Spreadsheet Modeling & Decision Analysis 9ed

Master key spreadsheet and business analytics skills with Spreadsheet Modeling & Decision Analysis: A Practical Introduction to Business Analytics, 9E, written by respected business analytics innovator Cliff Ragsdale.

This edition's clear presentation, realistic examples, fascinating topics and valuable software provide everything you need to become proficient in today's most widely used business analytics techniques using the latest version of Excel in Microsoft Office 365 or Office 2019. Become skilled in the newest Excel functions as well as Analytic Solver and Data Mining add-ins. This edition helps you develop both algebraic and spreadsheet modeling skills.

Step-by-step instructions and annotated, full-color screen images make examples easy to follow and show you how to apply what you learn about descriptive, predictive and prescriptive analytics to real business situations. WebAssign online tools and author-created videos further strengthen understanding.

Features:

• CONTENT HIGHLIGHTS FRONTLINE SYSTEMS’ ANALYTIC SOLVER® AND DATA MINING ADD-INS FOR EXCEL. Students learn to use these leading business analytics tools for optimization, simulation and data mining, including data import and cleansing, data exploration and visualization, feature selection, clustering and affinity analysis. Students also practice techniques for predictive analytics, including discriminant analysis, neural networks, logistic regression, classification and regression trees, k-nearest neighbor, naïve Bayes and times-series analysis. For more information, go to solver.com.
• TEACHING RESOURCES ENHANCE CLASS PRESENTATION AND REDUCE PREPARATION. A thoroughly revised and carefully crafted set of PowerPoint® slides and Excel solution files, prepared by the text author, reduce your preparation time while providing tools to clarify concepts in your course.
• UPDATED CONTENT HIGHLIGHTS THE LATEST EXCEL FOR MICROSOFT OFFICE 365 AND OFFICE 2019. This timely coverage provides students with the most current tools and information for dealing with key business analytics decision-making problems.
• SIDE-BY-SIDE ALGEBRAIC FORMULATIONS AND SPREADSHEETS SUPPORT CONCEPTUAL THINKING SKILLS. Step-by-step instructions and numerous annotated screenshots make examples easy to follow and understand.
• ANALYTIC SOLVER FOR EXCEL PROVIDES HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART BUSINESS ANALYTICS SOFTWARE. Powerful tools in the Analytic Solver for Excel enable students to perform optimization, simulation, data mining, and work with decision trees in spreadsheets.

About the Author

A leading innovator in spreadsheet instruction and highly regarded pioneer in business analytics, Dr. Cliff Ragsdale is the Bank of America Professor of Business Information Technology and Academic Director of the Center for Business Intelligence and Analytics in the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech, where he has taught since 1990. Dr. Ragsdale 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 supervised benefit finance and 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 numerous publications, including Decision Sciences; Naval Research Logistics; Omega: The International Journal of Management Science; Computers & Operations Research; Operations Research Letters and Personal Financial Planning. 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 (DSI) and active member of DSI and INFORMS.