An important activity for an organization’s leaders and managers is making decisions associated with problem-solving. Making decisions is a complex endeavor where choices are made from courses of action where resources are limited and in the presence of constraints. Written as a guide, this book offers a quantitative approach to decision-making. The process of decision-making is presented from a holistic point of view. This book offers a basic understanding of the issues and processes involved in decision-making by presenting the tools associated with problem analysis, tools that enable developing choices, as well as tools used to normalize judgment criteria achievement so that they are comparable across measures using different scales. Several solution methods for decision problems that have one evaluation criterion are explained first. Methods for problems with multiple criteria for evaluating alternate solutions are discussed as well. The multiple criteria methods include those that do not require any explicit preference or trade-off information from the decision-maker and those that do require the decision-maker’s preference or trade-off information. The intended audience of the book includes technical and nontechnical professionals, managers, and supervisors at all levels, and engineering and business educators. The book would also be useful to undergraduate students, beginning graduate students, and recent graduates of professional programs, or in mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, and humanities.

This text aims to show students how to use the management science results in actual managerial decision-making. It focuses on real-world applications and software rather than straight mathematics. It should prepare students for the challenging situations faced by management scientists every day as they: gain a familiarity with current management science approaches; build skills in quantitative decision-making; improve their overall knowledge of business; improve communication skills; and develop a strong familiarity with relevant computer programs.

Reflecting the latest developments in Microsoft Office Excel 2013, Anderson/Sweeney/Williams/Camm/Cochran/Fry/Ohlmann's AN INTRODUCTION TO MANAGEMENT SCIENCE: QUANTITATIVE APPROACHES TO DECISION MAKING, 14E equips readers with a sound conceptual understanding of the role that management science plays in the decision-making process. The trusted market leader for more than two decades, the book uses a proven problem-scenario approach to introduce each quantitative technique within an applications setting. All data sets, applications, and screen visuals reflect the details of Excel 2013 to effectively prepare you to work with the latest spreadsheet tools. In addition, readers can get a copy of LINGO software and Excel add-ins with the book's online content.