MBA 510
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS FOR BUSINESS

Fall 2000
Instructor - Robert F. Mulligan
mulligan@wcu.edu
 http://www3.wcu.edu/~mulligan/ or http://wcuvax1.wcu.edu/~mulligan/

PROBLEM SETS
INSTRUCTOR OFFICE HOURS
RFM HOME

Office Hours – MWF 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM, or by appointment. I am always happy to talk to students outside my scheduled hours.  Feel free to drop in without an appointment, but if you are coming from off campus, call first to make sure I will be available. I will not be available the Monday or Tuesday before exams.

Office Hours/Teaching Schedule
Office - Forsyth 309, Phone - (828) 227-3329.
Department of Economics, Finance, & International Business - Forsyth 304 & 305, Phone - (828) 227-7074.
You are welcome to call me at home at (828) 293-5367 no later than 10:00 PM.

1. Required Text - Basic Statistics for Business and Economics, third edition, Douglas A. Lind, Robert D. Mason, and William G. Marchal.

2. Course Objectives

"The world consists of facts, not of things." - Ludwig Wittgenstein
a.  Develop an understanding of descriptive statistics and their information content.
b.  Develop the ability to construct and perform statistical tests of hypothesis.
c.  Develop an understanding of regression analysis and its applications.
d.  Learn analysis of variance, nonparametric methods, and associated statisitical techniques.
e.  Develop statistical intuition.
f.  Understand how statistical analysis can be applied in business settings.

3.  Suggested Study Strategy
Twenty-five percent of your grade will be determined by your ability to work problems before the class.  Each problem set consists of even-numbered problems from the textbook.  Work out these problems over the weekend.  We will cover statistical theory and practice, and I will work some problems on the board, each Wednesday.  Students will be called on at random to work out the problem sets each Monday.  You will not receive credit for this part of the course if you are not prepared to work these problems in class on Monday.  Odd-numbered problems will not be assigned, but because the answers are given in the textbook, they may provide hints about how to do the assigned problems.

Seventy-five percent of your grade will be determined by the three tests.  These will consist of problems taken from the assigned problem sets, similar problems from the text, and problems with some modifications.  The best possible preparation for the exams will be familiarity with the problem sets.  Understanding statistical theory and procedure is no substitute for the ability to solve real-world problems.

4. Course Policies & Organization

"Eighty percent of success is just showing up." - Woody Allen
a. Absence policy:
Class attendance is essential and roll will be taken at the beginning of every class meeting, but attendance will not count toward your grade.  If you are not there when you are called on to work a problem at the board, your grade will be adversely affected.

Attendance is important because:
     1. Difficult concepts will be explained and administrative announcements will be made in class, and
     2. Responsible adults display responsible behavior.

b. Grades:  Out of a total of 600 possible points,

Test 1
150 points
Test 2
150 points
Test 3 (Final Exam)
150 points
Problem Sets
150 points
Total:
600 points
Final letter grades will be assigned according to the following schedule:
Letter Grade
Lower Range Limit
Upper Range Limit
A
540
600
B
480
539
C
420
479
F
0
419
Cheating will not be tolerated and will result in an automatic grade of F for the course. Absence from any of the three exams will result in an automatic grade of F for the course.

c. Withdrawal Policy:
     1. Students considering withdrawal prior to the withdrawal deadline should make an appointment to discuss withdrawal with the instructor. This is to give me the opportunity to advise you of your options and standing in the class. I do not attempt to stop students from withdrawing.
     2. Ws will not be given after the appropriate deadline except for documented medical or legal reasons.

5. Disabled/handicapped Students

If you have a disability or handicap requiring special accommodation, notify me immediately so arrangements can be made.

6. Course Calendar/Problem sets/Test schedule

PROBLEM SETS
Please read the assigned chapters before the day they are scheduled for discussion in class.  Work out the problem sets in advance so you will be able to work them out on the board.