Waiting Time Variability in some Single-Server Queueing Systems

This paper considers the range of values of the coefficient of variation of waiting time in some general single-server queueing systems. It is shown that in M/G/1 systems with given ρ, the square of this coefficient increases linearly with m₁m₃/m²₂, where m_i is the ith moment of the service distribution. This implies always a lower bound, and for some widely used distributions an upper bound as well. A few ranges are illustrated and compared to those implied in two GI/M/1 systems. The usefulness of knowing such ranges for modelling purposes is explained.