The Structure of the Book

This text is organized into five units, not all of which can be covered in one semester, as mentioned above. The chapters in each unit are all connected through a common ”thinking strategy”. The thinking strategies are described in the table 1. The breakdown of topics in each chapter within the units is described later.

Each chapter is designed to be covered in one week of a typical semester course. Since the homework problems (see below) come at the end of a chapter, the homework schedule should, ideally, consist of one assignment per week. Each chapter’s introduction provides a brief overview. It also includes a list of goals and objectives that the student should have after completing the chapter. After the introduction and overview, the main content of each chapter is separated into two major sections, each of which consists of the following:

Discussion.

This presents a short overview of the chapter or discusses a short motivational example illustrating the use of the chapter material. The material in this section is conceptual in nature.

Definitions and Formulas.

This lists the factual information of the chapter in the form of definitions, formulas, graphs, and methods of computing. It is intended as a reference guide.

Worked Examples.

These offer worked examples of using the formulas and techniques of the chapter. This material is more often procedural in nature, but uses concepts to unpack and apply the material to realistic situations from the business world.

Explorations.

These involve small scenarios, often supplemented with a datal file for you to explore in whatever software you are using. They are open-ended and require discussion and scaffolding. These are basically guided-discovery type activities and are ready-made in-class activities, but can also cbe completed by students outside of class in order to enhance their understanding of the chapter material.