摘要:

AbstractSome authors have expressed concern about the concept of optimisation and the emphasis which is placed in the O.R. literature on the mathematical aspects of models. Case studies are often described as though the mathematical solutions were the most important parts and seldom does the opportunity arise to expose the more behavioural issues of a problem.The reason for the concentration on mathematics may be the form of the classical model of the process of O.R. and the inherent expectation that a study should conform to it. An earlier paper by this author is recognised to have been written in the mode of the classical model and now the issues of a non-mathematical nature are brought to the fore. It is suggested that there is scope for improving the classical model, which could in turn allow the introduction of greater realism into the case studies which are reported.

ISSN:0160-5682    

DOI:10.1057/jors.1979.238

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1979

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

AbstractA model of industrial relations is developed distinguishing between rule making—the central purpose of collective bargaining—and the subsequent steps of rule implementation, rule maintenance and rule adaptation. A further step is identified as rule breaking or rule avoidance, indicating the incompleteness of the rule-making-application-maintenance process. The reasons for rule breaking are examined focusing on pressures exerted in the production system and the underlying philosophy of negotiation as a satisficing rather than optimising activity. The role that formal control systems can play in making the industrial relations system more effective is examined. A distinction is drawn on the one hand between strategic planning, management control and operational control and on the other hand between three levels of feedback from the control system to the industrial relations system. The object of controls is seen firstly to encourage rule maintenance, secondly to aid rule adaptation and thirdly to assist in the strategic planning and design of the industrial relations system.

ISSN:0160-5682    

DOI:10.1057/jors.1979.239

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1979

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

AbstractThe paper formulates the problem of designing gas pipeline collection networks in a desert environment where there are no physical obstacles, and therefore no constraints on the geometry. It is shown that such networks should be trees. An efficient method is presented for determining the optimal position of the junction points and the diameter of the pipes if the basic configuration is given. To aid in finding the best configuration, several properties of optimal networks are derived.

ISSN:0160-5682    

DOI:10.1057/jors.1979.240

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1979

数据来源: Taylor

ISSN:0160-5682    

DOI:10.1057/jors.1979.241

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1979

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

AbstractThe paper describes three problems in the areas of production forecasting, production scheduling and industrial relations. In each case, a simple FORTRAN program was written to aid management decision making. The programs themselves, and their implementation, are outlined below.

ISSN:0160-5682    

DOI:10.1057/jors.1979.242

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1979

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

AbstractBudgeting, which can be defined as establishing medium-term control standards for an organisation as a whole and for each of its constituent parts, requires considerable amounts of both high-level management attention and also low-level data manipulation. In a large organisation, conventional methods of computerising the budgeting procedure tend merely to substitute one set of difficulties for another, and to alienate the managers in doing so. This paper describes the development and introduction of an interactive computer-based system in British Gas that successfully avoids such problems and assists the managers to improve their budgets while largely eliminating the requirement for low-level time and effort. The design principles of the system are outlined and the implementation history is described. It is concluded that with skilful use of existing computer techniques, significant improvements can be made in medium-term planning and control at little cost.

ISSN:0160-5682    

DOI:10.1057/jors.1979.243

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1979

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

AbstractThis case study emphasises the growing importance of management sciences, operational research, and computing in the decision-making processes of production management in a dynamic high-technology company. The study is concerned with a computer system for die stock control and selection developed in conjunction with the management of Firth Vickers Foundry, Sheffield, following an initial diagnostic survey to define the problem and outline a solution to it. This article describes the effect on production costs (melting, spinning, machining and die costs) of the system which is designed to enable management to exercise optimal control of die stocks in the centri-spinning section of the foundry. The approach to the problem and development of logic are, however, applicable to all fluid-to-solid process industries where differently sized regular moulds or dies are stocked to meet order patterns of variable dimensions.

ISSN:0160-5682    

DOI:10.1057/jors.1979.244

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1979

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

AbstractPlanning the operations of a colliery in the medium term requires management to produce a statement of proposed layout of faces and deployment of men. A computer program was developed to calculate the outcome of implementing a particular plan at a hypothetical colliery. This formed the basis of a competitive syndicate exercise at the Staff College of the National Coal Board. The concept was then extended to real colliery planning, to allow planners and managers to consider a wider set of options than current manual methods permit. The paper describes the common approach and discusses the modifications that were necessary to achieve results quickly enough to influence colliery planning decisions.

ISSN:0160-5682    

DOI:10.1057/jors.1979.245

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1979

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

AbstractThe paper considers Kotler's competitive model and increases the number of possible marketing strategies available by taking into account the combinations of the strategy alternatives. From the larger set of marketing strategies, the optimal strategy or strategies is identified. The objective function of the firm is found to be satisfied better by the combined strategy rather than by the best strategy from the set used by Kotler. The optimal combined strategy is found by a heuristically optimizing SDRDYN-algorithm suitable to simulation studies. As is expected, the larger set of strategy alternatives considered enable the firm to increase the value of its objective function.

ISSN:0160-5682    

DOI:10.1057/jors.1979.246

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1979

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

AbstractOther researchers have indicated the theoretical problems of using the PERT techniques commonly described in elementary operational research and operations management texts. Monte Carlo simulation has often been suggested as an alternative means of analyzing PERT networks but simulating a network of real world proportions is often assumed to be prohibitively expensive. This paper measures the accuracy and cost of standard PERT and simulation methods for real world sized problems. In addition, several computational heuristics are described and tested that indicate that simulation is a viable alternative. The results indicate that intelligent simulation of PERT networks is considerably more accurate than standard PERT analysis and is definitely not cost prohibitive.

ISSN:0160-5682    

DOI:10.1057/jors.1979.247

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1979

数据来源: Taylor