Spreadsheet Modeling and Decision Analysis

Provides an introduction to the most commonly used management science techniques and shows how these tools can be implemented using Microsoft Excel 5.0 for Windows. It also focuses on developing both algebraic and spreadsheet modeling skills.

Cliff Ragsdale is the Bank of America Professor, Department of Business Information Technology in the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech, where he has taught since 1990. He received his Ph.D. in Management Science and Information Technology from the University of Georgia. He also holds an M.B.A. in Finance and B.A. in Psychology from the University of Central Florida. Before pursuing his Ph.D., he was supervisor of Benefit Finance & Qualified Plans at the international headquarters of Red Lobster, Inc. He has served as an information systems and statistical consultant for a variety of companies and as an expert witness in the area of spreadsheet forensics. Dr. Ragsdale's primary areas of research interest include applications of artificial intelligence, mathematical programming, and applying statistics to business problems. His research has appeared in DECISION SCIENCES, NAVAL RESEARCH LOGISTICS, OMEGA: THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCE, COMPUTERS & OPERATIONS RESEARCH, OPERATIONS RESEARCH LETTERS, PERSONAL FINANCIAL PLANNING, and other publications. He has received both the Pamplin award for excellence in teaching and the Outstanding Doctoral Educator Award from the Pamplin College of Business Administration at Virginia Tech. Dr. Ragsdale is a Fellow of the Decision Sciences Institute and active member of DSI and INFORMS.