Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering Commons^™

Research Methodologies And The Field Of Decision Analysis.Pdf, Jeffrey Keisler

Jeffrey Keisler

Structuring Financial Incentives For Residential Solar Electric Systems, Kevin C. Van Blommestein, Yonghee Cho, Tugrul U. Daim, Paul Sklar

Joseph Cho

Decision Modeling For Housing And Community Development: A Methodology For Evidence-Based Urban And Regional Planning, Michael P. Johnson Jr.

Michael P. Johnson

In Memoriam: Howard Raiffa, Jeffrey Keisler

Jeffrey Keisler

No abstract provided.

Road Rescue Implements A Continuous Process Improvement Framework, John Olson, Paul Savory

John Olson

Continuous improvement programs traditionally focus on making small incremental improvements to a system. Unfortunately, their success can be limited due to the rapid changing environment within which most small companies operate. Improvement efforts should be flexible enough to capitalize on incremental and radical changes to a system. This paper presents a case analysis of how Road Rescue, an ambulance manufacturer, uses a continuous improvement framework to capitalize on both radical and incremental improvement opportunities. Results include a 10% increase in throughput, reduced cycle time of 44%, increased customer satisfaction, and higher quality.

Humanitarian Logistics Network Design For An Effective Disaster Response, Soumia Ichoua

Soumia Ichoua

In this paper we address the problem of pre-positioning emergency supplies prior to a disaster onset. The goal is to ensure a fast and effective response when the disaster strikes. Pre-positioning of emergency supplies is a strategic decision aimed at determining the number and location of local distribution centers as well as their inventory levels for emergency supplies. These decisions must be made in a highly disruption-prone environment where a timely response is vital and resources are scarce. We present and discuss a scenario-based model that integrates location, inventory and routing decisions.

Project Management Decisions With Uncertain Targets, Jeffrey Keisler, Robert Bordley

Jeffrey Keisler

Project management decision rules presume that fixed and inflexible targets have been defined for the project. If a project's slack is defined as the difference between actual project performance and these targets, then these decision rules can be characterized as maximizing the probability that slack is non-negative (i.e., maximizing the probability of meeting the targets). These rules rely on z-scores to compare uncertain performance to target levels. Following these decision rules will not always suffice for the project manager to act consistently with customer preferences. In particular, actual requirements may be uncertain or subject to change, and customers may have …

Exploiting Knowledge About Future Demands For Real-Time Vehicle Dispatching, Soumia Ichoua, Michel Gendreau, Jean Yves Potvin

Soumia Ichoua

An important, but seldom investigated issue in the field of dynamic vehicle routing and dispatching is how to exploit information about future events to improve decision making. In this paper, we address this issue in a real-time setting with a strategy based on probabilistic knowledge about future request arrivals to better manage the fleet of vehicles. More precisely, the new strategy introduces dummy customers (representing forecasted requests) in vehicle routes to provide a good coverage of the territory. This strategy is assessed through computational experiments performed in a simulated environment.

Enhanced Adaptive Management: Integrating Decision Analysis, Scenario Analysis And Environmental Modeling For The Everglades, Matteo Convertino, Christy Foran, Jeffrey Keisler, Lynn Scarlett, Andrew Loschiavo, Greg Kiker, Igor Linkov

Jeffrey Keisler

Engineering Innovative Mobile Data Services: Developing A Model For Value Network Analysis And Design, Mutaz M. Al-Debei, Enas M. Al-Lozi, Guy Fitzgerald

Dr. Mutaz M. Al-Debei

Purpose – This study aims to analytically develop a reference model for engineering (i.e. analysis, design, development, evaluation, delivery, maintenance, modification, and management) powerful value networks capable of creating innovative mobile data services. Design/methodology/approach – The paradigm followed is that of Design-Science Research (DSR) which incorporates two main iterative processes: build and evaluate. For building the model (i.e. the design science artifact in this research), we followed three iterations: (1) Literature Review Analysis; (2) Semi-Structured Interviews analyzed through content analysis; and (3) examination of real-life case studies. But for evaluating the model, we utilized the NTT DoCoMo’s i-mode case. Findings …

A Value-Based Approach For Explaining The Adoption Intention Of Mobile Data Services, Mutaz M. Al-Debei

Dr. Mutaz M. Al-Debei

This study aims at explaining the factors affecting the adoption intention of mobile data services from the perspective of consumers as users. In this study we focus on the value users can potentially gain from using these services. We hypothesize that if we can examine users' utilitarian, hedonic, uniqueness, epistemic and economic value, then we can explain and predict their intention to use mobile data services. Our results show that utilitarian value is according to previous studies an important adoption factor. Additionally, economic value is also important and significant. Nevertheless, it seems that in our context, hedonic, uniqueness, and epistemic …

Cfp: Handbook Of Research On Technological Applications And Innovation For Economic Development, Deogratias Harorimana Mr

Dr Deogratias Harorimana

The innovation in the 21st century goes significantly beyond the high-tech picture driven by small or large industry clusters in a specific region-typically Silicon Valley and M4Corridor. The future of innovation will lie within knowledge management and seamless technological applications. These will be supported by planned funding strategies, possibly with clients as drivers of the innovation. This view seems to be supported by the UK government “Technology and Innovation Futures” (2011); the USA government (2011), study into which leading scholars concede that the future innovation and technological applications for economic growth will include products and processes, improvements in areas such …

The Quality And Acceptance Of Websites: An Empirical Investigation In The Context Of Higher Education, Mutaz M. Al-Debei

Dr. Mutaz M. Al-Debei

The aim of this study is to explain the main factors affecting behavioural intentions of students to regularly use university websites in the future. Universities are investing millions of dollars in developing high quality websites as they believe that this course of action can provide them with significant strategic benefits. Notwithstanding, little is known about what attracts students to regularly use university websites and our understanding in this context is by no means complete. Aiming to advance our knowledge in this domain, this study utilises a novel model that is developed on the basis of three well-established theories in the …

Developing And Implementing A Web Portal Success Model, Dima Jalal, Mutaz M. Al-Debei

Dr. Mutaz M. Al-Debei

The emergence and subsequent spreading of new technologies, such as Web portals, has changed the way people handle information, communicate, share knowledge, and perform tasks. The use of different information technologies and systems offers the potential for substantially improving performance not only at the organizational level but also at the individual level. However, performance gains are often obstructed by users' unwillingness to accept and use available systems and technologies. This paper aims at examining the role of Web portals in improving the overall performance at the individual level in terms of task productivity and innovation, customer satisfaction, and management control. …

Measuring Web Portals Success: A Respecification And Validation Of The Delone And Mclean Information Systems Success Model, Mutaz M. Al-Debei, Dima Jalal, Enas Al-Lozi

Dr. Mutaz M. Al-Debei

The main aim of this research is to investigate the role of web portals in improving job performance at the individual level from the perspective of employees as users. This is deemed significant as yet little research has assessed the success of web portals in delivering benefits at the individual level in terms of improved performance in developing countries. The DeLone and McLean IS success model was used as a foundational theory and then was refined to match the context of the current research. In fact, the functions and features of portals were identified, clustered and then linked to portals’ …

A Neural Network Decision-Making Model For Job-Shop Scheduling”, Davood Golmohammadi Phd

Davood Golmohammadi

Scheduling in a job-shop system is a challenging task. Simulation modelling is a well-known approach for evaluating the scheduling plans of a job-shop system; however, it is costly and time-consuming, and developing a model and interpreting the results requires expertise. As an alternative, we have developed a neural network (NN) model focused on detailed scheduling that provides a versatile job-shop scheduling analysis framework for management to easily evaluate different possible scheduling scenarios based on internal or external constraints. A new approach is also proposed to enhance the quality of training data for better performance. Previous NN models in scheduling focus …

Ict For Poverty Alleviation In Pacific Island Nations: Study Of Icts4d In Fiji, Deogratias Harorimana, Opeti Rokotuinivono, Emali Sewale, Fane Salaiwai, Marica Naulu, Evangelin Roy

Dr Deogratias Harorimana

ICT for Poverty Alleviation in Pacific Island Nations: Study of ICTs4D in Fiji There has been a vague and little knowledge on the role or potential of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) in relation to addressing poverty in Fiji. This may be probably due to the newness of the technology in the South Pacific Region as a whole but also probably due to the fact that only 9.7% of the current Fiji 931,000 populations are internet users (ITC Figures 2011). This paper reports on finding how ICTs is contributing towards poverty alleviation in Fiji. On the basis of reviewed best …

How Can Pacific Island Economies Benefits From The Advent Of Ict’S – Review Of Best Practices In Education, Deogratias Harorimana Sr

Dr Deogratias Harorimana

This paper explored implementation and use of information and communication technologies in Fiji, in order to gain insight into recent government initiatives to introduce computers and other ICTs for the community of Fiji. The focus of this paper in that it provided the framework for an in-depth exploration of e-learning centers around the country and the benefits from the advent of ICT’s in e-learning community centers in Fiji. Areas concentrated on are outcome of ICT’s in formal education to students and community as a whole in areas of agriculture, health, environment and infrastructure etc. The research sought understanding from the …

Technical Assistance, Knowledge Gatekeeping And Indigenous Knowledge: Re-Thinking The International Development Practice, Deogratias Harorimana Sr

Dr Deogratias Harorimana

This paper presents results from a multi-disciplinary conceptual analysis of development theory and practice. It reviews issues raised and proposes a shift in the epistemology of possession towards an epistemology of practice which is guided by the following aspects (1) The consideration of the learning culture of parties involved, (2) the ability and willingness for decontextualisation of the knowledge by the source and (3) the ability to embedded it by recipients (embededness ), (4) the importance that is attached to knowledge of the host country as reflected through (5) Similarity in culture, values, understanding of context and knowledge bases; (6) …

Mis Mock Questions (Why Mis In Corporate Turbulant Times), Deogratias Harorimana Sr

Dr Deogratias Harorimana

With corporate strategy becoming more and more dependent on speed,focus, innovation and strategy, what can MIS do? and what should be MIS role ? what is the relationship between Corporate Strategy KPI and MIS? These questions are answered in an MBA Management Information Systems at USP. This programme is delivered across the entire Pacific region through the Graduate School of Business. It is my privilege to post here few questions that students who attended one of the course in Nadi, at Tanoa International Hotel had to answer in one of the Quiz test.

Economic Benefits Analysis Of Mining Industries In Png And Solomon Islands, Deogratias Harorimana Sr

Dr Deogratias Harorimana

This paper discusses mining and mineral operations in the two countries Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands with regards to its contribution to the overall Gross domestic Product and the economic development of each country.

Our finding shows that mining is an excellent contributor to economic growth and development as in the case of Papua New Guinea.Tax revenue from PNG Mining industries contributions to the PNG fiscal basket remains strong and growing steadily. The mining and minerals tax revenue remains an important contributor to the government fiscal budget over the last 10 years. This has been a strong contributor to …

Understanding Economics Of The Pacific Island Nations: Issues And Cases, Deogratias Harorimana Sr

Dr Deogratias Harorimana

No abstract provided.

Job Creation In The Tuna Industry Of The Solomon Islands- A Tentative Strategic Analysis, Deogratias Harorimana Sr

Dr Deogratias Harorimana

The principal objective of this paper is to review the current Tuna Fisheries Policies in the Solomon Islands with a view to proposing strategies that will maximize Job creation while at the same time address the issues that currently exist in this sector. Although the Tuna Industry’s contribution to GDP is quite significant, the Solomon Island Government (SIG) gets little or close to nothing out of it in the form of revenue and Job creation with the majority of vessels being foreign owned and fishing license fees amongst the lowest in the Pacific. SOLTAI which is partly owned by the …

Review Of Solomon Islands’ Policies And Programs To Promote Private Sector Development And Small Business, Deogratias Harorimana Sr

Dr Deogratias Harorimana

Solomon Islands is a nation with vast resources with huge potential to excel economically if proper business atmosphere is provided for both private sector development and small and medium enterprises entrepreneurship. Conducive policies that, not only, a mere statement but is broken down to workable strategies with quantitative expected outcome with a strong mentoring mechanism is very important. Previous governments have continuously ignored the importance of having small business policies until lately when NCRA government came up with a set of policies that strategically addresses the significance of small and medium businesses. However, notwithstanding foreign investment is very important in …

Social Networks And Web2.0 Among Youth: Lessons For Pacific Island Nations, Deogratias Harorimana Sr

Dr Deogratias Harorimana

This study is on social networks and web2 among youths and the lessons for Pacific Island nation. This study defines commonly used social networking sites used by the Pacific youths, average time spent, reasons behind the use of social networking sites and how social networking sites can be used as a development tool for Pacific Island nation. It was found that the popularity of social networking amongst youths in Pacific Island Countries is fast growing, increasing more than three folds year on year in the last 3years. Social Networks are a vital part of life for PIC youths, where, now …

Using The Case Study Methodology In Teaching, Deogratias Harorimana Mr

Dr Deogratias Harorimana

This paper reviews the Why, How, to use the Case Study Methods in MBA teaching. The Presentation was prepared for and delivered as part of MBA students induction Programme in the Graduate School of Business.

The Gatekeeper And The Knowledge Environment-Who They Are, How They Work Empirical Evidences From High-Tech Manufacturing And R&D Firms, Deogratias Harorimana

Dr Deogratias Harorimana

Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this study was to critically study the role of the Knowledge Gatekeeper within the manufacturing and high tech selected case studies and by explaining who they are, how they work and identify and analyse the barriers to knowledge creation and knowledge sharing. Methodology: The research was guided by an inductive approach with a multiple case study strategy. Research instruments included a questionnaire and interviews from respectively 105 and 40 respondents. Findings: In the African Manufacturing context, and in absence of sophisticated technologies and highly qualified personnel, technical knowledge can be obtained from organizational …

Review Of Economics Of Manamagement Information Systems, Deogratias Harorimana Sr

Dr Deogratias Harorimana

“Information technology is the "digital nervous system" of any business.” (Bill Gates, Chairman, Microsoft Corporation, 1997)

The way business is conducted in this era is phenomenal. Almost everything is a “click” away. The customers are satisfied, businesses are satisfied, Government is satisfied and the entire globe is gratified by the work of information technology (IT). This research discloses the several returns and shortcomings of IT, and how businesses use IT to realize their strategic goals.

The report presents discussion on two organisations, Dell Computer Corporation and Sydney Waters, which had a prosperous and disastrous implementation of IT systems respectively. The …

Using Mis To Deliver Essential Services:Case Of Healthcare Provision Support In Fiji, Deogratias Harorimana Sr

Dr Deogratias Harorimana

In comparison to other Pacific Island countries, Fiji’s health system is the most developed amongst Pacific Island countries (UNDP 2006) and has undergone significant change in the last decade. From 1999 – 2009, AusAid, a major donor to Fiji’s health system, has supported two stage health sector improvement programs. The first stage (1999 - 2003) was a management reform program designed to improve decision making by supporting a new model of decentralized management. The second phase (2004 – 2009) looked at improving governance, health systems performance, clinical outcomes and supported public health and infrastructure initiatives at the divisional level (WHO …

Impact Of Crm Systems On Organisational Performance: A Case Study Of Anz Bank, Deogratias Harorimana Sr

Dr Deogratias Harorimana

This paper reports case study results analysis of the ANZ Bank in the Pacific Region. The case study results show that ANZ has a well-established CRM system supporting its marketing and sales activities, but equally the results indicate mixed scenarios. A positive relationship between CRM to performance was established. That is, it has a positive contribution to the bank’s performance, both financial and non-financial. There is also negative feedback on the bank’s CRM system which illustrates that CRM system can also have negative consequences. CRM success is questionable from a stand-alone perspective. Although there are encouraging results from the use …