GDOC0005-1 : Seminar of Operations Research

Study Programmes 2016-2017

GDOC0005-1

Seminar of Operations Research

Duration :

30h Th

Number of credits :

Doctoral training in economics and business management (Sciences de gestion)		5

Lecturer :

Yves Crama

Language(s) of instruction :

English language

Organisation and examination :

Teaching in the second semester

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents :

The main focus of the seminar is on optimization methods, at an advanced level. The main topics addressed are:

complexity theory: easy and hard optimization problems, complexity classes, polynomial transformations
linear programming theory: (revised) simplex algorithm, duality theory, column generation algorithms
combinatorial algorithms: network flows, shortest paths, spanning trees, etc.
integer programming: branch-and-bound, tight formulations, introduction to cutting planes and to polyhedral theory
approximation algorithms with guaranteed performance.

The selection of topics can be adapted to a certain extent, depending for instance on the research interests or on the previous education of the participants.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit :

The course is mostly intended for doctoral students pursuing methodological advances in operations research and in optimization, or applying OR approaches to the solution of problems arising in disciplines such as supply chain management, transportation, marketing, finance, industrial economics, and so on.
Intended learning outcomes

Knowledge: acquisition and in-depth understanding of linear and discrete optimization (theory and algorithms)
Specific skills: ability to formulate and to solve optimization problems arising in management
Specific skills: ability to use methodological knowledge in order to develop new algorithms and solution approaches
Specific/transversal skills: ability to read and to understand the scientific literature in these fields
Transversal skills: improvement of oral presentation skills

Prerequisite knowledge and skills :

Prerequisites:

A first course in operations research, including linear programming models and the simplex method.
Proficiency in mathematics, especially linear algebra and analysis.
Introduction to algorithms.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods :

The students must prepare each meting by reading preassigned material (either chapters from advanced textbooks or research articles) and by solving homework problems. The homework problems are intended to clarify difficult concepts, as well as to deepen and to test the understanding of the material.
Classroom meetings are devoted to group discussions of the material and of the homework assignments.
A few meetings may be devoted to individual presentations by the students, based on their general scientific interests or on their own research projects.

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :

All students must prepare each meting by reading preassigned material (either chapters from advanced textbooks or research articles) and by answering a number of questions (either questions intended to clarify difficult parts of the material, or additional proofs, or numerical exercises). The classroom meetings are entirely devoted to a group discussion of the material and of the homework assignments. A few meetings may be devoted to (individual) oral presentations by the students, based either on their general scientific interests or on their own research projects