INFORMS Open Forum

Version 2.0.0 of Decision Modeling by David Tulett is now available for free download from https://linney.mun.ca/pages/view.php?ref=36808.

In 613 pages it contains nine chapters of material on linear optimization, sensitivity analysis, networks, integer optimization, non-linear optimization and goal programming, and decision analysis. It was created using LaTeX and PSTricks. Version 1.0.0 to Version 1.21 inclusive have been downloaded more than 15,000 times.

Much of the new material since Version 1.2.1 involves the addition of models made in LINGO algebraic mode to the main body of the text. The models made in the Excel Solver are still there, so I hope that the book attracts an expanded audience while keeping those readers who prefer the use of spreadsheets for optimization. The more difficult use of LINGO in sets mode appears in an appendix.

Most students who use this book at my university are destined for careers in accounting, marketing, human resources, and so on. Only a minority will go on to careers in such fields as analytics or information systems. I therefore wish to make the transition from an algebraic model to a computer model as easy as possible. In LINGO algebraic mode, a constraint in entered in the format 5*X1 + 8*X2 <= 20; , which is very close to the original algebraic model. In my opinion, this is easier than the two-fold setup involved for using the Excel Solver.

The solutions to the Problems for Student Completion at the end of each of the nine chapters of the book are available as nine pdf files. For now, the computer output is still in Excel Solver format, I will try to add content in LINGO to the solutions over the next year.  In the meantime, any professor who wishes to see the solutions as they are now may obtain them by writing to me at dtulett@mun.ca.