Main Content
Syllabus
AGBM 106
Agribusiness Problem Solving (3) Development of quantitative problem solving skills applied to specific examples of agribusiness management problems, using EXCEL spreadsheets.
Overview | Objectives | Materials | Library Resources | Technical Requirements | Course Requirements and Grading | Course Schedule | Academic Integrity | Accomodating Disabilities | Additional Policies
Overview
The goal of this course is to develop agribusiness problem solving skills. These skills include optimization, marginal analysis, time discounting, and measuring efficiency. Examples will be implemented using Microsoft EXCEL spreadsheets rather than algebra, calculus and abstract mathematics. This course, then, plays an important role by building skills for use in later agribusiness management courses as well as teaching important problem solving skills to non-majors who want to learn quantitative economics problem-solving skills in the context of agribusiness management.
Material will be organized according to the course topics areas: optimization, marginal analysis, time discounting, and efficiently measurement. Each topic area presentation will rely on specific examples of agribusiness management problems. The first lecture of each week will be a standard lecture emphasizing concepts, presented in a passive learning format. The second lecture of each week will be presented in a technology classroom with spreadsheet examples being worked out by the professor in front of the class, who will guide the students. The third lecture of each week will be taught in a computer laboratory, with students solving the problems actively, but with supervision. Problem solving skills will be reinforced by assigning problem sets for students to do on their own after the computer laboratory experience. It is permitted for students to submit identical labs but problem sets should not be identical.
Course Objectives
At the end of this course, students should be able to:
- Solve a wide variety of business-related quantitative problems using spreadsheets.
Required Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Technical Requirements
| Operating System | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
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| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)
During the semester you will receive information for completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Course Requirements and Grading
| Category | Points Per Assignment | Weight Per Category |
|---|---|---|
| Guided Lab Assignments (15) | 100 | 15% |
| Homework Assignments (7) | 100 | 45% |
| Exams (2) | 100 | 40% |
Guided Lab Assignments
The purpose of each lab assignment is to introduce the Excel tools needed to solve the types of problems covered in the lesson. Students are required to complete each lab. If a lab is completed and submitted by the appropriate date, the student will receive a 100% on that assignment even if there are some mistakes in the calculations. If a lab is not submitted the student will receive a 0, incomplete but submitted assignments will be graded based on how much of the lab was completed. For instance if a lab has five parts and the student only completed four of the five parts they will receive a score of 80%.
Each student is required to watch the videos and complete the lab spreadsheet assignment. Students may elect to watch each video then attempt the lab using the written instructions, or they may work on the lab with the instructions then watch the video. The order in which the student completes the tasks is left to the students.
Homework Assignments
The homework assignments are each self contained small case studies. In each assignment the student is a consultant hired to analyze problems for a particular client. Each assignment consists of a spreadsheet portion and a written memo portion.
- In the spreadsheet the student will analyze the quantitative problems using the techniques studied in the labs and then summarize and interpret the findings for the client in the memo.
- The purpose of the memo is to demonstrate that the student understands the problems in addition to being able to simply ‘crunch numbers’. The goal of the memo is to summarize the problem, convey the important solutions, and answer any specific questions asked in the assignment. Assume that the memo’s audience is familiar with the underlying problem but not familiar with or interested in Excel specific issues. The purpose of the memo is NOT to explain what you did in Excel or how you used Excel. Instead, the purpose of the memo is to explain the results within the context of the underlying lesson content.
Memos should be 1-2 pages either single or double spaced. Memos may include 1-3 small tables but should not include large tables (more than 10 rows long) or figures. Large tables or figures can be left in Excel and referred to in the memo as attachments.
Exams
There will be 2 exams in the course, each comprised of approximately three Excel problems and 10-15 multiple choice problems. The Excel portion of the exam will require that the student downloads a starter spreadsheet.
70% of the each exam score will be based on the Excel portion, while the remaining 30% will come from the multiple choice problems. The Excel problems will be graded on numerical correctness and efficient use of Excel. The multiple choice problems will be completed in Angel. Each exam will have a 90-minute time limit, beginning at the time the students open the exam and ending upon completion and submission of both exam portions.
| Numerical Value | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 93-100 | A |
| 90-92 | A- |
| 87-89 | B+ |
| 83-86 | B |
| 80-82 | B- |
| 77-79 | C+ |
| 70-76 | C |
| 60-69 | D |
| Below 60 | F |
Course Schedule
The schedule below outlines the topics we will be covering in this course, along with the associated time frames and assignments. Note that assignments are due based on Eastern Time (ET). This ensures that all students have the same deadlines regardless of where they live. All lesson assignments must be submitted by 11:55 PM (ET) on the last day of the timeframe indicated below for the lesson.
Lesson 1: Spreadsheet Basics
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Lesson 2: Introduction to Markets
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Lesson 3: Market Equilibriums
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Lesson 4: Demand and Supply Shifters
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Lesson 5: Cost Economics
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Lesson 6: Solving Resource Allocation Problems
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Lesson 7: Economic Order Quantity
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Lesson 8: Accounting - Balance Sheets
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Lesson 9: Income Statements
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Lesson 10: Time Value of Money - Present Value
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Lesson 11: Future Value
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Lesson 12: Basic Business Statistics
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Lesson 13: Special Excel Data Analysis Tools
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Lesson 14: Linear Regression
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Lesson 15: Forecasting
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Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please go to the Graduation Information on the My Penn State Online Student Portal.
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has resources for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contacts for disability services at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the SDR website.
In order to apply for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability resources office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation based on the documentation guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability resources office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Additional Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or dependents with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.