摘要:

AbstractA simulation for training estimators and managers is described. The game simulates a bidding situation in the construction industry, with the participants split into teams which bid against each other for government contracts. The contracts are differentiated in terms of workload implications and location, and the teams are encouraged to use discriminating bidding strategies. The cost estimates provided include substantial uncertainty, and the teams can purchase more accurate estimates as well as buying competitive information. As a result of playing the game, participants appreciated the importance of expenditure on estimates, keeping good records, and using simple bidding models.

ISSN:0160-5682    

DOI:10.1057/jors.1988.91

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1988

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

AbstractThis paper argues that the level of detail at which the effects or experiences of a game are supposed to be interpreted is a useful classificatory criterion, and is a valuable component of a classification scheme for games according to their purpose. Research, teaching and learning games intended to be interpreted at fine levels and coarse levels of detail are discussed and compared. It is noted that coarse-level educational games may have unintentional fine-level effects, and some methods of preventing such effects are suggested. It is also noted that fine-level games require greater accuracy of game models and more realistic player behaviour than coarse-level games. The implications of this for game design are discussed.

ISSN:0160-5682    

DOI:10.1057/jors.1988.92

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1988

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

AbstractWhen a factory operates a shift system of working, the work patterns are usually laid down at the start and adhered to for long periods. In this case study, small out-stations with frequent changes in manning require the frequent generation of new schedules. Producing and agreeing such schedules with the workforce can be a fraught and time-consuming task. Hence a computer routine was devised which takes over the generation. An interesting feature is that several feasible routines are generated, allowing the final decision to be taken by the workforce itself.

ISSN:0160-5682    

DOI:10.1057/jors.1988.93

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1988

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

AbstractAn outline is given of the bus-crew rostering problem in London Regional Transport. A method is developed for producing a skeleton roster, this skeleton being composed of standard units which contain fixed patterns of working. The aim is to determine the number of units, and then position them in a suitable sequence so that various operating objectives and constraints are met. A primary objective is to produce an even spread of weekend working through the roster. A method for producing the roster skeleton is described which formed the basis of an experimental approach to the automatic production of detailed crew rosters. Trials indicated that the procedure was capable of quickly producing rosters of sufficiently high quality to justify further development.

ISSN:0160-5682    

DOI:10.1057/jors.1988.94

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1988

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

AbstractAfter a description of British Coal's method of organizing purchase contracts and consequent requirements for evaluating tenders, reference is made to the use of linear programming to allocate business. The later part of the paper describes the development and operation of a user-friendly, menu-driven microcomputer decision-support system for tender evaluation called INSECT, which uses a purpose-built, quasi-optimizing routine rather than linear programming.

ISSN:0160-5682    

DOI:10.1057/jors.1988.95

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1988

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

AbstractThis paper explores the consequences of total weight flexibility in data envelopment analysis (DEA) assessments of the efficiency of decision-making units, and it suggests one possible way of limiting such flexibility. It is suggested that total weight flexibility can lead to some decision-making units being assessed, in effect, on only a small subset of their inputs and outputs, while the rest of their inputs and outputs are all but ignored. Constraining the weights in DEA assessments overcomes this problem. The paper suggests one way in which constraints can be placed for the case where the decision-making units to be assessed use only a single input. The method is illustrated using data on local-authority rates departments. Finally, the paper discusses the interpretation and usefulness of the information obtained from DEA assessments involving weights constraints.

ISSN:0160-5682    

DOI:10.1057/jors.1988.96

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1988

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

AbstractThe vehicle scheduling problem is specified in terms of a set of tasks to be executed with a fleet of multiple vehicle types. The purpose of this paper is to formulate the problem and to show that the heuristic and exact methods developed for the vehicle scheduling problem with time windows and with a single type of vehicle can be extended in a straightforward fashion to the multiple-vehicle-types problem.

ISSN:0160-5682    

DOI:10.1057/jors.1988.97

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1988

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

AbstractThis paper presents optimal mean-square predictors for several variables in a FIFO M/G/1 queue. In particular, conditional expectation predictors are derived for the number in the queue, time in the queue, and the waiting time, with a previous number in the queue as the basis for the prediction. The relationships between the predictors are derived, and the basic properties are illustrated with examples.

ISSN:0160-5682    

DOI:10.1057/jors.1988.98

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1988

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

AbstractWhile external control variates (ECVs) have long been advocated for reducing the variance of simulation estimators, the lack of tractable external control systems and the almost doubling of the computational burden has hindered their use. This paper presents preliminary work on a new type of control variate, the analytic control variate (ACV), that has the advantages of the ECV but requires much less additional computation. Use of an ACV is demonstrated for open queueing networks.

ISSN:0160-5682    

DOI:10.1057/jors.1988.99

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1988

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

AbstractThis paper considers the joint pricing and the lot-size determination problem faced by a retailer when he purchases a product for which the supplier offers incremental quantity discounts. Two common demand functions are considered: (1) the constant price-elasticity function, and (2) the linear function. A procedure is provided for each case for calculating the optimal price and the lot-size.

ISSN:0160-5682    

DOI:10.1057/jors.1988.100

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1988

数据来源: Taylor