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Articles 1 - 16 of 16

Full-Text Articles in Other Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering

Emerging Trends And New Frontiers In Community Operational Research, Michael P. Johnson Jr., Gerald Midgley, George Chichirau Jul 2018

Emerging Trends And New Frontiers In Community Operational Research, Michael P. Johnson Jr., Gerald Midgley, George Chichirau

Michael P. Johnson

Community operational research (Community OR), and its disciplinary relation, community-based operations research, has an increasingly high profile within multiple domains that benefit from empirical and analytic approaches to problem solving. These domains are primarily concentrated within nonprofit services and local development. However, there are many other disciplinary and application areas for which novel applications and extensions of COR could generate valuable insights. This paper identifies a number of these, distinguishing between ‘emerging trends’ (mostly in well-studied areas of operations research, management science and analytics) and ‘new frontiers’, which can be found in traditions not commonly oriented towards empirical and analytic …


An Improved Analytical Model For Wormhole Routed Networks With Application To Butterfly Fat-Trees, Ronald I. Greenberg, Lee Guan Jan 2018

An Improved Analytical Model For Wormhole Routed Networks With Application To Butterfly Fat-Trees, Ronald I. Greenberg, Lee Guan

Ronald Greenberg

A performance model for wormhole routed interconnection networks is presented and applied to the butterfly fat-tree network. Experimental results agree very closely over a wide range of load rate. Novel aspects of the model, leading to accurate and simple performance predictions, include (1) use of multiple-server queues, and (2) a general method of correcting queuing results based on Poisson arrivals to apply to wormhole routing. These ideas can also be applied to other networks.


Structuring Financial Incentives For Residential Solar Electric Systems, Kevin C. Van Blommestein, Yonghee Cho, Tugrul U. Daim, Paul Sklar Dec 2017

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

Joseph Cho

This paper introduces a simple methodology to aid in the decision of how to distribute financial incentive funding for residential solar electric systems in order to maximize demand. Incentive funding can be used more effectively if adjusted according to the decrease in price and the increase in demand of solar electric systems. The decision of how to reduce these incentives due to changing annual funds, while increasing or even maintaining the growth of solar electric system demand, is of great interest to policymakers and public benefit funded program administrators. In order to aid in this process, a three step methodology …


Investigating The Effects Of Foreign Direct Investment (Fdi) On Croatian Business, Yonghee Cho, Tugrul U. Daim, Marina Dabic Nov 2017

Investigating The Effects Of Foreign Direct Investment (Fdi) On Croatian Business, Yonghee Cho, Tugrul U. Daim, Marina Dabic

Joseph Cho

Technological innovation plays a critical role in economic growth. The most advanced and new technologies are created by leading firms in developed countries. Global expansion, strategic outsourcing or off-shoring in leading companies has been growing to enrich their competitive advantage, while technology transfer of leading firms has been of more interest to emerging or developing countries for catching up and following the trajectory of economic growth proved in developed countries. Among various channels to acquire new technologies from leading firms, foreign direct investments (FDI) is one of the most effective channels through which technology can be transferred to subsidiaries in …


Improving Decision-Making Skills Of Nonprofit Professionals, Michael P. Johnson Jr., George Chichirau, Jason Wright Oct 2017

Improving Decision-Making Skills Of Nonprofit Professionals, Michael P. Johnson Jr., George Chichirau, Jason Wright

Michael P. Johnson

Nonprofits face gaps in organizational capacity, including program design and evaluation, but previous research suggests that capacity-building exercises have a positive effect. We describe a data analytics training workshop with staff from Boston-area nonprofits reflecting a wide range of sectors. Through analysis of participant work on case studies provided by the instructor, we examine how participants made sense of training materials, the various strategies employed by participants to solve three case study problems, and participant feedback about the session. Our findings provide a basis for novel interventions in community based operations research. 


All Models Are Wrong; Some Models Are Harmful, David Hunt, Michael P. Johnson Jr. Oct 2017

All Models Are Wrong; Some Models Are Harmful, David Hunt, Michael P. Johnson Jr.

Michael P. Johnson

We like to think that CBOR involves the application of analytical methods to "do good" locally, and, most will agree these efforts are "doing good". However, what is meant by "doing good" and how do we know when our models are not "doing good" and may in fact be doing harm? Some philosophers consider happiness as the only good, and utilitarianism is based on maximizing happiness. But maximizing happiness can create winners and losers, and are we really "doing good" as long as the pluses outweigh the minuses? This presentation will explore these topics using examples drawn from CBOR.


Community-Based Operations Research: Data Analytics And Decision Modeling For Community Development And Social Change, Michael P. Johnson Jr. Mar 2016

Community-Based Operations Research: Data Analytics And Decision Modeling For Community Development And Social Change, Michael P. Johnson Jr.

Michael P. Johnson

‘Community-based operations research’ is an extension of multiple traditions in OR/MS to produce research for local change. CBOR attempts to incorporate critical thinking, evidence-based policy design and prescriptive decision modeling. This presentation introduces a theory of CBOR and reviews current applications to support a collection of new scholarship. These applications include foreclosure response, vacant land management and local economic development. We conclude with suggestions to expand the field of CBOR.


Guidelines For Using Process Mapping To Aid Improvement Efforts, Paul Savory, John Olson Dec 2015

Guidelines For Using Process Mapping To Aid Improvement Efforts, Paul Savory, John Olson

John Olson

Process mapping is an easy-to-visualize method for people to analyze and agree on the most efficient routes for reengineering or improving a process. It aids in determining redundant tasks, uncovering hidden interactions between processes and people, and focusing on the processes that serve customers, improve quality, and generate income. This paper presents guidelines for using process mapping as an improvement tool. It is based on the authors’ experiences in aiding a variety of healthcare, service, and manufacturing companies.


The Effect Of Streamwise Vortices On The Frost Growth Rate In Developing Laminar Channel Flows, Brian Storey, Anthony Jacobi Jul 2012

The Effect Of Streamwise Vortices On The Frost Growth Rate In Developing Laminar Channel Flows, Brian Storey, Anthony Jacobi

Brian Storey

An experimental study is presented to assess the influence of streamwise vortices on frost growth in a steady, developing, laminar channel flow. Using a simple model and scale analysis, frost growth rate (ablimation) data are normalized with respect to temperature, humidity and time. Measurements from baseline experiments in a rectangular channel are found to be accurately correlated using the proposed scaling relation. Upon introducing streamwise vortices in the channel flow, frost growth still follows the scaling relation, but local growth rates were observed to increase by more than 7% in regions where the streamwise vortices induce a surface-normal flow toward …


Optimization Of Supply Chain Planning With Considering Defective Rates Of Products In Each Echelon, Behin Elahi Jul 2011

Optimization Of Supply Chain Planning With Considering Defective Rates Of Products In Each Echelon, Behin Elahi

Behin Elahi

Supply Chain Planning has recently received considerable attention in both academia and industry. The major targets of supply chain planning are to reduce production costs, risks, delays and maximize or improve profit, quality of product, customer service which result in increased competitiveness, more customer satisfaction and portability. In this study, a new bi-objective mathematical modeling for a four-echelon supply chain, consisting multi-supplier, assembler, distribution center and retailer, with considering the defective rates of products is proposed. Then, fuzzy compromise programming method is applied to solve the non-linear mixed-integer bi-objective model. Finally, a numerical example is given to illustrate application of …


The Best Selection Of Strategic Plans In Balanced Scorecard Using Multi-Objective Decision Making Model, J Dodangeh Dec 2010

The Best Selection Of Strategic Plans In Balanced Scorecard Using Multi-Objective Decision Making Model, J Dodangeh

Jay Daniel

In an increasingly competitive business environment, many organizations have adopted the strategic planning approach in an attempt to achieve excellence in business. Implementation of appropriate strategies plays an important role for organizations' success. Balanced scorecard is an appropriate tool used for designing operational strategies. However, one of the balanced scorecard problems is its selection in strategic plans' performance. In this paper, a model was established for the selection of strategic plans in “balanced scorecard” using “goal programming model” which is one of the multi objective decision making models. So, using the consensus of organizations’ managers and experts' opinions, the measures …


From Automatic Identification And Data Capture (Aidc) To “Smart Business Process”: Preparing For A Pilot Integrating Rfid, S. F. Wamba, E. Lefebvre, Y. Bendavid, L.. A. Lefebvre Jan 2010

From Automatic Identification And Data Capture (Aidc) To “Smart Business Process”: Preparing For A Pilot Integrating Rfid, S. F. Wamba, E. Lefebvre, Y. Bendavid, L.. A. Lefebvre

Dr Samuel Fosso Wamba

This paper examines the underlying logic behind the rules configured in a RFID middleware to support “smart business processes” in one retail supply chain. Through a detailed investigation of the underlying business processes, we will demonstrate how businesses rules can be defined, configured and refined in a RFID middleware. The results confirm that RFID technology is not a “Plug and Play” solution. RFID middleware configuration will require a high level of customization. Finally, this study allows the improvement of our understanding of the real potential of RFID technology in the supply chain context.


Demystifying The Legend Of Resistance To Change, Hamid Tahbaz Tavakoli, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Arash Golnam Apr 2008

Demystifying The Legend Of Resistance To Change, Hamid Tahbaz Tavakoli, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Arash Golnam

Nader Ale Ebrahim

Nothing is permanent except change. Many authors stress that the reason for the failure of many change initiatives can be found in resistance to change. Resistance to change introduces costs and delays into the change process that are difficult to anticipate but must be taken into consideration. Undoubtedly the resistance to change is key topic in change management and should be seriously considered to help the organization achieve advantages of the transformation. Considering the importance of resistance to change, this paper aims to delve deeper in this field through theoretical exposition of the concept, elaborating more on the literature involving …


Demystifying The Legend Of Resistance To Change, Hamid Tahbaz Tavakoli, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Arash Golnam Apr 2008

Demystifying The Legend Of Resistance To Change, Hamid Tahbaz Tavakoli, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Arash Golnam

Nader Ale Ebrahim

Nothing is permanent except change. Many authors stress that the reason for the failure of many change initiatives can be found in resistance to change. Resistance to change introduces costs and delays into the change process that are difficult to anticipate but must be taken into consideration. Undoubtedly the resistance to change is key topic in change management and should be seriously considered to help the organization achieve advantages of the transformation. Considering the importance of resistance to change, this paper aims to delve deeper in this field through theoretical exposition of the concept, elaborating more on the literature involving …


R&D Management In Iran, Opportunities And Threats, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Ali Ghazizadeh, Arash Golnam, Hamid Tahbaz Tavakoli May 2007

R&D Management In Iran, Opportunities And Threats, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Ali Ghazizadeh, Arash Golnam, Hamid Tahbaz Tavakoli

Nader Ale Ebrahim

Research and Development (R&D) management in Iran has faced many barriers and obstacles, in which R&D units are considered as the basic core of the product development and innovation. Due to structural shortcomings, a great number of organizations and industries have not yet been able to position themselves in the market. There are about 1141 R&D units throughout Iran, due to the geographical decentralization of these units this paper considers and analyzes the R&D case study in one of the provinces located in the north part of Iran, and the findings can be generalized to the other industrialized areas and …


Applying System Dynamics To Confront Complex Decision Making In R&D Systems, Arash Golnam, Nader Ale Ebrahim Nov 2005

Applying System Dynamics To Confront Complex Decision Making In R&D Systems, Arash Golnam, Nader Ale Ebrahim

Nader Ale Ebrahim

Research and development has always played a strategically important role in the survival and the growth of technology-based firms. R&D is positively linked to company performance measures such as sales, productivity and shareholder returns and in addition to this, facing increased competition, as a result of globalization the viability of many established firms is based on the efficiency of their R&D activities. Similar to other business models, R&D systems are characterized by complex structure and dynamic behavior. It's often difficult to predict or trace the consequences of certain decisions due to the existence of delays, non-linearities and causal feedback inherent …