Risk Solver Platform for Education (RSPE): a new software package option available from Frontline Systems, RSPE is an Excel add-in and its Solver shares some of the features of the Excel Solver.

Substantial Revision of Chapter 1: In addition to some updates and a new end-of chapter case, the example on clocks has been updated to cover iWatches instead of grandfather clocks.

Chapter 2: new section 2.6 introduces RSPE and presents the basics of how to use it.

Chapter 5: Parameter Analysis Reports are introduced in Chapter 5 and widely used for performing sensitivity analysis systematically. This key tool of RSPE also receives important use in Chapters 7, 8, and 13.

Chapter 8: revised to better identify the available solving methods for nonlinear programming. The Excel Solver and the RSPE Solver share some solving methods for nonlinear programming and, the RSPE Solver adds another one.

Chapter 8: new section 8.6 using RSPE to analyze a model and choose a solving method. This new section describes a key tool of RSPE for analyzing a model and choosing the best solving method.

Chapter 9: Decision Analysis has been substantially revised. RSPE has outstanding functionality for constructing and analy zing decision trees, etc…and this functionality is thoroughly exploited in the revised Chapter 9.

Chapter 12: Revision of the first computer simulation chapter. Chapter 12 has been revised to make it as independent of Chapter 11 as possible, while still covering the basics of computer simulation.

Chapter 13: revision of the second computer simulation chapter: Crystal Ball examples have been replaced by Risk Solver RSPE. However, an updated version of the fourth edition Chapter 13 still will be available on the CD-ROM (now Chapter 20) for instructors who wish to use Crystal Ball.

Chapter 13: new section 13.8 on decision making with computer simulations. This new section describes how to generate parameter analysis reports and trend charts using RSPE that can provide an important guide to managerial decision-making.

Chapter 13: new section 13.9 on optimizing with computer simulations: This new sections describes how the Solver can use multiple simulation runs to automatically search for an optimal solution for simulation models with any number of decision variables.

Additional links to articles that describe dramatic real applications: The fifth edition has added seven more vignettes to the existing 21 application vignettes. These vignettes describe in a few paragraphs how an actual application of management science had a powerful effect on a company or organization by using techniques like those being studied in that portion of the book. There are also added links to the journal articles that fully describe these applications, through a special arrangement with The Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS ®). INFORMS is a learned professional society for students, academics, and practitioners in quantitative and analytical fields. Information about INFORMS journals, meetings, job bank, scholarships, awards, and teaching materials is available at www.informs.org.

Refinements in each chapter: Each chapter from the fourth edition has been carefully examined and revised in the fifth edition as needed to update and clarify the material.