摘要:

ABSTRACTThis paper presents an initial study of relative performance for a number of the labor tour scheduling heuristic methods proposed in the literature. These heuristic methods were classified as either linear programming (LP) based or construction. Each of the methods was applied to a tour scheduling problem, subject to a variety of labor demand requirements distributions, with the singular objective being the minimization of total labor hours scheduled. Statistical analysis revealed that effective tour schedule solutions were generated by both LP‐based and construction methods. Since the performances of the Keith [13], Morris and Showalter [18], and Bechtold and Showalter [5] methods were superior, their solutions were also compared across a number of secondary criteria. An overall analysis of the performances of these three methods resulted in the identification of a number of important managerial and decision‐making issues. We conclude that service operations management should consider integrating these heuristic methods into a decision support system. Finally, suggestions for future research are provi

ISSN:0011-7315    

DOI:10.1111/j.1540-5915.1991.tb00359.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

ABSTRACTThis study focuses on the manpower tour scheduling problem using data from a lockbox system of a commercial bank. The lockbox system uses employees who differ in productivity, hourly cost, number of available working hours per week, and days‐off constraints. These specific problem characteristics require a more general problem formulation and solution procedure for the manpower tour scheduling problem than addressed in previous research. Four heuristic methods for solving the problem (three developed here and a simple round‐up procedure) are tested on a set of forty problems. The results of this study show the effort to develop sophisticated heuristic methods for this class of problems is well justif

ISSN:0011-7315    

DOI:10.1111/j.1540-5915.1991.tb00360.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

ABSTRACTThe dual problem of work tour scheduling and task assignment involving workers who differ in their times of availability and task qualifications is examined in this paper. The problem is presented in the context of a fast food restaurant, but applies equally well to a diverse set of service operations. Developing a week‐long labor schedule is a nontrivial problem, in terms of complexity and importance, which a manager spends as much as a full workday solving.The primary scheduling objective (the manager's concern) is the minimization of overstaffing in the face of significant hourly and daily fluctuations in minimum staffing requirements. The secondary objective (the workers’ concern) is the minimization of the sum of the squared differences between the number of work hours scheduled and the number targeted for each employee. Contributing to scheduling complexity are constraints on the structure of work tours, including minimum and maximum shift lengths and a maximum number of workdays.A goal programming formulation of a representative problem is shown to be too large, for all practical purposes, to be solved optimally. Existing heuristic procedures related to this research possess inherent limitations which render them inadequate for our purposes. Subsequently, we propose and demonstrate a computerized heuristic procedure capable of producing a labor schedule requiring at most minor refinement by a mana

ISSN:0011-7315    

DOI:10.1111/j.1540-5915.1991.tb00361.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

ABSTRACTOptimal linear discriminant models maximize percentage accuracy for dichotomous classifications, but are rarely used because a theoretical framework that allows one to make valid statements about the statistical significance of the outcomes of such analyses does not exist. This paper describes an analytic solution for the theoretical distribution of optimal values for univariate optimal linear discriminant analysis, under the assumption that the data are random and continuous. We also present the theoretical distribution for sample sizes up toN= 30. The discovery of a statistical framework for evaluating the performance of optimal discriminant models should greatly increase their use by scientists in all disciplines.

ISSN:0011-7315    

DOI:10.1111/j.1540-5915.1991.tb00362.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

ABSTRACTIn acceptance sampling, producer's and consumer's risk are traditionally based on assumed fixed values ofp, the proportion of the lot which is defective. A more useful definition of producer's risk would be the probability of rejecting a lot in which the proportion defective falls within some range of acceptable values. Similarly, a more useful definition of consumer's risk would be the probability of accepting a lot in which the proportion defective falls within some range of unacceptable values. In this paper, we construct measures of these more useful definitions of risk by assuming thatpfollows either a uniform or triangular probability distribution. The proposed measure yields consumer's risk values, β', which are smaller than the traditionally computed values by a factor of up to twenty times. The proposed measure of producer's risk, α', gives values smaller than traditional values by a factor of two to four times. Decision makers who adopt the proposed measures may be able to reduce sample sizes substantially while maintaining given risk level

ISSN:0011-7315    

DOI:10.1111/j.1540-5915.1991.tb00363.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

ABSTRACTThis paper develops analytical approximations based on anM/M/cqueuing model, for the operating characteristics of job shop work centers. The model is used to analyze the effects of partitioning a work center and introducing setup reduction into the cell components. The results using this model are shown to be consistent with the results of prior simulation‐based studies of group technology under certain parameter ranges. A simulation experiment was conducted to verify the effects with multi‐item, non‐Markovian assumptions, and the general effects predicted by the model were found to

ISSN:0011-7315    

DOI:10.1111/j.1540-5915.1991.tb00364.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

ABSTRACTA criticism of linear programming has been that the data which are available in practice are too inexact and unreliable for linear programming to properly work. Managers are therefore concerned with how much actual values may differ from the estimates that were used in the model before the results become irrelevant. Sensitivity analysis emerged to help deal with the uncertainties inherent in the linear programming model. However, the ranges calculated are generally valid only when a single coefficient is varied. An extension of sensitivity analysis, the 100 Percent Rule, allows the simultaneous variation of more than one element in a vector, but does not permit the independent variation of the elements. A tolerance approach to sensitivity analysis enables the consideration of simultaneous and independent change of more than one coefficient. However, the ranges developed are unnecessarily restricted and may be reduced in width to zero when primal or dual degeneracy exists. This paper presents an extension of the tolerance approach which reduces the limitations of both the traditional and tolerance approaches to sensitivity analysis.

ISSN:0011-7315    

DOI:10.1111/j.1540-5915.1991.tb00365.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

ABSTRACTThe concepts of expert systems and decision support systems have received considerable attention recently. While systems have been proposed for various problem areas in business, difficulties still exist in the knowledge acquisition phase of development. This paper presents a recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) approach to knowledge acquisition. The RPA production system approach was applied to data sets representing the mortgage, commercial, and consumer lending problems. Comparison of the classification rates across these problems to the results of a generalized inductive inference production system (Quinlan's ID3 algorithm) and across the mortgage and commercial lending problems to traditional statistical modeling approaches indicated that the RPA approach provided superior results while using fewer variables.

ISSN:0011-7315    

DOI:10.1111/j.1540-5915.1991.tb00366.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

ABSTRACTAn interactive graphics‐based problem‐structuring aid, GISMO, based on concepts from structural modeling and motivated by research in imagery theory and cognitive psychology was incorporated into a decision support system. A laboratory experiment was conducted to investigate the relationships between three individual general thinking skills (GTS) and the effectiveness of the problem‐structuring tool. A theoretical model of the roles of GTS and GISMO in problem formulation and a methodology for testing the model are presented. The model posits that the effectiveness of visual problem‐structuring aids in formulating or understanding complex problems is influenced by specific cognitive skills (i.e., visual‐thinking, verbal, and logical‐reasoning skills).The results indicate GISMO use is related to higher levels of problem‐structure understanding, regardless of verbal and logical‐reasoning skills. Also, the results indicate a strong interaction effect between GISMO use and visual‐thinking skill. Subjects classified as high visual thinkers benefited more from the use of GISMO than the low visual‐thinking subjects. The results of the experiment lend support for the findings of a previous study of GISMO reported in the literature, and the image theorist view that the ability to create and use visual, mental images is related to better problem

ISSN:0011-7315    

DOI:10.1111/j.1540-5915.1991.tb00367.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

ABSTRACTThe existing literature on the impact of information technology (IT) does not include rigorous theory building or empirical studies. This research seems to be the first comprehensive investigation towards the development of an empirically validated comprehensive model for understanding the potential impact of IT on organizational strategic variables. More specifically, organizational and industrial variables that appeared to be affected by IT are identified, measured, and operationalized in the form of a comprehensive model. This study is based on structured interviews with a carefully selected sample of 31 strategic managers who had experience using IT for strategic decisions. In addition, the variables included in the model are well grounded in the information systems literature. The variables are then empirically validated and their reliabilities critically tested. A comprehensive model is derived from these validated variables. The model is a first step towards measuring the overall potential impact of IT on an organization. The model can also be used to gauge IT's potential impact on individual strategic variables. A set of hypotheses is also presented for future research. The hypotheses primarily relate to the impact of IT on organizational strategic performance. The model provides an empirically validated foundation for testing of such hypotheses.

ISSN:0011-7315    

DOI:10.1111/j.1540-5915.1991.tb00368.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY