551.604.01 QUANTITATIVE TOOLS FOR MANAGERS

Provides current and future managers in health care with operational understanding of quantitative modeling tools that can be used to support decision-making. Involves formulation of decision problems into models, solving models using spreadsheet and optimization software, and interpretation of modeling results. Modeling methods to be covered include linear programming, decision analysis, queueing, and simulation. These methods are applied to problems involving staffing, scheduling, patient flow analysis and other management problems.

• To develop an understanding of the process of quantitative modeling • To formulate decision-making problems in terms of goals, objectives, constraints and decision variables (options). • To identify appropriate applications of linear programming, decision analysis, and queuing models • To develop a conceptual, as well as computational understanding of these models • To stimulate critical thinking about operational issues in a system