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Methods for assigning students to groups: a study of alternative objective functions

Author

Listed:
  • K R Baker

    (Dartmouth College)

  • S G Powell

    (Dartmouth College)

Abstract

This paper describes the problem of forming work groups. The motivating problem is often described as maximizing the diversity of members within groups, and also as minimizing the differences among groups. We review the formulations of this problem in the literature, paying particular attention to the different criteria that have been suggested. We compare the various criteria by solving a number of test problems using standard techniques and then examining the possibility that using one criterion will produce a result that is desirable on other criteria. Ultimately, we recommend a composite procedure for solving large versions of the group formation problem.

Suggested Citation

  • K R Baker & S G Powell, 2002. "Methods for assigning students to groups: a study of alternative objective functions," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 53(4), pages 397-404, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:jorsoc:v:53:y:2002:i:4:d:10.1057_palgrave.jors.2601307
    DOI: 10.1057/palgrave.jors.2601307
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Michael Brusco & Hans Köhn & Douglas Steinley, 2013. "Exact and approximate methods for a one-dimensional minimax bin-packing problem," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 206(1), pages 611-626, July.
    2. Z P Fan & Y Chen & J Ma & S Zeng, 2011. "A hybrid genetic algorithmic approach to the maximally diverse grouping problem," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 62(1), pages 92-99, January.
    3. Rex Cutshall & Srinagesh Gavirneni & Kenneth Schultz, 2007. "Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business Uses Integer Programming to Form Equitable, Cohesive Student Teams," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 37(3), pages 265-276, June.
    4. Dmitry Krass & Anton Ovchinnikov, 2006. "The University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management Uses Management Science to Create MBA Study Groups," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 36(2), pages 126-137, April.
    5. Stephen Mahar & Wayne Winston & P. Daniel Wright, 2013. "Eli Lilly and Company Uses Integer Programming to Form Volunteer Teams in Impoverished Countries," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 43(3), pages 268-284, May-June.
    6. Z P Fan & Y Chen & J Ma & S Zeng, 2011. "Erratum: A hybrid genetic algorithmic approach to the maximally diverse grouping problem," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 62(7), pages 1423-1430, July.
    7. Theresa M. Roeder & Robert M. Saltzman, 2014. "Schedule-Based Group Assignment Using Constraint Programming," INFORMS Transactions on Education, INFORMS, vol. 14(2), pages 63-72, February.
    8. Kayse Lee Maass & Vera Mann Hey Lo & Anna Weiss & Mark S. Daskin, 2015. "Maximizing Diversity in the Engineering Global Leadership Cultural Families," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 45(4), pages 293-304, August.
    9. Akkan, Can & Erdem Külünk, M. & Koçaş, Cenk, 2016. "Finding robust timetables for project presentations of student teams," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 249(2), pages 560-576.
    10. Krass, Dmitry & Ovchinnikov, Anton, 2010. "Constrained group balancing: Why does it work," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 206(1), pages 144-154, October.
    11. Leo Lopes & Meredith Aronson & Gary Carstensen & Cole Smith, 2008. "Optimization Support for Senior Design Project Assignments," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 38(6), pages 448-464, December.
    12. Sharan Srinivas & Mohammadmahdi Alizadeh & Nathaniel D.Bastian, 2017. "Optimizing Student Team and Job Assignments for the Holy Family Academy," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 47(2), pages 163-174, April.
    13. Andrew Bowers & Melissa R. Bowers & Nana Bryan & Paolo Letizia & Spencer Murphy, 2023. "Forming Student Teams to Incorporate Soft Skills and Commonality of Schedule," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 53(2), pages 111-127, March.
    14. Sergio García & Valentina Cacchiani & Lieselot Vanhaverbeke & Martin Bischoff, 2014. "The table placement problem: a research challenge at the EWI 2007," TOP: An Official Journal of the Spanish Society of Statistics and Operations Research, Springer;Sociedad de Estadística e Investigación Operativa, vol. 22(1), pages 208-226, April.
    15. Thomas L. Magnanti & Karthik Natarajan, 2018. "Allocating Students to Multidisciplinary Capstone Projects Using Discrete Optimization," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 48(3), pages 204-216, June.
    16. Gliesch, Alex & Ritt, Marcus, 2021. "A hybrid heuristic for the maximum dispersion problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 288(3), pages 721-735.

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    Keywords

    diversity; heuristic; algorithms;
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