Decision Analytics 2025

Sequential Decision Analytics with Python, Java & Julia: Inventory, Markets, Finance, and Pricing

What you'll learn

Model and solve sequential decision problems using MDPs and dynamic programming.

Apply optimization techniques to inventory, pricing, and portfolio problems.

Implement decision analytics projects in Python, Java, and Julia.

Analyze uncertainty and adapt strategies in real-world business contexts.

Requirements

A basic understanding of probability, linear algebra, and optimization will be helpful, but not strictly required. Familiarity with at least one programming language (such as Python, Java, or Julia) will make it easier to follow along with the coding projects. If you are new to these tools, the provided project files and step-by-step explanations will guide you through implementation. All you need is a computer and the willingness to learn by combining theory with practice.

Description

Sequential decision analytics is at the heart of modern operations research, finance, and business strategy. This course is designed to give you both the theoretical foundations and the practical skills to model, analyze, and solve complex sequential decision-making problems using Python, Java, and Julia.We begin with the fundamentals of Markov decision processes (MDPs), stochastic dynamic programming, and reinforcement learning, building a unified framework for modeling uncertainty and adaptivity in decision problems. From there, you will apply these methods to real-world scenarios across multiple domains:Dynamic Inventory Management – learn how to balance stock levels, demand uncertainty, and holding costs in supply chain systems.Adaptive Market Planning – explore strategies for responding to competitive and volatile markets with data-driven decision rules.Portfolio Management – apply sequential optimization techniques to allocate capital under risk and return trade-offs.Airline Pricing and Revenue Management – discover how dynamic pricing models maximize revenue in industries with fluctuating demand.Throughout the course, you will work on hands-on projects implemented in Python, Java, and Julia, giving you exposure to multiple programming environments widely used in academia and industry. Each project is carefully designed to bridge theory with practice, ensuring that you not only understand the algorithms but can also implement them in real-world applications.By the end of this course, you will be equipped with the tools and intuition to design intelligent decision-making systems across logistics, finance, marketing, and operations. This is a perfect course for engineers, data scientists, operations researchers, and anyone who wants to master the science of making optimal sequential decisions.

Overview

Section 1: Introduction

Lecture 1 Introduction

Section 2: Sequential Decision Analytics

Lecture 2 What is SDA?

Section 3: Java Projects

Lecture 3 Sequential Decision Analytics - Java

Section 4: Airline Pricing

Lecture 4 Airline Pricing MDP

Lecture 5 Plot

Lecture 6 Python Project

Lecture 7 Julia Project

Lecture 8 Julia Project with Plot

Section 5: Portfolio Management

Lecture 9 Python

Section 6: Adaptive Market Planning

Lecture 10 Python Lesson

This course is ideal for students, researchers, and professionals in operations research, data science, industrial engineering, economics, and finance who want to strengthen their decision-making skills. It is also suitable for software developers and analysts interested in applying advanced optimization and analytics techniques to real-world problems in supply chains, pricing, and financial planning. Whether you are preparing for academic research, industry projects, or simply expanding your technical toolkit, this course will provide both theory and hands-on practice.