at least, three clear possible roles -- eachperformed superbly. 1. As a self-study text for someone learning /relearning management science in a spreadsheet environment. 2. As amanagement science student's self-help resource to decipher whatevercryptic text happens to have been required for a course. 3. As aconventional textbook to be chosen by an academic for classroom use.
1.As a self-study text for someone learning / relearning management sciencein a spreadsheet environment, you'll find PMSc written with obvious andutter mastery of the subject matter, that's commendable but hardly unique.What is unique are the clarity of the presentation and the lucidity of theabundant examples running throughout. In addition, there is thoroughness inthe treatment which effectively anticipates virtually any and all sourcesof confusion which a student of any stripe might suffer. It is, in my view,wholly autodidactic. There is a subset of this type of user: the individualwith a job-specific task which defies current familiarity / skill-level. Nosweat! Use the inside-the-front cover material as a functional area tasklocator to identify "look-alike" situations and then proceed tomaster all which is required by back-tracing the example to similarsituations encapsulated within the many interspersed problems -- for eachof which there is a complete Excel solution format.
2. As a managementscience student's self-help resource with which to cope and to decipherwhatever cryptic text was assigned for the course. If you find yourself inthis far too common dilemma, take heart, help is well and truly at hand.Skim the TOC, find the relevant chapter and enjoy basking in yourfast-welling, new-found competence. PMSc will provide ample basis forwarranting a celebration at the local "pub" -- or whatever passesfor same in your locale.
3. "As a conventional textbook to be chosenby an academic for classroom use" was the category into which I"fell." To my dismay, I recently found myself assigned, onextremely short notice, to teach a comprehensive course on MS/OR. I foundour standard two-volume text decidedly off-putting and could only concludethat my students would likely as well. As my background includesaccounting, finance, and computer systems, I knew that I wanted aspreadsheet-based textbook for the course. As at most schools, MS is underfire for "relevance" and "accessibility," compoundedhere through the "mix" of students for my various sections: MBA,EMBA, and MS/MOT (latter all engineering degreed).
Suffice it to say thatthe classes proved complete successes: the students petitioned the Dean tohave an advanced management science course added to the curriculum whichI'm teaching this (fall '98) semester. In addition to covering the chapters/ chapter sections omitted from the "introductory" course, we'reusing PMSc as the primary text with Bodily, Carraway, et al's excellent QBAcase book for facilitating the integration of MS with finance, marketing,operations, and strategy.
As a sidebar: Most of my MBA students were fromone of our "dedicated" MBA programs. These manager / studentshave apparently provided many of their subordinates with copies of PMSc.Their experience had regularly been that they were using on Monday thematerial I had "taught" them on Saturday.
As if this weren'tenough praise, I'm using PMSc as a supplemental text in my finance coursesbecause of its lucid and extensive coverage of @RISK and for the extensivefinance material provided. This is proving extremely popular with mystudents.
As you might infer, I think that PMSc is without peer as thebest and most effective text for learning how to actually perform REALmanagement science without tears or undue ancillary learning. I've yet tohave a student who was not wildly enthusiastic about PMSc (that's nothyperbole) -- when's the last time you've had THAT experience?
I'd behappy to hear from anyone buying this text -- I really WANT to hear fromanyone buying this text who is less than completely satisfied.

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Product Description:
This text takes an active-learning approach, providing numerous examples and problems so students can practice extensively with a concept before moving on. Four types of problems -- skill-building, skill-extending, modeling, and cases are graded within sections and chapters to help instructors assign homework. Another important feature is the way that the text integrates modeling into all functional areas of business: finance, marketing, operations management using real examples and real data. The text emphasizes modeling over algebraic formulations and memorization of particular models. Shell files are also provided so that instructors can give students as much or as little information as they need.

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