基于QoS协同关联的改进Skyline制造服务组合优化方法

服务社会网络环境下,云制造服务通过与其他参与同一任务的服务共享与竞争物理设备、信息、知识等资源形成协同效应,对双方实际执行效果具有重要影响,导致出现QoS偏离现象,现有服务选择模型难以适应这一情景。根据服务协同网络特点,本文提出基于QoS协同关联的制造服务组合方法。运用QoS协同关联和协同系数表达资源共享、冲突对QoS的影响程度,构建了新的服务选择优化模型。基于创新Skyline服务对概念,改善了Skyline算法在QoS协同关联条件下的搜索效率和结果,通过智能汽车制造仿真实验,验证了本文模型和算法的有效性。     

Privacy and pricing personal information

The issues we address here are – How should a firm (e.g. Internet service provider (ISP)) that is capable of collecting personal information (browsing information, purchase history, etc.) about consumers, price its service, given that consumers vary in their valuation for privacy, and also vary in terms of the value of their personal information to a third party (firms that need consumer information)? Should the firm have a blanket policy of never collecting, or a policy of always collecting and revealing information? Surprisingly we find that in some cases the collector of information may be no worse off in the asymmetric information case than in the full information case. The paper provides a justification for the strategy of some firms such as ISP’s which never collect information and also for the strategy of other firms, like grocery stores that do. We also find that it is non-optimal for the firm to design contracts where the consumer can choose an intermediate level of privacy.     

QoS and energy consumption aware service composition and optimal-selection based on Pareto group leader algorithm in cloud manufacturing system

Service composition and optimal selection (SCOS) is one of the key issues for implementing a cloud manufacturing system. Exiting works on SCOS are primarily based on quality of service (QoS) to provide high-quality service for user. Few works have been delivered on providing both high-quality and low-energy consumption service. Therefore, this article studies the problem of SCOS based on QoS and energy consumption (QoS-EnCon). First, the model of multi-objective service composition was established; the evaluation of QoS and energy consumption (EnCon) were investigated, as well as a dimensionless QoS objective function. In order to solve the multi-objective SCOS problem effectively, then a novel globe optimization algorithm, named group leader algorithm (GLA), was introduced. In GLA, the influence of the leaders in social groups is used as an inspiration for the evolutionary technology which is design into group architecture. Then, the mapping from the solution (i.e., a composed service execute path) of SCOS problem to a GLA solution is investigated, and a new multi-objective optimization algorithm (i.e., GLA-Pareto) based on the combination of the idea of Pareto solution and GLA is proposed for addressing the SCOS problem. The key operators for implementing the Pareto-GA are designed. The results of the case study illustrated that compared with enumeration method, genetic algorithm (GA), and particle swarm optimization, the proposed GLA-Pareto has better performance for addressing the SCOS problem in cloud manufacturing system.     

On Providing Quality of Service in Grid Computing through Multi-objective Swarm-Based Knowledge Acquisition in Fuzzy Schedulers

Nowadays, Grid computing is increasingly showing a service-oriented tendency and as a result, providing quality of service (QoS) has raised as a relevant issue in such highly dynamic and non-dedicated systems. In this sense, the role of scheduling strategies is critical and new proposals able to deal with the inherent uncertainty of the grid state are needed in a way that QoS can be offered. Fuzzy rule-based schedulers are emerging scheduling schemas in Grid computing based on the efficient management of grid resources imprecise state and expert knowledge application to achieve an efficient workload distribution. Given the diverse and usually conflicting nature of the scheduling optimization objectives in grids considering both users and administrators requirements, these strategies can benefit from multi-objective strategies in their knowledge acquisition process greatly. This work suggests the QoS provision in the grid scheduling level with fuzzy rule-based schedulers through multi-objective knowledge acquisition considering multiple optimization criteria. With this aim, a novel learning strategy for the evolution of fuzzy rules based on swarm intelligence, Knowledge Acquisition with a Swarm Intelligence Approach (KASIA) is adapted to the multi-objective evolution of an expert grid meta-scheduler founded on Pareto general optimization theory and its performance with respect to a well-known genetic strategy is analyzed. In addition, the fuzzy scheduler with multi-objective learning results are compared to those of classical scheduling strategies in Grid computing.     

固定经营期下基于运行绩效的PPP项目服务价格形成机制研究

本文研究PPP项目价格形成机制、补偿机制及其社会效率。首先,分析了招投标制度下固定经营期PPP项目服务价格形成机制及其不足。其次,基于成本与运行绩效的PPP项目定价规制及可行性缺口补贴思想,建立模型分析实施机构可观察PPP项目服务成本时的定价水平和可行性缺口补贴标准;当实施机构无法准确掌握项目公司的运行成本时,通过制度设计诱导社会投资者上报真实的运行成本和运行绩效以获得最大净现值。分析表明,当PPP项目服务需求弹性较大同时有可行性缺口补贴政策时,政府进行价格规制时项目净现值高于不规制时的净现值。文章通过实例验证了成本信息是否可观察两种情形下PPP项目的服务价格水平、运行绩效、项目投资净现值及消费者剩余。为了避免PPP项目运行绩效下降和社会福利损失,政府应建立科学的监督激励机制,依据PPP项目服务成本与运行绩效的信息确定固定特许经营期下项目服务价格和可行性缺口补贴额度。     

Consumer preference and service quality management with RFID

The importance of accurately measuring consumer preference for service quality management to firms in exceedingly competitive environments where customers have an increasing array of access to information cannot be overstated. There has been a resurgence of interest in consumer preference measurement and service quality management, specifically real-time service management, as more data about customer behavior and means to process these data to generate actionable policies become available. Recent years have also witnessed the incorporation of Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) tags in a wide variety of applications where item-level information can be beneficially leveraged to provide competitive advantage. We propose a knowledge-based framework for real-time service management incorporating RFID-generated item-level identification data. We consider the economic motivations for adopting RFID solutions for customer service management through analysis of service quality, response speed and service dependability. We conclude by providing managerial insights on when and where managers should consider RFID-generated identification information to improve their customer services.     

Pricing surplus server capacity for mean waiting time sensitive customers

We consider a queueing model wherein the resource is shared by two different classes of customers, primary (existing) and secondary (new), under a service level based pricing contract. This contract between secondary class customers and resource manager specifies unit admission price and quality of service (QoS) offered. We assume that the secondary customers’ Poisson arrival rate depends linearly on unit price and service level offered while the server uses a delay dependent priority queue management scheme. We analyze the joint problem of optimal pricing and operation of the resource with the inclusion of secondary class customers, while continuing to offer a pre-specified QoS to primary class customers. Our analysis leads to an algorithm that finds, in closed form expressions, the optimal points of the resulting non-convex constrained optimization problem. We also study in detail the structure and the non-linear nature of these optimal pricing and operating decisions.     

考虑消费者忠诚的雇员激励契约设计

在信息不对称条件下,企业雇主如何在员工行为无法被观测到的情况下达到最优绩效成为企业上层需要解决的重要问题。在此背景下,区别于既有文献,本文根据服务型企业以消费者为中心的特点,将消费者忠实度纳入委托——代理模型,通过设计企业激励契约机制,探讨了企业雇佣员工的最佳方式。结果表明:(1)长期稳定工作的员工会选择提成工资制,这类员工倾向于将努力水平用于提高消费者忠诚度,其选择的结果能为企业带来利润;(2)短期非稳定工作的员工选择固定工资制,这类员工的零付出将给企业造成亏损,且损失额即为短期非稳定员工的固定工资额;(3)选择提成工资制的员工将给服务型企业带来正效益,而选择固定工资制的员工给企业带来固定工资的损失额。本文从企业雇佣员工方式的角度,为企业更偏向于为直接面对消费者创造业绩的服务型员工采取提成工资制,而为没有直接面对消费者的非服务型员工采用固定工资制提供了一种解释,有助于把握企业管理的着力点,进而增强企业绩效提升对经济发展的推动性作用。     

Simulation and Analysis of a New Mobility Model for Mobile Communication Networks

The traffic generation models, which describe how the clients use the network services, as well as the mobility models, which describe how clients move within the service area covered by the network, are essential tools for QoS analysis in these environments. In this paper we present the simulation of a new mobility model implemented for the analysis of QoS parameters of a mobile network, such as channel occupation time, handoff and new call blocking probabilities.     

Evaluation of the warranty cost of a product with type III stochastic dependence between components

This paper analyses respectively the expected warranty costs from the perspectives of the manufacturer and the consumer. For a two-component series system with stochastic dependence between components, both the non-renewing free replacement policy and the renewing replacement policy are examined. It is assumed that whenever component 1 fails, a random damage to component 2 is occurred while a component 2 failure causes the system failure. Component 2 fails when its total accumulative damage exceeds a pre-determined level L. By considering the consumer’s behavior and the product service time, the warranty costs allocations between the manufacturer and the consumer are presented. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate the applicability of the methodology. It is proved that, independent of the type of the warranty policy, the failure interaction between components impacts the manufacturer profits and the consumer costs. The initial warranty length has also an impact on the product quality preferences to both the consumer and the manufacturer.     

Allocation of warehouse inventory with electronic data interchange and fixed order intervals

This paper considers the problem of allocating warehouse inventory to retailers where retailer orders and the replenishment of warehouse inventory occur periodically on a fixed schedule. We assume that the warehouse and the retailers have the opportunity to exchange demand information through Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). At the warehouse level, for instance, the available information on the retailer's demand may be utilized in determining the shipment quantities needed to meet the desired service level to the retailers. Unlike similar models focusing primarily on optimizing systems wide performance measures, in this paper we focus on the service level furnished to the retailers by the warehouse. To this end, three different allocation policies are considered: static, myopic, and dynamic rules characterizing the impact of available demand information on the resulting service levels. Numerical illustrations exemplify the allocation rules considered. An interesting though counter intuitive observation is that the existence of additional demand information cannot, a prior, be assumed superior.     

基于差异化战略的跨境电商竞争策略研究

随着国际贸易和信息技术的不断推进,跨境电子商务在全球范围内呈爆发式地增长。因为跨境电商产品经常需要进行长距离的运输,适合其销售的种类是有限的,因此如何制定差异化战略从而在日益激烈的竞争中胜出,是许多跨境电商企业急需解决的问题。本文考虑一个包含海外供应商、平台型电商和自营型电商的双渠道跨境供应链,运用博弈模型分析了消费者偏好对商家制定差异化竞争策略的影响,并得到集中决策和分散决策下的最优产品定价和最优服务水平。分析得出,商家间的服务差异化程度与跨境电商总利润以及消费者的渠道偏好的关系受综合因素影响,单纯提高服务差异化程度并不一定能提高自身的竞争力和跨境供应链的效益;实施集中策略且服务差异度高的跨境供应链可以获得更多的利润。     

信息不对称条件下竞价排名机制的信息匹配效率研究

本文聚焦消费者依赖搜索引擎平台的关键词检索实施购买商品行为的现象,尝试将消费者购买策略引入搜索平台竞价排名机制,构造内嵌搜索引擎平台、销售商、消费者三方主体的博弈模型,考察在互联网信息不对称条件下,竞价排名机制的信息匹配效率,阐释产品质量信号改善竞价排名机制信息匹配效率的理论机理。研究发现,在信息不对称及无产品质量信号机制的条件下,竞价排名均衡结果完全不能匹配消费者的购买策略,致使消费者福利因销售商逆向选择而遭受双重损失;植入产品质量信号后,搜索引擎平台能够通过识别销售商自带的产品质量信号,提高竞价排名机制的均衡结果与消费者购买策略的匹配度,进而部分地改善竞价排名机制的信息匹配效率。     

条件免运费的B2C平台商最优凑单推荐服务水平策略

在条件免运费(CFS)下,针对消费者基础运费和凑单异质性购物偏好,选择合理的购物凑单推荐服务水平策略是提升B2C平台商业绩的关键。在对平台商与消费者间的主从博弈关系、消费者效用函数关系分析基础上,通过构建Stackelberg博弈模型,揭示平台商凑单推荐服务水平和消费者购物意愿间的互相关系,进而针对消费者基础运费和凑单偏好,探究基础运费、保留价格和推荐商品价格对平台商最优购物推荐服务水平策略的影响。研究表明:不同的基础运费和消费者偏好对平台商利润的影响具有差异性;适度提升最优购物凑单推荐服务水平能有效提高消费者购物意愿、增加平台商利润。因此,基础运费、CFS阈值和凑单推荐服务水平的科学制定对平台商业绩改善具有重要影响。     

电信运营商双寡头定价机制设计

电信市场存在运营商之间的竞争关系,运营商针对异质性消费者的定价机制设计更是直接影响其利润的实现,本文利用机制设计方法,分析了电信运营商的双寡头垄断定价策略,研究发现:(1)运营商的核心利润来源于低类型消费者的总剩余。低类型消费者的消费扭曲来源于运营商提供给高类型消费者过高的信息成本。要想改善低类型消费者的不满和消费扭曲,需要降低对高类型消费者的优惠幅度。(2)电信运营商的最优定价随竞争对手的价格同向变动。(3)电信运营商最优定价与消费者对该运营商的服务体验成正比,与消费者对竞争对手运营商的服务体验成反比。所以,运营商应当不断优化自己网络的服务质量,提高消费者的服务体验,进而才能有涨价的空间。     

预测信息分享对双渠道制造商在线推介策略的影响

研究了零售商预测信息分享对双渠道制造商在线推介策略的影响。运用不完全信息动态博弈建立制造商不同推介策略下供应链决策模型,得到贝叶斯均衡销量,批发价格以及各方最优预期利润。研究发现:当推介市场规模较小时,制造商仅推介官方商城;当推介市场规模较大时,制造商采取都推介策略。零售商没有动力将预测信息分享给制造商。引入信息分享补偿机制促使零售商进行信息分享,当零售商谈判能力较强且信息预测精度较高时,制造商推介策略由无信息分享下都推介转变为仅推介官方商城。     

OR in healthcare: A European perspective

The European Working Group “Operational Research Applied to Health Services” (ORAHS) is one of the domain specific EURO Working Groups organized by EURO - the European Association of Operational Research Societies. In this paper we report on the development of ORAHS as a platform for OR in health, and analyse the papers presented at meetings over the 35 years of its existence. We propose a two-way framework for analysis, where one dimension is the nine stages of the product life cycle: identifying consumer requirements, designing a new service to meet these requirements, forecasting demand for such a service, securing resources for it, allocating these resources, developing Programs & Plans to use these resources for delivering the service, establishing criteria for service delivery, managing the performance of the service, and finally, evaluating its performance. The other dimension is a three-level classification into broad application areas referring to processes at different levels in healthcare: Patients & Providers, Units & Hospitals, and Regional & National. We use this framework to carry out a quantitative analysis of all the papers presented during the meetings of ORAHS since its inception in 1975. We then describe developments over this period in applying OR approaches and techniques to healthcare, and present an overview of the main application areas and challenges.     

Private labels and retail assortment planning: a differential evolution approach

Despite the longstanding recognition of the importance of product assortment planning (PAP), existing literature has failed to provide satisfactory solutions to a great deal of problems that reside in this area of research. The issue of optimal assortment planning in the retail sector becomes even more important in periods of economic crisis, as retailers must adapt their product portfolios to new evolving patterns of consumer buying behaviour and reduced levels of consumer’s purchasing power. Private labels (PLs) typically experience significant growth in times of recession, due to their low prices, and the reduced disposable income of households. In this direction, the present paper introduces differential evolution to assist retailers in adapting their product portfolios in periods of economic recession and facilitate strategic PAP decisions, related to (a) optimal variety of PL product categories, (b) optimal service level of PL merchandise within a product category, and hence, (c) optimal balance between PLs and National Brands in a retailer’s product portfolio. The interrelated issue of assortment adaptation across different store formats is also considered. Economic recessions contribute to the prolonged upward evolution in PL share, and hence, our mechanism facilitates decisions that are nowadays more important than ever before. The proposed mechanism is illustrated through an implementation to an empirical dataset derived from a random sample of 1928 consumers who participated in a large-scale computer assisted telephone survey during the current economic crisis period.     

双重非对称信息下旅游服务供应链中的激励机制设计

旅游服务供应链中,旅行社与导游之间的信息非对称而导致的逆向选择和道德风险问题将损害旅行社的利益,因此,如何对导游进行有效甄别与激励是旅行社所要关注的一个重要问题。以导游的服务能力和努力水平两种私有信息不被旅行社所观察到,但其服务业绩可以被观测到为基础,利用博弈论与信息经济学等理论和方法设计了导游的服务能力为连续类型下的激励机制,运用最优化原理得出了最优激励机制参数。结果表明,旅行社应对不同服务能力的导游设计一揽子形式的不同的激励机制。双重非对称信息下的激励机制不仅能对导游起到自我选择的甄别作用,还能起到诱导导游提高工作努力水平的激励作用。