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Guns or Butter: Decision Support for Determining the Size and Shape of the South African National Defense Force

Author

Listed:
  • Ivan Gryffenberg

    (Operations Division, Defense Headquarters, Private Bag X161, Pretoria 0001, South Africa)

  • Jean L. Lausberg

    (Operations Division, Defense Headquarters, Private Bag X161, Pretoria 0001, South Africa)

  • Willem J. Smit

    (Operations Division, Defense Headquarters, Private Bag X161, Pretoria 0001, South Africa)

  • Stephanus Uys

    (Operations Division, Defense Headquarters, Private Bag X161, Pretoria 0001, South Africa)

  • Sally Botha

    (Deloitte & Touche Consulting Group, PO Box 11007, Pretoria 0028, South Africa)

  • F. Rauten Hofmeyr

    (Deloitte & Touche Consulting Group, PO Box 11007, Pretoria 0028, South Africa)

  • Ruppert P. Nicolay

    (Deloitte & Touche Consulting Group, PO Box 11007, Pretoria 0028, South Africa)

  • Willie L. van der Merwe

    (Deloitte & Touche Consulting Group, PO Box 11007, Pretoria 0028, South Africa)

  • Gysbert J. Wessels

    (Deloitte & Touche Consulting Group, PO Box 11007, Pretoria 0028, South Africa)

Abstract

In January of 1994, the chief of the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) asked the question: “In the absence of a conventional military threat, what should the size and shape of the SANDF be?” A joint SANDF and Deloitte and Touche team supported the joint strategic management process (JSMP) with OR/MS based decision support models. The team created the following models: a risk model of the probability and potential impact of various defense contingencies, a growth model of growth potential of force structure elements, a cost model (zero based), a mixed-integer-programming model of all the relationships, and a manual model allowing the user to select different tasks and strategies. The project resulted in a saving on the approved force design (size and shape) of more than 22 percent. The results indicate clear opportunities for major additional savings.

Suggested Citation

  • Ivan Gryffenberg & Jean L. Lausberg & Willem J. Smit & Stephanus Uys & Sally Botha & F. Rauten Hofmeyr & Ruppert P. Nicolay & Willie L. van der Merwe & Gysbert J. Wessels, 1997. "Guns or Butter: Decision Support for Determining the Size and Shape of the South African National Defense Force," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 27(1), pages 7-28, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orinte:v:27:y:1997:i:1:p:7-28
    DOI: 10.1287/inte.27.1.7
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    Cited by:

    1. S Eom & E Kim, 2006. "A survey of decision support system applications (1995–2001)," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 57(11), pages 1264-1278, November.
    2. Robert Fildes & John Ranyard, 2000. "Internal OR Consulting: Effective Practice in a Changing Environment," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 30(5), pages 34-50, October.
    3. Kangaspunta, Jussi & Liesiö, Juuso & Salo, Ahti, 2012. "Cost-efficiency analysis of weapon system portfolios," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 223(1), pages 264-275.
    4. Ellis L. Johnson & George L. Nemhauser & Martin W.P. Savelsbergh, 2000. "Progress in Linear Programming-Based Algorithms for Integer Programming: An Exposition," INFORMS Journal on Computing, INFORMS, vol. 12(1), pages 2-23, February.

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