O.R. Education and Developing Economies with Special Reference to India

The paper reviews the current state of application of O.R. in general and in developed economies in particular. It then analyses the causes for unsatisfactory application of O.R. in developing economies. Based on the analysis, the paper proceeds to review the existing O.R. education and training and develops an integrated design of O.R. education and training for developing economies. The paper outlines the role that international agencies should play in implementing the proposed scheme of O.R. education and training for developing economies.     

Further Areas for O.R. Modelling in Industry

This paper sets out the case for OR workers embarking on the construction of models of wider scope than has been traditional. Changing industrial conditions emphasize the need to include the social costs of absenteeism, high labour turnover, training and indifferent quality in the evaluation of new projects, as well as the influence on productivity of these factors, and, more especially, of the means devised to overcome them. New criteria of effectiveness are required.A plea is made for OR to be involved in model building of the new patterns of industrial organization; such models could help the uncommitted countries to explore the alternatives at factory and union levels. A comprehensive model would therefore need also to quantify the effect of alternative union structures and strategies on industrial output and on the living standards of the workers.Quantification presents formidable difficulties but to avoid such problems would condemn OR to a role of perpetual sub-optimization.     

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.     

Problems,Processes and Purposes: The Systems Approach to O.R.

The aim of this paper is to argue that O.R. should get more involved in a systems approach to support the processes of decision making within organizations. To do this effectively, more research is needed, and some suggestions are made to shift the emphasis of research within the O.R. community. The shift should occur both at the fundamental level of major research efforts and in the styles of project sought within M.Sc. courses. If the practice of systems O.R. is to develop, then it is time that a theoretical basis is developed.     

Play theatre a new way to teach O.R.

In this paper we present a teaching experiment which is particularly motivating for students following an Operational Research course. The experiment consists of the presentation of a theatre play by the students in which they integrate a real world problem, its modelisation, the use of associated software and sensitivity analysis. This experiment can easily be reproduced by any teacher in O.R.     

Developing a Systems Approach to the Problems of Industry — Lessons Based on Experience at IIASA

This paper describes progress on a number of research projects initiated in the Management and Technology Area of the International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis in the period 1977/80. The projects were undertaken by an international, multi-disciplinary, team concerned with the study of management problems arising from technological change. The experience obtained is used to explore the need for, and feasibility of, undertaking such problem-oriented programme research at the national level. It is concluded that the need to conduct methodological research of this nature is great, though not always self-evident; that the financial and organisational problems would be severe, though not insuperable; and that it is time for practising operational researchers and applied systems analysts to flex their muscles to this end.     

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.     

Experiences with Using Expert Systems in O.R.

Increased awareness of expert systems technology, and the availability of relevant software, has tempted many O.R. groups to investigate the expert systems approach. This paper considers the strategies open to O.R. groups interested in employing expert systems, reviews some of the relevant software, and discusses what those O.R. groups who have already investigated the use of expert systems methods are actually doing.Some of the authors' experience of developing expert systems is discussed. The development of an expert system that helps bankers analyse company accounts is presented. The use of expert system methods as vehicles for decision analysis, and the possibilities for producing systems that act as O.R. consultants are also discussed.     

Analysis of a Rollout Approach to Sequencing Problems with Stochastic Routing Applications

The paper considers sequencing problems, the traveling salesman problem being their natural representative. It studies a rollout approach that employs a cyclic heuristic as its main base algorithm. The theoretical analysis establishes that it is guaranteed to improve (at least in a weak sense) the quality of any feasible solution to a given sequencing problem. Besides other applications, the paper shows that it is well suited for applications that are embedded in dynamic and stochastic environments. The computational performance of the approach is investigated with applications to two stochastic routing problems. The dynamic version of the heuristic appears to be the first algorithm available in the literature to approximately solve a variant of one of these problems.     

O.R. Involvement in the Allocation of a Major Contract

This paper describes North Thames Gas O.R. Department's involvement in the allocation of a contract covering the operational work on the Region's gas distribution network. This network is approx. 12,500 miles (20,000 km) in length and requires constant attention, such as additions, repairs to or replacements of parts of the network. Fifty percent of this work is currently carried out by the Region's own labour, the rest being undertaken by private contractors working under the terms of a contract for a defined period, normally 2 or 3 years. Between 15 and 20 contractors are initially invited to tender for the contract. Their tenders are then evaluated and the contract awarded to a number of the contractors, subject to the Region's financial and operational constraints.The O.R. Department's involvement with the contract (which has a current value of £20m per year) includes:

1. 1)
   checking the rates paid under the contract for pricing consistency;
    
2. 2)
   devising computer models to evaluate the contractors' tenders;
    
3. 3)
   assisting in the allocation of the contract.
    

     

Existence Theorems of Quasivariational Inclusion Problems with Applications to Bilevel Problems and Mathematical Programs with Equilibrium Constraint

In this paper, we establish existence theorems of quasivariational inclusion problems; from them, we establish existence theorems of mathematical programs with quasivariational inclusion constraint, bilevel problems, mathematical programs with equilibrium constraint and semi-infinite problems. This research was supported by the National Science Council of the Republic of China. The authors express their gradtitude to the referees for valuable suggestions.     

Equilibrium Problems with Generalized Monotone Bifunctions and Applications to Variational Inequalities

This paper attempts to generalize and unify several new results that have been obtained in the ongoing research area of existence of solutions for equilibrium problems. First, we propose sufficient conditions, which include generalized monotonicity and weak coercivity conditions, for existence of equilibrium points. As consequences, we generalize various recent theorems on the existence of such solutions. For applications, we treat some generalized variational inequalities and complementarity problems. In addition, considering penalty functions, we study the position of a selected solution by relying on the viscosity principle.     

A Theory of Non-linear Waves in Multi-dimensions: with Special Reference to Surface Water Waves

The surface water waves are "modal" waves in which the "physicalspace" (t, x, y, z) is the product of a propagation space (t,x, y) and a cross space, the z-axis in the vertical direction.We have derived a new set of equations for the long waves inshallow water in the propagation space. When the ratio of theamplitude of the disturbance to the depth of the water is small,these equations reduce to the equations derived by Whitham (1967)by the variational principle. Then we have derived a singleequation in (t, x, y)-space which is a generalization of thefourth order Boussinesq equation for one-dimensional waves.In the neighbourhood of a wave froat, this equation reducesto the multidimensional generalization of the KdV equation derivedby Shen & Keller (1973). We have also included a systematicdiscussion of the orders of the various non-dimensional parameters.This is followed by a presentation of a general theory of approximatinga system of quasi-linear equations following one of the modes.When we apply this general method to the surface water waveequations in the propagation space, we get the Shen-Keller equation.     

Some Reliability Models of Production Lines,with Special Reference to Computer Operation and Scheduling

A situation is considered where a machine or a production line, for example an electronic computer or a data-processing system, has alternate "good" and "bad" periods of operation. Two types of model are described which can be used to tackle this kind of situation and these form an approach to the practical problem of scheduling work through such a system. The two aspects considered are the probability of a preassigned schedule of operation being completed within some critical time, and the optimum assignment of the length of the scheduled operations.