On Measuring the Contribution of OR

Cost-benefit analysis offers a common-sense approach to measuring the contribution of OR but encounters difficulties which have been recognized by Ackoff. Ackoff's concept of adaptivity appears to offer a neat solution to those difficulties but can be seen to provide only a methodology and to lack a background theory. The authors argue that: in general the development of background theory should precede the development of a methodology; for OR the background theory required is one of decision-making; and that the social sciences provide the resource from which an adequate theory of decision-making can be developed.     

OR Utilization in Nigeria: A Sample Survey

The study presents the results of a mail survey on the utilization of Operational Research (OR) techniques in tackling complex operational problems in the private sector in Nigeria. The survey was mailed to OR practitioners in nearly 1000 companies and was aimed at determining the familiarity with, and usage of, OR techniques, background of OR personnel, degree of computer usage, application areas, implementation and contributions of OR, problems attendant in using OR techniques, and future prospects for OR usage.     

Preliminary Findings of a Survey of OR Society Membership

This paper presents the preliminary findings of a survey carried out into modelling. The survey consisted of sending a questionnaire to all members of the Operational Research Society (42% response rate).The survey investigated the structure of the OR Society membership; the educational background of OR Society members; the functional involvement, skill requirements and time division of OR Society members; the frequency of use of modelling areas by OR Society members; the types of computers used by OR Society members, and their involvement with decision support systems and expert systems. Full details of the survey, questionnaires and results are given in the paper.     

Semi-infinite programming

A semi-infinite programming problem is an optimization problem in which finitely many variables appear in infinitely many constraints. This model naturally arises in an abundant number of applications in different fields of mathematics, economics and engineering. The paper, which intends to make a compromise between an introduction and a survey, treats the theoretical basis, numerical methods, applications and historical background of the field.     

Detailed Findings of a Survey of OR Society Membership—I: Structure,Education, Functions and Computers

This paper is the first of two to present the detailed findings of a survey carried out on the membership of the OR Society. Preliminary findings were given in an earlier paper. The survey consisted of sending a questionnaire to all members of the OR Society (42% response rate). Reported in detail in this paper are the structure of the respondents, their educational background, functional involvement, skill requirements and use of time division. Also reported is their involvement with computers, decision support systems and expert systems.     

A Language-Action Approach to Operational Research

This paper results from a collaboration between two academics, one a social psychologist who has explored creative work in engineering product design, the other engaged in the application of ‘soft’ methods in OR, but with a background in engineering. Much of the new thinking in OR is described in terms of a language-action perspective which is prominent in studies of computer supported work, negotiation, and other forms of discursive action. The perspective is used to examine some of the tasks needing to be undertaken if OR is to shift from a concern with social engineering to a concern with reflective social action. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of dilemmas, the growth of commitment, and the assessment of methods. It is concluded that, if OR makes the analysis of cognitive and political processes part of the core of the subject, it may become an epistemic subject with wide application to organisational decision-making.     

Distributed decision making––a unified approach

The paper gives an overview over the broad area of distributed decision making (DDM). In achieving a systematic procedure a general framework is developed that allows to describe the numerous approaches in DDM in a unified way. Focusing on application areas the paper is not only considering various fields in the management sciences, like hierarchical production planning, supply chain management, or managerial accounting, but is regarding other disciplines as well. Particularly, economics and computer sciences are investigated as to their specific contributions to DDM. It turns out that each field and discipline elaborate different aspects of DDM which particularly for OR could be used to solve concrete highly involved DDM problems.     

也谈复利率的连续计算方法——析连续复利计算公式的科学性及实用性

本文分析了连续复利公式形成的经济背景，论述了它的科学性、实用性，并举例说明了它在经济决策中的重要作用     

交叉数学规划问题

本文提出了一个新的数学规划概念──交叉数学规划问题．该问题的提出是以经济问题为其背景的．许多已有的规划问题上。对偶规划问题、双水平规划问题、多目标规划问题、参数规划问题以及对策问题均可作为交叉规划问题的特例．本文除系统地给出交及数学规划问题的基本定义外，还分别对各类交叉规划问题的有关理论及求解方法进行了初步的探讨．     

Operational research in the UK Ministry of Defence: an overview

The paper presents a survey of operational research (OR) as it is currently used in the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD). After a short historical introduction summarising developments since 1945, it identifies the impact which the end of the Cold War has had on defence operational analysis (OA), as the discipline is generally called within MoD, in terms of the problems studied, the technical challenges presented and the techniques employed. The factors, both external and internal, that have led to the MoD maintaining and indeed expanding its OA activity against a background of falling defence budgets are discussed in the context of previously reported research on the survival and success of OR groups.     

装箱问题的算法及最新进展

装箱问题在经济社会发展中扮演着重要的角色,该问题研究的是寻找较好的布局方式,尽可能实现利益的最大化.装箱问题具有NP-难性质,其理论和应用研究存在一定的挑战,但因其有广泛的应用背景而受到研究者高度的关注.本文主要总结近几十年来装箱问题的研究成果,特别针对一维、二维和三维单目标装箱问题和算法,以及多目标装箱问题的算法进行概括和总结,并提出装箱问题算法上有待进一步的研究工作.     

The trouble with the second quantifier

4OR - We survey optimization problems that allow natural simple formulations with one existential and one universal quantifier. We summarize the theoretical background from computational complexity...     

Equipment reliability and maintenance

The review paper addresses two main topics; (i) identifying procedures presently in use or being developed for assessing or predicting the reliability of equipment, and (ii) identifying OR practices that can improve equipment reliability through objectively determined maintenance practices.As background to these topics, basic statistical concepts are identified and the importance of the Weibull distribution in reliability and maintenance studies is justified.     

A role for M -matrices in modelling population growth

Adopting a discrete-time cohort-type model to represent the dynamics of a population, the problem of achieving a desired total size of the population under a balanced growth (contraction) and the problem of maintaining the desired size, once achieved, are studied. Properties of positive-time systems and M-matrices are used to develop the results, which are illustrated using simple examples. The material is presented in a format that makes it appropriate as background material for interesting applications based modelling assignments on undergraduate programmes in the mathematical sciences, applied sciences, economics and technology. All relevant properties of both positive-time systems and M-matrices are presented and clarified at the outset.     

Integration and Utilization of Management Science Activities in Organizations<Superscript>†</Superscript>

A large-scale field study was undertaken to attempt to improve our understanding of the experiences of operational research and related management science (OR/MS) activities in U.S. industries. Multiple interviews were conducted in 66 major firms. An initial analysis of the data suggests several parameters which might be important to the success of management science activities and which researchers may wish to consider in future efforts at theory building. Examples of such factors are: background of the OR/MS leaders and analysts; succession of leaders; amount of OR/MS exposure in the firm; extent of computer usage in the firm; organizational location; project missions; top management relations; client relations; staff relations; personality conflicts. Selected cases are presented to illustrate the interaction of many of these factors in the reported experiences of several firms. Interface relations are examined with special attention given to data collection and implementation problems. The increasing usage of liaison roles is noted. Further studies are being conducted to compare these U.S. experiences with those of OR/MS activities in other countries.     

A case study of a batch manufacturing plant simulation

This paper shows how a successful simulation model of a batch manufacturing plant was developed by an OR team working in conjunction with their clients. A decision was needed on the design of a multi-product, multi-stage, multi-item plant that would meet sales forecasts for the next five years. The background to the Plant and the project are discussed and the development of the simulation model is shown. The results from the model are displayed, together with other implementation issues. Major learning points from the study are highlighted.     

生长曲线模型的分位数回归

生长曲线模型有着广泛的应用, 在经济学、生物学、医学等各个领域的研究都起着重要的作用. 已有文献关于生长曲线模型参数矩阵的估计基本上是使用最小二乘方法或极大似然方法. 使用最小二乘方法, 当误差项服从偏峰分布、厚尾分布、或者存在异常点时, 得出的估计不是有效的; 使用极大似然方法, 要求分布已知, 实际使用时很难满足这一点. 分位数回归能弥补如上这些缺陷, 所得估计具有很好的稳健性. 本文使用分位数回归方法给出生长曲线模型参数矩阵的估计, 及其渐近正态性.     

An application of time scales to economics

Economics is a discipline in which there appears to be many opportunities for applications of time scales. The time scales approach will not only unify the standard discrete and continuous models in economics, but also, for example, allows for payments which arrive at unequally spaced points in time. We present a dynamic optimization problem from economics, construct a time scales model, and apply calculus of variations to derive a solution. Time scale calculus would allow exploration of a variety of situations in economics.     

User-friendly statistical concepts for process monitoring

Many standard statistical process control techniques involve sophisticated mathematical concepts, which are frequently misunderstood and misused by their users. This means, as this paper argues, that the techniques, and the terminology and concepts underlying them, are inappropriate for their intended uses and users. The paper considers the areas of the statistical background which cause difficulties. It goes on to describe some alternative concepts, techniques and terminology, which are likely to be conceptually simpler and more ‘user-friendly’ (and in some cases more accurate and robust). None of the ideas require users to be familiar with the standard deviation. We also suggest that the approach of reengineering the conceptual background to suit the context of users and uses may be appropriate to other areas of practical statistics and OR. The paper identifies some general principles for achieving this.     

专业零售商与厂家直售商的多渠道供应价格博弈的混沌动力学研究

在零售市场,专业零售商与厂家直售商的价格竞争日益突起,再次背景下构建了专业零售商和厂家直售商组成的多渠道供应链价格博弈模型。利用管理学、经济学以及混沌动力学有关理论,对多渠道供应链中各渠道间长期价格博弈的动态演化过程进行理论验证和数据仿真,研究了专业零售商和厂家直售商的价格决策变量的变化给市场带来的影响。研究表明,双方价格决策变量的不断增加,市场从稳定进入混沌无序状态。采用调整参数可以对混沌进行有效的控制,研究结果具有较好的理论和实际应用价值。