Business Commons^™

A Teaching Supplement On Sensitivity Analysis For Linear Programming In Undergraduate Business Programs (Forthcoming), Jomon Aliyas Paul, Leo Macdonald

Jomon Aliyas Paul

Sensitivity analysis, a key linear programming (LP) concept, is often explained in text books using complex problem scenarios that students have difficulty relating to. Consequently, many students do not fully comprehend nor appreciate significance of shadow prices or range of optimality for objective coefficients. This adds to the challenges instructors face in promoting critical thinking, a key goal in operations research and management science courses. Limited student-faculty interactions further exacerbates the problem in online learning environments. These issues can be effectively addressed through use of simple real world examples for instruction, followed by discussion of insights and intuition behind results …

Decision Support Tools For Competitive Usda Food Aid Bidding, Jomon Aliyas Paul, Xinfang (Jocelyn) Wang

Jomon Aliyas Paul

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) currently uses a bidding system to determine carriers and suppliers that would partner in providing food aid annually in response to global emergencies and famine. We mimic the USDA approach via a robust optimization model featuring box and ellipsoid uncertainty frameworks to account for uncertainties in demand, supplier and carrier bid prices. Through a case study utilizing historical invoice data, we demonstrate our model applicability in improving ocean carrier and food supplier bid pricing strategy and similar supply chain network optimization problems. Through a validation algorithm we demonstrate the value of our robust models.

Location And Capacity Allocation Decisions To Mitigate The Impacts Of Unexpected Disasters, Jomon Aliyas Paul, Leo Macdonald

Jomon Aliyas Paul

A Stochastic Dynamic Programming Approach For Strategic National Stockpile Location-Allocation Planning For Improved Hurricane Preparedness, Jomon Aliyas Paul, Leo Macdonald

Jomon Aliyas Paul

Effect Of Certificate Of Need Law On Emergency Department Quality Of Care, Jomon Aliyas Paul, Huan Ni, Aniruddha Bagchi

Jomon Aliyas Paul

No abstract provided.

Optimal Allocation Of Resources In Airport Security: Profiling Vs. Screening, Aniruddha Bagchi, Jomon Aliyas Paul

Jomon Aliyas Paul

This model examines the role of intelligence gathering and screening in providing airport security. We analyze this problem using a game between the government and a terrorist. By investing in intelligence gathering, the government can improve the precision of its information. In contrast, screening can be used to search a passenger and thereby deter terrorist attacks. We determine the optimal allocation of resources between these two strategies wherein we model the role of intelligence using the concept of supermodular precision. One striking result is that under certain circumstances, an increase in the investment in intelligence can induce a more devious …

A Model To Study Disparities And Lifetime Medical Costs, Jomon Aliyas Paul, Leo Macdonald, Govind Hariharan

Jomon Aliyas Paul

We develop a mathematical model that captures the complex interactions within the health service system featuring chronic diseases and provides valuable lessons that could assist in controlling escalating healthcare costs. We utilize a Monte Carlo simulation framework to simulate the evolution of a population subject to deaths, births, and disease conditions. The model estimates the lifetime health expenditures of individuals based on demographics including race, age, and gender, as well as risk factors that contribute to the development of specific disease conditions. We further incorporate interactions between multiple disease conditions and the effect of risk factors in chronic disease incidence …

Models Using The Benefits Of Cross Training Policies To Tackle Nurse Shortage Crisis, Jomon Paul, Leo Macdonald

Jomon Aliyas Paul

This paper seeks to offer insight into cross training strategies that could be effective in aiding in alleviating the nurse shortage issue and its potential to negatively impact on patient safety and mortality. We develop optimization models to evaluate the benefits of cross-training, in particular chaining practices, on nurse workforce planning under stochastic demand, and determine the optimal allocation of both regular and cross-trained staff at a minimum cost. We demonstrate the benefits of cross-training in terms of a reduction in the total number of nurses required to satisfy demand across multiple departments as well as from an economic (i.e. …

Evaluating Capacity Options For The North American West Coast Container Ports., Jomon Aliyas Paul, Michael Maloni

Jomon Aliyas Paul

As global trade continues to recover from the recent economic recession, US container port congestion experienced in the last decade will likely re-emerge. Yet there is limited research that examines network-wide port capacity in support of solutions for minimizing such congestion. To address this gap, we simulate the US West Coast container port network, quantifying the costs and benefits of different options to better utilize current port capacity across the entire network. We specifically assess both efficiency improvement and operational coordination options on historical and future container volumes. The results demonstrate the strength of efficiency as a means to alleviate …

Dry Port Development In China: Motivations, Challenges, And Opportunities, Qincheng Zheng, Michael Maloni, Jomon Aliyas Paul

Jomon Aliyas Paul

As coastal production costs in China rise, producers are moving inland to remain competitive with other Asian countries. As a result, Chinese sea ports are rapidly developing dry (i.e., inland) ports to compete for hinterland access. Yet the growing body of research examining dry ports has yet to analyze China. This article fills this gap by combining practitioner interviews, publicly available data, and industry and academic literature to provide an overview of dry ports in China. The article discusses the recent active development of dry ports in China and summarizes the existing dry port network. Motivations for further dry port …

Key Interactions For Online Programs Between Faculty, Students, Technologies, And Institutions: A Holistic Framework, Jomon Aliyas Paul, Justin Cochran

Jomon Aliyas Paul

Online education is becoming increasingly popular among both traditional and nontraditional students. Students gravitate to the flexibility of online courses, which allows them to work around jobs, family, and other responsibilities. While online program growth continues, these programs present several new challenges to educational institutions and their successful implementation requires a clear understanding of several factors that are at the root of these challenges. We propose 2 intuitive relational diagrams featuring roles and interaction among faculty, student, technology, and institution that could serve as a conceptual framework for developing successful online education programs.

A Process Flow Based Framework For Nurse Demand Estimation To Address Nurse Shortage., Jomon Paul, Leo Macdonald

Jomon Aliyas Paul

The nursing shortage in the United States poses a serious problem to hospitals, given that nurses provide an indispensable service within the healthcare system. This issue is expected to worsen, especially given the aging population of baby-boomers, which includes those that are part of the nurse workforce. This has resulted in a wide variety of problems, including patient safety issues, inability to detect complications, and potential patient mortality rate increases. Nurse shortage implications go beyond healthcare quality, extending to health economics as well. Inaccurate estimates of the nursing resources required to satisfy patient demand in a hospital environment could make …

Slow Steaming Impacts On Ocean Carriers And Shippers, Michael Maloni, Jomon Paul, David Gligor

Jomon Aliyas Paul

Ocean container carriers have implemented slow steaming (reduced vessel speeds) in recent years to improve fuel efficiency and lower greenhouse gas emissions. However, many shippers oppose the practice due to increased pipeline inventory associated with longer transit times. Given this conflict, this article seeks to quantify the costs and benefits of slow steaming relative to carriers and shippers. We simulate a high volume Asia-North America container trade lane to estimate slow steaming impacts under different vessel speeds, volumes and fuel prices. Under current conditions, the results justify slow steaming practices, revealing extra slow steaming as the most beneficial vessel speed …

Efficient Operating Room Redesign Through Process Improvement And Optimal Handling Of Scheduled And Emergent Surgeries, Jomon Paul, Arun Jotshi

Jomon Aliyas Paul

This article is focused on the benefits of reducing variability and the role of Operations Research techniques in efficient operating room (OR) redesign through process improvement and optimal management of scheduled and emergent surgeries at hospitals. Issues at a participant hospital are studied which are presented in this article where in the authors develop a three step OR redesign model to address them. The three step redesign was carried out as follows. Firstly, the process bottlenecks affecting OR performance were identified with the help of a Discrete Event Simulation Model (DES). Once the DES model focusing on the “As-Is” operations …

Effect Of Increased Social Networking Usage On Student Academic Performance., Jomon Aliyas Paul, Hope Baker, Justin Cochran

Jomon Aliyas Paul

Online social networks (OSNs) have permeated all generations of Internet users, becoming a prominent communications tool, particularly in the student community. Thus, academic institutions and faculty are increasingly using social networking sites, such as Facebook and LinkedIn, to connect with current and potential students and to deliver instructional content. This has led to a rise in questions about the impact of OSN on academic performance and the possibility of using it as an effective teaching tool. To learn more about the impact on academic performance, we conducted a survey of business students at a large state university. Survey results were …

Improving Hurricane Disaster Preparedness: Models For Optimal Reallocation Of Hospital Capacity, Jomon Paul, Rajan Batta

Jomon Aliyas Paul

This research presents significant improvements to the hospital capacity planning models for hurricane disaster proposed by Paul and Batta. Firstly, we develop a model that reallocates hospital capacities taking into account the effect of casualty severity on medical care demands and travel time to hospitals on casualty outcomes. Secondly, travel time to hospitals, a key input to the model, is estimated using a stochastic simulation. Thirdly, in order to meet with challenges that arise as disaster evolves, we develop an algorithm that dynamically updates the pre-disaster plans to post-disaster reality. The algorithm evaluates prior decisions by dynamically updating the hospital …

Hospital Capacity Planning For Efficient Disaster Mitigation During An Earthquake, Pengfei Yi, Santosh George, Jomon Aliyas Paul, Li Lin

Jomon Aliyas Paul

Hospitals are an integral part of a society’s critical functions designed to respond to man-made and natural disasters. Effective hospital capacity planning can significantly enhance the capability and effectiveness of treatment for emergency patients with injuries resulting from a disaster. Such information can be used for patient/ambulance routing, resource planning, and emergency operations management. In the current paper, we develop a generic simulation model that is capable of representing the operations of a wide range of hospitals given an earthquake disaster situation. Using results from our simulations, generalized regression equations are fitted to obtain steady-state hospital capacities. A parametric metamodel …

Models For Solving Emergency Room Crisis., Jomon Aliyas Paul, Kedar Sambhoos

Jomon Aliyas Paul

Emergency Departments (ED) across United States are distraught with issues like overcrowding, ambulance diversion, medical errors, patient left without being seen etc. The primary cause for all these interrelated problems is artificial variability that results mainly because of inaccurate severity estimation leading to inappropriate bed allocation and final disposition. To this effect, we propose Bayesian decision support tools that accurately classify new incoming patients into different severity types based on their chief complaints and at the same time assist doctors in subsequent diagnosis and disposition of patients. These tools are developed based on the decision making principles of attending physicians …

Sambhoos, K., Sudit, M., Paul, J. (2009). Improved Situation Assessment Through Early Detection During A Bioterrorist Attack By Using Dynamic Graph Matching, Jomon Aliyas Paul, Kedar Sambhoos, Sudit Moises

Jomon Aliyas Paul

No abstract provided.

Using Dynamic Graph Matching And Gravity Models For Early Detection Of Bioterrorist Attack By Analysis Of Hospital Patient Data., Jomon Aliyas Paul, Kedar Sambhoos, Govind Hariharan

Jomon Aliyas Paul

Timely detection of a bioterrorist attack is of profound significance for efficient emergency public health management. Various systems currently exist which are capable of detecting the biologic agents prior to (e.g. biosensors) and after exposure (syndromic surveillance) but suffer from limitations like high cost and false positives (Stoto et al., Williams). In this paper, we use novel dynamic graph matching and gravity models to formulate a more precise and efficient methodology for detection. The problem is complicated by the similarity of anthrax and small pox symptoms to common diseases like influenza, chickenpox, airborne characteristics of these agents (that increases the …

Models For Hospital Location And Capacity Allocation For An Area Prone To Natural Disasters, Jomon Aliyas Paul, Rajan Batta

Jomon Aliyas Paul

This paper develops and analyses two basic models for hospital location and capacity allocation. The focus is on an area prone to natural disasters. The first model seeks to locate hospitals and allocate capacities so that the mean travel distance for patients to hospitals is minimised over a variety of disaster scenarios. The second model seeks to reallocate capacity among hospitals so as to maximise the system’s effectiveness to the upcoming disaster event. Heuristic solution methods of the two models are investigated, so as to make the approach computationally viable and to gain insight into the location and capacity allocation …

Airport Security System Design: Passenger Flow Analysis And Simulation Modeling, Jomon Aliyas Paul, Rajan Batta, Li Lin, Colin Drury

Jomon Aliyas Paul

No abstract provided.

Paul, J., Hariharan, G. (2007). Hospital Capacity Planning For Effective Disaster Mitigation During A Bioterrorist Attack., Jomon Aliyas Paul, Govind Hariharan

Jomon Aliyas Paul

Effective hospital capacity planning can not only significantly enhance the capability and effectiveness of the treatment provided to patients during a bioterrorist attack but can also provide critical information. While a lot of work has been done to model hospital capacity estimates for natural disasters the same cannot be said for manmade biological disasters like anthrax or smallpox. In this paper, we develop a generic simulation model of hospital capacity planning during a bioterrorist attack. We model both cases in which the occurrence of the attack and the type of agent used are known as well as when they are …

Simulation Of Airport Security Checkpoint Operations, Rajan Batta, Colin Drury, Li Lin, Jomon Aliyas Paul, Xiaofeng Nie, Clara Marin

Jomon Aliyas Paul

Screening of passengers at the airport security check point is one of the most critical measures to ensure our nation’s aviation security and safety. In this study, we investigate the operational efficiency and inspection effectiveness of passenger screening, including the magnetometer (MAG), X-Ray machines, manual wand search, trace of explosive residuals, and private screening at an airport. Passenger volumes by the day of the week and times of the day, along with the corresponding staffing levels of the screening personnel are modeled. Performance of the security system with respect to passengers making the flights on time is evaluated for various …

Simulation And Lean Six Sigma Integration For Improvement Of Hospital Operations., Jomon Aliyas Paul, Li Lin

Jomon Aliyas Paul

Patient throughput has become one of the most common measures of hospital performance in terms of patient satisfaction and operational efficiency. Throughout the country hospital emergency departments, which generally supply almost 50% of the inpatient population, face increased pressure on improving patient flow. Similarly performance of ORs, the largest revenue grosser for the hospital significantly affects the patient satisfaction considerably. In addition to employing a DMAIC - Lean Six Sigma approach to resolve these problems, In simulation has been used as an excellent tool to implement the Analyze and Improve phases of the six-sigma methodology. We used simulation, integrated with …

Transient Modeling In Simulation Of Hospital Operations For Emergency Response., Jomon Paul, Santosh George, Pengfei Yi, Li Lin

Jomon Aliyas Paul

Rapid estimates of hospital capacity after an event that may cause a disaster can assist disaster-relief efforts. Due to the dynamics of hospitals, following such an event, it is necessary to accurately model the behavior of the system. A transient modeling approach using simulation and exponential functions is presented, along with its applications in an earthquake situation. The parameters of the exponential model are regressed using outputs from designed simulation experiments. The developed model is capable of representing transient, patient waiting times during a disaster. Most importantly, the modeling approach allows real-time capacity estimation of hospitals of various sizes and …