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Rethinking tradeoffs and OR/MS methodology

Author

Listed:
  • V J Mabin

    (Victoria University of Wellington)

  • J Davies

    (Victoria University of Wellington)

  • S Kim

    (Seoul National University of Technology)

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of a process known as the ‘evaporating cloud’ (EC) as a way of enhancing OR/MS modelling. While other authors have described the use of the EC process to explore the tradeoffs in a traditional Economic Order Quantity model, this paper demonstrates the use of the EC with a facilities location problem, which was originally solved via mixed integer programming. We relate our findings to OR/MS modelling in general, and argue that the EC could contribute effectively to different phases of the problem-solving process, for example, aiding the problem-structuring phase and helping to find better solutions in many OR/MS modelling situations. We demonstrate that the EC is a valuable tool to use in modelling practice as a problem-structuring tool, as a way of dealing specifically with tradeoffs, and that it can therefore be a useful complement to OR/MS methodology, and contribute to OR/MS practice and teaching.

Suggested Citation

  • V J Mabin & J Davies & S Kim, 2009. "Rethinking tradeoffs and OR/MS methodology," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 60(10), pages 1384-1395, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:jorsoc:v:60:y:2009:i:10:d:10.1057_jors.2008.90
    DOI: 10.1057/jors.2008.90
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    References listed on IDEAS

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