Author Profile
Carraway, Robert L.
Flex Technology
Grushka-Cockayne, Yael Carraway, Robert L. Sorenson, Travis
QA-0811 | Published February 18, 2014 | 10 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
After years of development, William Krause knew that 2014 was the year to “go big or go home.” His Flexible Herbert Screw, a medical device intended to support the healing of fractured collarbones (cl... Read More
Introduction to Optimization Models
QA-0682 | Published March 29, 2010 | 39 pages Technical Note
Collection: Darden School of Business
We refer to a model that uses mathematical programming to find an optimal quantity as an optimization model. Thus, an optimization model differs from an evaluation model in that it goes beyond simply ... Read More
The Mathematics of Optimization
QA-0683 | Published March 29, 2010 | 27 pages Technical Note
Collection: Darden School of Business
In "Introduction to Optimization Models" (UVA-QA-0682), we explored the basics of using optimization models, or mathematical programming. In this technical note, we turn our attention to the mathemati... Read More
Introduction to Analytical Probability Distributions
Carraway, Robert L. Jenkins, Robert
QA-0690 | Published March 29, 2010 | 15 pages Technical Note
Collection: Darden School of Business
This technical note provides a mostly nontechnical introduction to analytical probability distributions. The distributions covered are: uniform, triangular, normal, Poisson, exponential, lognormal, an... Read More
Regression: Forecasting Using Explanatory Factors
Pfeifer, Phillip E. Bodily, Samuel E. Carraway, Robert L. Frey, Sherwood C. Jr.
QA-0693 | Published November 08, 2006 | 51 pages Technical Note
Collection: Darden School of Business
This comprehensive technical note explains linear regression. It is intended for students with no prior knowledge of the topic. It is divided into nine sections, which may be assigned separately: 1. T... Read More
Quick-Start Guide for Crystal Ball
Carraway, Robert L. Jenkins, Robert
QA-0658 | Published August 31, 2005 | 15 pages Technical Note
Collection: Darden School of Business
This technical note provides an introduction to Crystal Ball and is designed for first-year MBA students, so it includes the basic knowledge of Crystal Ball that they will need in a Decision Analysis ... Read More
Analyzing Uncertainty: Probability Distributions and Simulation
QA-0660 | Published August 31, 2005 | 14 pages Technical Note
Collection: Darden School of Business
This note introduces simulation as a tool to analyze uncertainty in business decisions. It first observes the limitations of single point or simple range estimates of key uncertainties, thereby motiva... Read More
The North Star Concert
Frey, Sherwood C. Jr. Carraway, Robert L.
QA-0666 | Published August 11, 2005 | 3 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
The creator of special-event T-shirts has to decide how many shirts to order for an upcoming rock concert. Although she has a best guess and maximum and minimum estimates of attendance at the concert,... Read More
Taurus Telecommunications Corporation: A New Prepaid Phonecard
Carraway, Robert L. Jenkins, Robert
QA-0659 | Published July 19, 2005 | 11 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
Students are introduced to a spreadsheet model for evaluating the potential profitability and relative merits of three retail product proposals and single-point estimates of numerous inputs. This case... Read More
Dow Chemical U.S.A.: Capacity Expansion
QA-0411 | Published April 08, 2004 | 9 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
Dow Chemical U.S.A. is faced with the decision of where to locate a new chemical reactor. Three current plants sites are being considered. Economic planner John Lewis has been charged with analyzing t... Read More
Exercises in Managerial Decision-Making (I)
Carraway, Robert L. Clyman, Dana R. Smokevitch, Jennifer
QA-0607 | Published February 10, 2003 | 1 pages Exercise
Collection: Darden School of Business
These exercises, featuring four questions that people commonly make cognitive mistakes when answering, are to be used in conjunction with "Exercises in Managerial Decision-Making (II)" (UVA-QA-0608). Read More
Exercises in Managerial Decision-Making (II)
Carraway, Robert L. Clyman, Dana R. Smokevitch, Jennifer
QA-0608 | Published February 10, 2003 | 1 pages Exercise
Collection: Darden School of Business
These exercises, featuring four questions that people commonly make cognitive mistakes when answering, are to be used in conjunction with "Exercises in Managerial Decision-Making (I)" (UVA-QA-0607). Read More
Optimization Modeling Exercises
QA-0606 | Published January 03, 2003 | 3 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
The problem set contains three problems designed to help students practice their ability to build math programming models. Problem # 1 is a portfolio problem where the student is asked to find a portf... Read More
Colonial Downs (A)
Carraway, Robert L. Miller, Cliff Kaminsky, Keith
QA-0590 | Published February 15, 2002 | 4 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
In this case, the protagonist is trying to decide which of the three horses running in the final race of the day at Colonial Downs horseracing track to bet on. He has $10 to bet, not enough to affect ... Read More
Colonial Downs (B)
Carraway, Robert L. Miller, Cliff Kaminsky, Keith
QA-0591 | Published February 15, 2002 | 3 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
In this case, the protagonist's uncle calls him just before betting closes on the same race and asks him to place a $500 bet for him. The $500 is clearly enough to affect the odds, but since the prota... Read More
Benecol Spread and Media Planning
Johnson, Richard R. Carraway, Robert L. Shames, Ervin R. Farris, Paul W.
M-0664 | Published January 20, 2002 | 23 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
Benecol Spread, a cholesterol-lowering margarine, was a product with unusual media-planning challenges. With a narrow target group and unproven market potential, Johnson & Johnson needed to get the mo... Read More
Buckeye Power & Light Company Supplement (Excel Solver)
QA-0490 | Published July 18, 1996 | 11 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
Buckeye Power & Light Company (BP&L) has recently retained the services of a consulting firm to analyze aspects of its operations. This supplement contains the consultant's report, which includes an o... Read More
Roadway Construction Company
Carraway, Robert L. Schwartz, Douglas L.
QA-0424 | Published September 03, 1991 | 3 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
A road construction company needs a new asphalt plant and must decide between two options: a drum plant with a 10-year life or a batch plant with a 5-year life. In addition, the company must decide wh... Read More
East Georgia Construction Company
Carraway, Robert L. Jenkins, Robert
QA-0664 | Published August 10, 1991 | 5 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
A construction company that serves a 20-county area of eastern Georgia (United States) has as its main source of revenue the manufacture and placement of asphaltic concrete used in road construction. ... Read More
Ward Thomas and Sons, Inc.
QA-0378 | Published April 05, 1991 | 10 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
An MBA student attempts to use linear programming to help his family reduce feeding costs on their dairy farm. The objectives of the case include practice at formulating linear-programming problems (i... Read More
Foulke Consumer Products, Inc.: Supplement
QA-0428 | Published February 26, 1991 | 8 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
This supplement is meant to support "Foulke Consumer Products, Inc.: The Southeast Region" (UVA-QA-0392), and should be accompanied by a spreadsheet file (UVA-QA-0428X) of the model described herein. ... Read More
Jaikumar Textiles, Ltd. (B): The Nylon Division
QA-0391 | Published April 08, 1989 | 5 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
In this case, a second constraining resource is introduced to the decision environment of the A case (UVA-QA-0364), making linear programming appropriate and useful. Because there are two decision var... Read More
Foulke Consumer Products, Inc.: The Southeast Region
Carraway, Robert L. Hosler, William
QA-0392 | Published April 08, 1989 | 8 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
At the core of this case is a distribution, or sourcing, problem that can be modeled and solved using linear programming (LP). There are also issues of whether to build (a) new plant(s)--and if so, wh... Read More
Jaikumar Textiles, Ltd. (A): The Nylon Division
QA-0364 | Published April 05, 1988 | 5 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
This case is a good introductory linear-programming case; it introduces the notion of constraint exploitation and provides practice in deciding between alternative forecasting techniques (including ex... Read More
Introduction To Mathematical Programming: Linear Programming
QA-0377 | Published April 05, 1988 | 21 pages Technical Note
Collection: Darden School of Business
This note provides an introduction to mathematical programming (in general) and linear programming (in particular). A spreadsheet-based approach is used, accompanied by a graphical description of the ... Read More
Buckeye Power & Light Company
Frey, Sherwood C. Jr. Carraway, Robert L.
QA-0326 | Published April 05, 1986 | 6 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
This case describes the coal-procurement process of a small electric utility. The manager of the production fuel department must decide how much coal to purchase from each vendor and how to allocate t... Read More