Lessons for O.R. from A.I.: A Scheduling Case Study

This paper compares operational research (O.R.) with the currently fashionable topic of artificial intelligence (A.I.) at a detailed level. A.I. concepts, techniques and history are summarized, and O.R. and A.I. approaches compared. A case study-the development of a potential aid to scheduling repair jobs on RAF squadrons—is described. The paper shows where A.I. concepts and techniques were used in the prototype program, known as the Fault Identification & Expediting Repair (FIXER) system. Finally, some lessons for O.R. are drawn.     

O.R. Applications in Industry and Problems of Industrialisation of a Developing Economy with Special Reference to India

The paper has two distinct parts. The first part reviews industrial applications of O.R. in developing countries in general and India in particular. Based on the analysis, the paper suggests concrete steps for further use of operational research in industry.The second part of the paper deals critically with the problems of industrialisation leading to a specific industrial structure in the economy of a developing country. Analysing various relevant criteria for industrialisation of developing economies the paper outlines a methodology suitable for modelling the problem. It then attempts to identify the prerequisites for successful use of O.R. in the multicriteria problem of industrialisation. The paper also discusses the role that national and international agencies can play in bringing about more meaningful applications of O.R. in developing economies.     

The Impact of Operational Research on Agriculture

The paper shows that agriculture is one of the United Kingdom's largest industries. It would therefore be expected that O.R. could have made a significant contribution to decision making. But achievements in practice have been disappointingly small. The industry comprises of a large number of small individual businesses which do not permit specialisation in management functions. Consequently, technical advice and much R and D is provided from public funds. O.R. applications for agriculture have mainly been developed by Universities, Colleges, State Advisory Services and QUANGOS.The paper discusses some techniques used in agriculture—linear programming, dynamic programming and simulation—and outlines some problems encountered with these. Other techniques have had limited uptake and application. Reasons for the disappointing impact of O.R. are discussed as a set of problems-those specific to farmers and their systems; those specific to computer use; problems in recruiting and training O.R. specialists and problems in communication.     

Recent Applications of the Maximal Covering Location Planning (M.C.L.P.) Model

To enhance the research and application of mathematical programming and any other O.R. methodologies, it is desirable to investigate some ‘general’ models. This is particulary important in the development of decision support systems, where models play a significant role in management support. This study examines several applications of the maximal covering location planning (M.C.L.P.) model. They include data abstraction, statistical classification, cognitive process modelling, etc. In addition to demonstrating the wide applicability of the model, we also address some implementation issues associated with the applications of the M.C.L.P. model.     

Quantitative Forecasting—the State of the Art: Econometric Models

Econometric model building for forecasting has developed substantially over the past 15 years. Nevertheless, operational researchers have neglected these new developments. This paper defines nine stages the forecaster must go through when developing an econometric model. Each stage is discussed with reference to the most recent research. The complexity of econometric model building requires the forecaster to adopt a modelling strategy. Two have been proposed in the literature; one moves from a specific model to a more general version, the second goes from the general to the specific. Five recent O.R. studies using econometric methodology are then evaluated, highlighting the common areas of weakness. They are those areas that econometricians have paid most attention to in their recent research. The paper then surveys the effectiveness of econometric models compared to alternative approaches, concluding with some recommendations to the O.R. worker in forecasting. In particular, it recommends that more attempts are made to develop econometric models for O.R. applications.     

How Relevant is Operational Research to Development? The Case of Kenyan Industry

This paper proposes that the debate over O.R.'s role in development can be advanced by looking at a specific industrial environment. The Kenyan example suggests that for O.R. to make a contribution to this developing society it must: first, be defined as broadly as possible so as to include the most basic problem-solving techniques, and second, contribute to the diffusing of these techniques throughout the economy. O.R. should be viewed less as the province of an elite group of specialists— and more as a common resource available to managers at any level of industry. O.R. educators in developing nations can "democratise" quantitative techniques by incorporating them into such traditional business disciplines as accounting, marketing, and production. These courses should stress problem-solving and rely on cases drawn from local experiences. The paper ends by describing a pilot project, the Case Research and Documentation Centre, which is designed to promote more pragmatic management education and research in Kenya.     

Real-World O.R./M.S. Applications in Journals

In this paper, we present the results of a study of real-world applications of O.R./M.S. as seen in journals. Five leading journals in the field are surveyed, and real-world application articles are classified using a two dimensional framework consisting of orientation and decision. The orientation dimension separates strategically oriented applications with long-term implications and tactically oriented applications with medium- and short-term implications. The decision dimension refers to the type of decision in the application-largely structured or largely unstructured. The major O.R./M.S. topics are placed in the resulting four quadrants, and articles published in the four most recent volumes of the five journals are classified. Based on the results of this survey, the thrust and shortcomings of implementation research are discussed. Some measures for enhancing publication of field-based research are also proposed.     

Optimizing Asset and Capital Adequacy Management in Banking

This paper considers the application of stochastic optimization theory to asset and capital adequacy management in banking. Our study is motivated by new banking regulation that emphasizes risk minimization practices associated with assets and regulatory capital. Our analysis depends on the dynamics of the capital adequacy ratio (CAR), which we compute in a stochastic setting, by dividing regulatory bank capital (RBC) by risk weighted assets (RWAs). Furthermore, we demonstrate how the CAR can be optimized in terms of bank equity allocation and the rate at which additional debt and equity is raised. In either case, the dynamic programming algorithm for stochastic optimization is employed to verify the results. Also, we provide an illustration of aspects of bank management practice in relation to this regulation. Finally, we make a few concluding remarks and discuss possibilities for further research. The research was supported by a generous grant from the National Research Foundation of South Africa under GUN 2069031.     

Statistical optimum estimation techniques for combinatorial optimization problems: a review and critique

Over the last several decades researchers have addressed the use of statistical techniques to estimate the optimal values of difficult optimization problems. These efforts have been developed in different communities with a wide range of different applications in mind. In this paper we review the theory and applications of these approaches and discuss their strengths and weaknesses. We conclude the paper with a discussion of issues to consider when using these methods in computational experiments, and suggest directions for future research.     

Personal Computers and Operational Research — Experience in British Steel

The exploitation in personal computers of the well-publicized micro-technology is seen by the author as a major development with significant implications for O.R. This paper considers the nature of the implications from the point of view of the central O.R. unit of the British Steel Corporation and discusses that unit's response. The personal computer options are discussed and the applications policy which has been evolved for the author's department explained.     

The Search for Appropriate O.R.: A Review of Operational Research in Developing Countries

This paper is a review of the literature relating to the application of O.R. in developing countries. The paper attempts to identify the special factors which affect decision problems in developing countries. Some desirable characteristics for O.R. in this context are outlined. The paper then summarises the results of a review of published studies, and some criticisms are made of current O.R. work.     

On conjugate Quasi-Fourier-Legendre-series and equiconvergence theorems

In this paper, we discuss the “conjugate” Quasi-Fourier-Legendre (Q.F.L.) series and the corresponding conjugate function. Moreover we give some equiconvergence theorems and applications.     

Environmental Impact Assessment and Decision Analysis

A brief introduction to environmental impact assessment (E.I.A.) is given. An E.I.A. requires, as a final stage, the aggregation of diverse and highly subjective impacts, though in practice this is often done implicitly. Explicit aggregation techniques have their origins in cost-benefit analysis or decision analysis, and the appropriateness of these two techniques for applications in E.I.A.s is considered.An illustration of decision analysis is given in which multi-attribute value analysis is used to assist in the siting of new mines. The method can be presented as a development of the simple visual sieving technique, and by employing colour graphics facilities and microcomputers, a portable, flexible and powerful decision aid emerges: but powerful tools require careful handling.     

Recent advances in intuitionistic fuzzy information aggregation

Aggregation of intuitionistic fuzzy information is a new branch of intuitionistic fuzzy set theory, which has attracted significant interest from researchers in recent years. In this paper, we provide a survey of the aggregation techniques of intuitionistic fuzzy information, and their applications in various fields, such as decision making, cluster analysis, medical diagnosis, forecasting, and manufacturing grid. In addition, we analyze their characteristics and relationships. Finally, we discuss possible directions for future research in this area.     

Anthropology and O.R.: The Place of Observation in Management Science Process

This paper is an argument to combine the methods of observation with O.R. techniques to form the basis of a management science process. The paper begins by defining a typology showing where observation methods seem to be most appropriate in O.R. interventions. This is followed by a section outlining some of the techniques and problems of observation as seen from the field of anthropology. Using this theory, combined with personal experience, an observation process is developed. An example of using the process is then given.     

Introducing the Microcomputer into the O.R. Department

This paper reviews the typical main-frame computer services that are currently available and by accepting the alleged advantages of microcomputers postulates the ideal computing requirements of O.R. departments. Experience of microcomputers in O.R. departments, within the N.C.B. and elsewhere, is considered in relation to these ideal requirements. It is concluded that although some main-frame computer services will remain essential to O.R. and accepting that the main-frame can give a reasonable general computing service, the micro offers additional advantages. These include: lower cost and/or better service, the ability to configure the equipment exactly to meet O.R. needs; full control over applications and priorities; and portability - which means that computing power can now be taken direct to the manager by the O.R. department.     

The maximum balanced subgraph of a signed graph: Applications and solution approaches

The Maximum Balanced Subgraph Problem (MBSP) is the problem of finding a subgraph of a signed graph that is balanced and maximizes the cardinality of its vertex set. This paper is the first one to discuss applications of the MBSP arising in three different research areas: the detection of embedded structures, portfolio analysis in risk management and community structure. The efficient solution of the MBSP is also in the focus of this paper. We discuss pre-processing routines and heuristic solution approaches to the problem. a GRASP metaheuristic is developed and improved versions of a greedy heuristic are discussed. Extensive computational experiments are carried out on a set of instances from the applications previously mentioned as well as on a set of random instances.     

A Constraint Programming Approach to Extract the Maximum Number of Non-Overlapping Test Forms

This paper introduces a novel approach for extracting the maximum number of non-overlapping test forms from a large collection of overlapping test sections assembled from a given item bank. The approach involves solving maximum set packing problems (MSPs). A branch-and-bound MSP algorithm is developed along with techniques adapted from constraint programming to estimate lower and upper bounds on the optimal MSP solution. The algorithm is general and can be applied in other applications including combinatorial auctions. The results of computer simulations and experiments with an operational item bank are presented. An erratum to this article is available at .