bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ON THE SOLUTION OF SPATIAL EQUILIBRIUM MODELS*
Authors: Rowse John 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTRecent advances in mathematical programming methods and computing technology have the potential for overcoming the many formidable barriers to the widespread solution of nonlinear spatial models. In particular, the recent public availability of the software package MINOS/AUGMENTED has major implications for both policy and theoretical research involving spatial models. In this paper, mathematical programming formulations of two highly nonlinear spatial models are provided, model solutions presented, and associated computational experience discussed. In addition, related work is discussed briefly and suggestions are advanced concerning the potential role of the package in furthering the objectives of this related work.Subject Areas: Mathematical Programming, Transportation, and Urban and Regional Planning.
MODELING MANAGERS' EFFORT‐LEVEL DECISIONS FOR A WITHIN‐PERSONS EXAMINATION OF EXPECTANCY THEORY IN A BUDGET SETTING
Authors: Harrell Adrian M. , Stahl Michael J. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTRonen and Livingstone [42] have proposed that expectancy theory can provide a unifying framework for accounting research aimed at the motivational impact of budgets on managers. Unfortunately, researchers attempting to use this approach have employed an inappropriate across‐persons methodology. This paper uses the decision modeling approach we recently developed [48] to provide a within‐persons examination of Vroom's force model in a budget setting. An examination of two hypotheses questions the belief expressed in the budget literature to the effect that the use of currently attainable cost standards results in a cost budget with unique motivating characteristics. Strengths of this research are the use of the within‐persons approach and the use of an innovative measure of motivational force.
PREFERENCE MAPPING OF PERCEIVED INFORMATION STRUCTURE: IMPLICATIONS FOR DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS DESIGN
Authors: Watkins Paul R. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTIn a recent issue of this journal, Watkins [13] presented an approach for discovery of decision‐maker perceptions of the complexity (dimensionality) of information items that might be supplied by a decision support system. Through use of multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis, relatively homogeneous groups of decision makers, sharing common perceptions of various information items, were formed. This prior research was referred to as a first step in suggesting that information reports could be tailored to groups of decision makers classified on the basis of common perceptions of information. The current research extends the prior study by evaluating decision maker preferences for information in a variety of decision‐making scenarios in relation to the previously identified perceptions of the information. Based on the results of the study, conclusions are made which suggest that the tailoring of information to groups of decision makers should be based on both perceptions and preferences for information. Even so, it is demonstrated that the decision tasks have an impact on the preferences for information which may affect the attempt to tailor information to groups of decision makers.
THE TRADE DISCOUNT DECISION: A MARKOV CHAIN APPROACH*
Authors: Wort Donald H. , Zumwalt J. Kenton 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTEconomic theory indicates that higher returns are required from investments that have higher risk. Two major reasons for offering trade discounts are to stimulate sales and to speed up cash receipts. Both sales increases and the earlier receipt of cash impact the risk/return characteristics of a firm. This study uses a Markov chain model to demonstrate how alternative trade credit policies impact the risk and required returns of a firm. The amount of risk and return per credit sale is calculated, and the coefficient of variation is used as a risk/return measure per credit sale. The study concludes that trade discounts can have a favorable impact on the risk/return characteristics of a firm, even in the absence of increased sales volume. Other discount decision factors which are either directly or indirectly determined in this paper include: (1) the average number of periods for which an account is outstanding, (2) the probability of collection and bad‐debt losses over the average account period, (3) the average speed of payment, and (4) the average amount of cash tied up in accounts receivable.
PRODUCT STRUCTURE COMPLEXITY AND MULTILEVEL LOT SIZING USING ALTERNATIVE COSTING POLICIES*
Authors: Benton W. C. , Srivastava Rajesh 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThis research evaluates the effect of product structure complexity on the performance of several lot‐sizing procedures in a multilevel manufacturing environment. The experiment compares two different costing policies, full value added (FVA) and marginal value added (MVA), for calculating inventory holding cost. The major finding of the research is that product structure complexity has very little effect on the performance of various lot‐sizing procedures. A second finding is that when product structures with varying components per parent and stocking points for a particular end item are present, the MVA costing policy emerges as the policy of choice because it favors slightly the Silver‐Meal (SM)/least‐total‐cost (LTC) procedures over the Wagner‐Whitin (WW)/LTC procedures.
DUAL‐METRIC MEASUREMENT OF THE IMPACT OF COMPLEXITY ON DECISION QUALITY*
Authors: Enis Charles R. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTBoth sophisticated and unsophisticated subjects were provided either a simple or a complex cue set at random on which to base decisions. A dual‐metric approach that consisted of measuring interrater consistency and cross‐item variance for each subject category was used to compare the decision quality of the subjects. Although complexity and decision quality were inversely related, the sophisticated subjects performed relatively better using the complex cue set; the unsophisticated subjects performed better using the simple cue set. These findings support the notion that decision‐maker and task compatibility are important to the assessment of decision quality.
NEW PRODUCT SCREENING VIA THE INTENTION‐TO‐BUY SCALE*
Authors: Levy Haim , Ofir Chezy 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTData obtained from the intention‐to‐buy scale often are used for early product screening. The authors discuss current procedures to evaluate these data and indicate the minor rote that risk assessment has played. Evaluation rules that incorporate the risk factor are presented, and their usefulness for product selection is discussed.
Applications and Implementation THE ALLOCATION OF TIME IN ACADEME: RENT‐SEEKING IMPLICATIONS
Authors: Stolen Justin D. , Gleason John M. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThe allocation of time in academe is influenced by artificial constraints such as wage‐fund pools and quotas on promotion and tenure. These constraints affect the potential productivity of professors. An analysis of the time‐allocation process and of rent‐seeking implications for that process suggests various ways to shift supply curves to counteract the effects of these constraints.
Education CREATIVE THINKING AND INNOVATIVE EDUCATION IN THE DECISION SCIENCES
Authors: Evans James R. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTCreative problem solving is seldom addressed directly in the decision sciences literature. The first half of this paper reviews current thinking about creativity and its educational importance. The remainder addresses creative problem‐solving processes and, in particular, the process developed by Parnes, Noller and Biondi [24] and Osborn [23]. This process has been integrated into an OR/MS problem‐solving course which is described. Conclusions and implications for decision sciences education and practice in general are discussed.
USING L2 ESTIMATION FOR L1 ESTIMATORS: AN APPLICATION TO THE SINGLE‐INDEX MODEL
Authors: Pari Robert , Chatterjee Sangit 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThe bootstrap method is used to compute the standard error of regression parameters when the data are non‐Gaussian distributed. Simulation results with L1 and L2 norms for various degrees of “non‐Gaussianess” are provided. The computationally efficient L2 norm, based on the bootstrap method, provides a good approximation to the L1 norm. The methodology is illustrated with daily security return data. The results show that decisions can be reversed when the ordinary least‐squares estimate of standard errors is used with non‐Gaussian data.
Notes and Communications “A DECISION THEORY EXAMPLE IN FOOTBALL”: A COMMENT*
Authors: Stoughton Neal M. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTJanssen and Daniel analyzed the choice between a one‐ or a two‐point conversion for a particular game situation in college football. Their decision criteria was maximum expected utility based on a von Neumann‐Morgenstern utility function defined over the games outcomes. An alternative approach based on a stochastic dominance criterion is presented that does not rely on knowledge of the relative importance of tying vs. winning; rather, it relies on a notion of consistency in the sequential problem.
DESIGNING INSPECTION STRATEGIES FOR UNCERTAIN ENVIRONMENTS
Authors: Ballou Donald P. , Pazer Harold L. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThis paper considers the problems of designing inspection strategies for production systems terms in the presence of environmental uncertainty. The framework for determining information priorities to support inspection system planning is presented in the contaxt of a generic production system that encompasses the characteristics of many real‐world serial production systems. The impact on the design decision of five key variables is considered: quality of producton processes, quality of inspection procedures, penalty cost for undetected defective units, relative cost of improving process vs. inspection, and shape of the cost functions for process and inspection enhancement. The framework for analysis involves varying factors over two or three orders of magnitude to determine optimal inspection strategies across a wide range of environments These results are used to compare design decisions made in the presence of environmental uncertainty using expected‐opportunity‐cost and minimization‐of‐maximum‐opportunity‐cost approaches. Design strategies are identified for situations ranging from complete lack of knowledge about the environment through increasing levels of information. Information‐gathering priorities are established, and the impact on the design decision of this additional information is assayed.
RULES FOR CHURCH PROMOTION DECISIONS
Authors: Carman James M. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThis article presents and tests a model that extends our understanding of optimal marketing‐mix decision rules for nonprofit organizations (such as churches) that receive donation income, do not charge fixed prices for their services, and rely heavily on volunteer time as a resource for their operations. Such organizations are likely to employ an objective function of output maximization rather than profit maximization. This change in objective function leads to greater promotional spending than would be true of for‐profit organizations. The paper also highlights the complexities for optimization raised by the role of paid and volunteer staff in promotional activities.
MODIFIED STEPPING‐STONE METHOD AS A TEACHING AID FOR CAPACITATED TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS
Authors: Shih Wei 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThis paper extends the standard stepping‐stone method to the case of capacitated transportation problems. The purpose is to offer an alternative to network‐oriented or simplex‐based methods (such as the out‐of‐kilter and upper‐bounding techniques) often used in handling the capacitated transportation problem but generally beyond the scope of introductory decision sciences courses. The proposed procedure is based on the simple stepping‐stone method and requires only a few modifications in the cost/assignment matrix and some alterations in the pivoting rules. As such, it is much easier to understand and apply than the above‐mentioned solution algorithms. It therefore can serve as an effective tool for teaching capacitated transportation problems. Two numerical examples illustrate applications of the proposed method, procedures for sensitivity analysis, and comparisons with linear programming.
EFFICIENT MODULAR IMPLEMENTATION OF BRANCH‐AND‐BOUND ALGORITHMS*
Authors: Johnson Roger V. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThis paper demonstrates how branch‐and‐bound algorithms can be modularized to obtain implementation efficiencies. For the manager, this advantage can be used to obtain faster implementation of algorithm results; for the scientist, it allows efficiencies in the construction of similar algorithms with different search and addressing structures for the purpose of testing to find a preferred algorithm. The demonstration in part is achieved by showing how the computer code of a central module of logic can be transported between different algorithms that have the same search strategy. Modularizations of three common searches (the best‐bound search and two variants of the last‐in‐first‐out search) with two addressing methods are detailed and contrasted. Using four assembly line balancing algorithms as examples, modularization is demonstrated and the search and addressing methods are contrasted. The application potential of modularization is broad and includes linear programming‐based integer programming. Benefits and disadvantages of modularization are discussed. Computational results demonstrate the viability of the method.
“COMPANY FORECAST ACCURACY FOR EXPONENTIAL SMOOTHING MODELS OF EARNINGS‐PER‐SHARE DATA FOR FINANCIAL DECISION MAKING”: A COMMENT
Authors: Dickinson John P. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThe practice of abandoning all but the most accurate among a set of alternative forecasting methods is shown to result in the loss of potentially useful information. The particular case of two forecasts is considered in detail. It is demonstrated practically that the inclusion of even a relatively poor forecasting method can enhance a superior one significantly.
INSTRUCTING OPERATIONS DESIGN: AN EXPERIENTIAL APPROACH
Authors: Gagnon Roger J. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTTeaching an operations design course has major pedagogical challenges. (1) The design topics—output, process, facility, and work design—are necessarily taught sequentially, yet the decisions are integrative. (2) Instruction must be generic to service or product producers. (3) Discussing output design is difficult since students typically have had no exposure to the “product language” of engineering graphics. (4) No text is available which examines in sufficient depth all the operations design decisions. (5) Cases necessarily depict historical situations—process technologies and economic data—while operations managers must plan future directions for their productive systems. (6) While the commercial world contains fresh information and data, students are inexperienced in obtaining knowledge from the real world. (7) While the course presents an operations management perspective, students must recognize the information, data, and cooperation necessary from the other functional areas to successfully complete the operations design.To help overcome these seven pedagogical challenges, the students in the undergraduate and graduate operation design courses complete a comprehensive feasibility study for a new product or service and the entire productive system.
Waiting Line Effects in Analytical Maintenance Float Policy
Authors: Madu Christian N. , Georgantzas Nicholas C. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThe equipment failure distributions commonly identified in practice pose great difficulties in the establishment of sound maintenance total float policy. Some of the existing analytical constructs utilize the reliability ratio of the equipment in operations in order to bypass the obstacles and arrive at applicable solutions. In this paper we give a summary of these theoretical models. In addition, we provide insight by testing the significance of factors utilized in maintenance total float determination. The paper examines the effect of the assumption made by the analytical model of no waiting time for repair. Our test showed that there is no statistically significant difference between the analytical model and simulation when waiting is allowed for the normal and uniform distributions. The analytical model thus offers some advantage in its use to estimate maintenance float due to its simplicity. When failure distribution is an exponential, Erlang‐2 or lognormal, the assumption of no waiting time for repair must be kept in order to use the analytical model.
Heuristic Optimization of Physical Data Bases: Using a Generic and Abstract Design Model*
Authors: Palvia Prashant 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTDesigning efficient physical data bases is a complex activity, involving the consideration of a large number of factors. Mathematical programming‐based optimization models for physical design make many simplifying assumptions; thus, their applicability is limited. In this article, we show that heuristic algorithms can be successfully used in the development of very good, physical data base designs. Two heuristic optimization algorithms are proposed in the context of a generic and abstract model for physical design. One algorithm is based on generic principles of heuristic optimization. The other is based on capturing and using problem‐specific information in the heuristics. The goodness of the algorithms is demonstrated over a wide range of problems and factor values.
A Unified Approach to Hedging Interest Rate Risk with Financial Futures*
Authors: Hilliard Jimmy E. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThere is abundant literature on the use of financial futures to reduce interest rate risk. While many applications have been developed and evaluated in the literature, little has been done to provide a simple, mathematical model unifying the disparate types of hedges. The purpose of this paper is to provide such a unifying framework. Under idealized conditions, an equation is developed giving a perfect hedge solution for arbitrary choice of planning horizon, existing or planned cash market position, and asset/liability mix. The paper is pedagogic in nature.
Optimum Conservative Price Increase Decisions in a Competitive Market
Authors: Mesak Hani I. , Clelland Richard C. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThis paper outlines a systematic procedure for a firm's price increase decisions in a competitive market. Following a conservative approach, a previously published competitive pricing model is extended and used to address the question of where, when, and by how much prices should be raised. In its present form, the approach is useful for low priced, frequently purchased products.
A Comparative Analysis of the Relative Effectiveness of Four Dynamic Lot‐Sizing Techniques on Return on Investment
Authors: Jordan Paul C. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThe relative performance of dynamic lot‐sizing techniques has been of considerable interest to researchers in recent years. While research has addressed performance in terms of cost‐effectiveness, researchers have not determined the impact of dynamic lot‐sizing techniques on return on investment (ROI) as it applies to finished goods' schedules. The purpose of this research is to explore the relative performance of four dynamic lot‐sizing techniques with regard to ROI, namely the Wagner‐Whitin, Incremental Part Period, Silver‐Meal, and Groff techniques. Computer graphics are employed to analyze the relative ROI effectiveness.
The Airline Discount Fare Allocation Problem
Authors: Pfeifer Phillip E. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThis paper describes a useful extension of the well‐known, single‐period inventory or newsboy problem. Given a fixed number of identical seats available on a scheduled airline flight, what percentage should be offered for early sale at a predetermined discount fare and what percentage reserved for later sale at a higher full fare? This two‐tiered pricing strategy with early discount pricing might be appropriate in any situation in which the price sensitivity of the inventoried items decreases as the end of the period approaches. Similar to the newsboy problem solution, the decision rule that maximizes expected profit is expressed as a simple function of the percentage difference in the two fares and two carefully defined probabilities.
A Theory of Production Competence*
Authors: Cleveland Gary , Schroeder Roger G. , Anderson John C. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTProduction competence is an enigmatic functional phenomenon. What is it? Can it be measured? Does it affect business performance? The literature barely touches on these issues. If competence is defined as a variable rather than a fixed attribute, it can be measured by how well manufacturing's strengths and weaknesses complement the priorities of the business strategy. Since performance is a measure of how well that strategy works, there should be a definable relationship between competence and performance. This study proposes just such a relationship and promotes production competence as the theoretical link between production process and business strategy.
Impact of Information Systems (IS) Steering Committees on IS Planning*
Authors: Gupta Yash P. , Raghunathan T. S. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTOne of the most efficient ways to manage the information systems function is to introduce steering committees. It has been suggested that one of the foremost benefits of a steering committee is that it can improve the information systems planning efforts of an organization. However, there is very little empirical evidence in the literature that deals with how such committees affect planning. This study investigates the impact of steering committees on three phases of information systems planning: strategic planning, systems planning, and implementation of planning. The greatest impact of steering committees appears to be the strategic planning phase, while a lesser effect is observed in the systems planning and implementation of planning phases.
Comparison of the Effects of Specific and General Performance Standards on Performance Appraisal Decisions*
Authors: Huber Vandra L. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThis study compares specific and general performance standards as managerial decision aids. Sixty‐four federal government comptrollers familiar with performance standards as a basis for judging performance evaluated five performance profiles and then assigned performance ratings. These profiles varied in levels of objective performance, prior performance, and the order in which they were evaluated. The results show that the specificity of performance standards moderates the relationship between objective and rated performance, with specific standards resulting in more accurate ratings than general standards. While objective performance was the most important determinant of performance rating, the gender of the rater, the order of evaluation, and prior performance ratings biased judgments in the general but not the specific performance standard condition. Specific performance standards are concluded to be useful decision aids that minimize performance rating bias and have potential as evaluation tools for groups, profit centers, organizations, and technology innovations.
A Consistency Test for AHP Decision Makers
Authors: Lane Eric F. , Verdini William A. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTSaaty's analytic hierarchy process assessed attribute importance by soliciting decision makers' (DM) importance ratios to compute weights. Saaty suggested a decision rule for accepting DM judgments based on a consistency measure derived from the DM's importance ratios. This paper investigates the distribution of random inconsistency and decision rule implications. Stricter consistency requirements for three‐ and four‐attribute criteria matrices are suggested.