摘要:

AbstractFor a variety of reasons, the finding of an optimal solution is impractical for many O.R. problems. A common way of overcoming this unhappy state of affairs is the development of heuristic (approximate) methods. The purpose of this paper is to discuss some of the issues that arise with such an approach-that is, the use of a method which, on the basis of experience of judgement, seems likely to yield good solutions but which cannot guarantee optimality. The use of such methods is motivated by the emergence of the theory ofNP-completeness, i.e. the study of the complexity of algorithms, which is briefly introduced. A number of heuristic methods are presented in order to illustrate some of the ideas discussed. Heuristic procedures are classified according to design. Some of the problems of both how to design effective heuristics and how to use heuristics in the real world are discussed.

ISSN:0160-5682    

DOI:10.1057/jors.1983.205

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1983

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

AbstractThis paper reviews the use of catastrophe theory in management. Two case studies of practical applications of catastrophe theory in the management of natural resource systems are described. These are used as a basis for discussing the possible use of catastrophe theory in other areas of management.

ISSN:0160-5682    

DOI:10.1057/jors.1983.206

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1983

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

AbstractThe allocation of shelf space is a major determinent of a retailer's sales and operating costs. All the existing models of this problem focus on static optimization. But to the retailer, anticipating and adapting to new tastes and changing product life cycles is the central strategic problem. This paper shows how the static model can be extented to incorporate such market dynamics. The new model is more plausible than earlier static models in encouraging the retailer to allocate more space to new products and divest earlier from declining ones.

ISSN:0160-5682    

DOI:10.1057/jors.1983.207

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1983

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

AbstractIs it feasible to use the ideas of cost effectiveness analysis in the allocation of financial support to artistic activities? As a step towards answering this question, the way in which the Arts Council of Great Britain allocates subsidies to opera companies is considered in detail. It is concluded that the first stages of cost effectiveness analysis—the identification of objectives and the specification of measures of attainment—are certainly feasible. It is suggested that a relatively unsophisticated allocation technique using zero-based budgeting could then be used to good effect.

ISSN:0160-5682    

DOI:10.1057/jors.1983.208

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1983

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

AbstractThe operational audit is concerned with the appraisal of company effectiveness, identifying operations which are open to improvement. This paper looks at the history of the operational audit and its relationship to other types of audit. The scope of the operational audit is discussed and so also is the manner in which assignments are typically conducted. Two case studies, one in a sales company and the other in a production company, are presented, and details are provided of the results obtained. The relationship of operational research to operational audit is reviewed, and the benefits of including operational researchers in audit teams are pointed out.

ISSN:0160-5682    

DOI:10.1057/jors.1983.209

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1983

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

AbstractThis article gives an account of a trial by a large company of VANPLAN, Scicon Consultancy's Vehicle routeing computer package.It covers the various logical stages in the trial of project design, data collection and validation, staff training and acceptance criteria.The article also highlights the advantages of using computers interactively to plan routes using the skills of existing staff. This is compared with the‘traditional’operational research approach using automatic routeing algorithms. Suggestions are also made regarding how to properly and fully test new routeing algorithms or techniques.

ISSN:0160-5682    

DOI:10.1057/jors.1983.210

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1983

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

AbstractThe approach adopted for stock control of manufacturing parts in a small company is described. In particular, material requirements planning is compared with the standard stock control method previously in use, and safety buffering is considered. By altering the company's stock-holding and ordering policies a significant saving is achieved.

ISSN:0160-5682    

DOI:10.1057/jors.1983.211

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1983

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

AbstractA case study of the application of two O.R. techniques for determining optimal shift sizes for telephone betting operators is described. The first formulation uses linear programming and the second, network flow techniques. The network flow model has a considerable computational speed advantage, but the L.P. model is currently in operation.

ISSN:0160-5682    

DOI:10.1057/jors.1983.212

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1983

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

AbstractA computer based, enumerative approach to decision making in a practical environment is described for circumstances where many feasible alternative plans can be generated within given constraints. The method lies between simple techniques for evaluating a few alternative plans and very general techniques such as integer programming, and has advantages over both of these approaches in certain cases. Its main use is as a decision support system, providing management with a range of ranked alternatives. The technique is embodied in a computer program which is used to give an example of how the method may be applied in practice.

ISSN:0160-5682    

DOI:10.1057/jors.1983.213

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1983

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

AbstractMcClean's model focusses on length of service or stability, making no mention of the size of the system. However, it is shown that size can also be extracted from the same formulation.

ISSN:0160-5682    

DOI:10.1057/jors.1983.214

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1983

数据来源: Taylor