PA 557 Operations Research in Public Administration

Addresses the need for today's public administrators to have some understanding of the increasingly important tools of management science and operations research. It has no prerequisite: quantitative or technical background is not required. A variety of topics will be covered, with some flexibility in choice of topics according to students' interest. Topics include: linear programming, queueing, simulation, decision analysis, forecasting, PERT/CPM, inventory analysis, and replacement analysis. Methods taught in the course will be in the context of public administration.