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Optimal balanced control for call centers

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Listed:
  • Sandjai Bhulai
  • Taoying Farenhorst-Yuan
  • Bernd Heidergott
  • Dinard Laan

Abstract

In this paper we study the optimal assignment of tasks to agents in a call center. For this type of problem, typically, no single deterministic and stationary (i.e., state independent and easily implementable) policy yields the optimal control, and mixed strategies are used. Other than finding the optimal mixed strategy, we propose to optimize the performance over the set of “balanced” deterministic periodic non-stationary policies. We provide a stochastic approximation algorithm that allows to find the optimal balanced policy by means of Monte Carlo simulation. As illustrated by numerical examples, the optimal balanced policy outperforms the optimal mixed strategy. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012

Suggested Citation

  • Sandjai Bhulai & Taoying Farenhorst-Yuan & Bernd Heidergott & Dinard Laan, 2012. "Optimal balanced control for call centers," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 201(1), pages 39-62, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:annopr:v:201:y:2012:i:1:p:39-62:10.1007/s10479-012-1215-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s10479-012-1215-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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