A manpower levelling/project planning program

This paper presents the design of a program for monthly development of detailed daily schedules of manpower assignments. Scheduling is normally performed by a heuristic project scheduling routine. However, facilities for user intervention and overrides are incorporated. While actual limits are fixed by the availability of offline storage, the scheduler is designed to handle up to 40,000 activities, 200 resources and any number of different project networks. Through an extensive use of program overlays and linked data records on random access storage, core requirements are less than 17K 24 bit words for a compiled program.A multiple pass scheduling algorithm is used. Activities are partitioned into three sets depending upon their externally specified priority. Activities in the first set are scheduled first; the availability of resources is adjusted to reflect this schedule, the second set of activities is scheduled, etc. When properly used, this feature compensates for the common tendency of one-pass heuristic algorithms to schedule low priority, high slack activities as soon as excess resources are available, even if this ties up resources that in a few days are required to schedule more critical activities.This program is written in COBOL and is currently implemented on a Honeywell (GE) 465 computer as a subsystem of a larger management control system.     

Aggregate planning models for field service delivery

A major planning problem for any after-sales repair service operation concerns the siting and staffing of field offices. Field service management seeks to balance costs against customer satisfaction, which is usually measured in responsiveness. This paper applies set covering models to the problem of field service aggregate planning. Four model formulations are developed and tested with a subset of actual data. The results of these aggregate planning models indicate which offices should be opened and how many field engineers of various expertise levels should be placed in each office to meet the dual objectives of minimizing cost and ensuring adequate responsiveness. Three of the four models are multiple objective formulations that demonstrate the tradeoffs between cost and responsiveness for varying levels of staffing and office openings.     

Systematic modeling and model handling for manpower planning systems

The primary purpose of this paper is to show an efficient way of handling models and model data in a decision support system, in which it is usual to consider several variants of a model. The model data primarily consist of model-defining data, but the same approach may be used for the generated results as well. By efficient handling is meant the handling by the computer as well as by the user. For the user it is particularly important that new models can be conveniently defined as variants of existing models. The approach is introduced within the context of a decision support system for manpower planning based on Markov models. In the mean time the same approach has been used for the implementation of other decision support systems and has been found to be more generally applicable.     

A neural networks-based approach for strategic planning

We establish a systematic approach that incorporates neural networks in conjunction with portfolio matrices to assist managers in evaluating and forming strategic plans. Based on the principle of dispersing risks, we also provide a linear integer programming model, which helps in allocating the annual budget optimally among proposed strategies. The approach has been successfully implemented for a major food industry leader in Taiwan for its annual strategic planning. Although a particular portfolio matrix model was adopted in our approach, the framework proposed here can be modified to incorporate other strategy-evaluation measures.     

An approximation manpower planning model for after-sales field service support

Manpower planning is a key part of after-sales field service support with a service guarantee. Accurate field travel distance approximation presents a good opportunity to lower the manpower level. By explicitly considering the uncertainties, a state-dependent travel distance approximation model is presented and used to find the optimized manpower solution. A simulation model is developed to study the relationship between staffing level, travel distance, and percentage of customers serviced on time. Numerical results show that the proposed travel distance approximation model performs much better than the classical “square root law” and other models in the literature.     

A micro-model of internal supply forecasting for technical manpower planning

The manpower planning process includes forecasting the future demand for manpower and the future internal supply of manpower and then developing action plans which will balance supply and demand. Many of the models which exist for forecasting internal supply are for periods of one year or longer, which makes them inappropriate for many project planning and short term human resource management applications. This paper presents an easily implemented short-range (12-month horizon) model for forecasting internal supply. Time series analysis techniques are used to identify seasonal patterns and trends which exist in the determinants of internal supply. These are employed in the development of an internal supply forecast at both the aggregate firm level and at the individual skill group level. Feasibility of the model is demonstrated using empirical data. Output of the model is useful for further manpower planning.     

A patent intelligence system for strategic technology planning

Patent intelligence—the transformation of content found in multiple patents into technical, business, and legal insight—is considered a key factor in gaining a competitive advantage in technologically competitive business environments. Although keyword-based patent intelligence tools are widely used due to their simplicity and ease of use, they are limited in that they cannot represent key technological concepts and inventive knowledge by relying only on the frequency of occurrence of defined keywords. As a remedy, this paper proposes a Subject–Action–Object (SAO)-based patent intelligence system. SAO structures that can be extracted from textual patent information are known as the expertise and inventive findings of the relevant patent. On the basis of semantic analysis of patent SAO structures, our proposed intelligence system constructs patent maps and patent networks. Building on the maps and networks, the system provides specific functionalities including identification of technology trends and significant patents, detection of novel technologies, and identification of potential infringement. This paper describes the architecture of our proposed patent intelligence system in detail, and illustrates the system’s functionalities using case studies. We anticipate that our proposed system will be incorporated into the technology planning process to assist experts in the formulation of technology strategies.     

Information systems planning: Lessons from strategic planning

IS planning has changed considerably since its inception as an operational planning tool, expanding its scope to address key business objectives and forging a link with strategic business planning. A great deal of attention is currently focused on identifying and developing strategic information systems. Strategic planning has also become more broadly-focused over time, as simple forecasting techniques have been replaced by a variety of adaptive approaches that emphasize industry structure analysis and environmental dynamics. However, strategic planning has come under fire recently for failing to live up to its promises. As these two disciplines become more closely aligned, planners can learn from the experiences of strategic planners and, hopefully, avoid a similar crisis of confidence.     

An approach for an integrated DSS for strategic planning

Although Decision Support Systems (DSS) have become widespread in recent years for operational control their use in strategic decision-making has only rarely been seen. This study investigates how DSS technology can be applied in the process of strategic planning. The requirements of Strategic Decision Support Systems (SDSS) are discussed and a conceptual frame for the construction of SDSS is developed. The authors emphasize the integration of both the planning instruments and the corresponding data flows. They present the StratConsult system - a PC-based prototype for supporting strategic sessions. Benefits and drawbacks of SDSS are explored and relevant trends for integrated computer-aided strategic DSS are outlined.     

Aggregate production planning for a continuous reconfigurable manufacturing process

Most of the research on aggregate production planning has been focused on discrete parts manufacturing models. In environments where intermediate inventory cannot be stored, and multiple products are produced simultaneously using complex configurations of production machines, these models may produce erroneous results. In this paper, we present a configuration-based formulation for one such manufacturing environment, where production may involve dissimilar machines performing similar operations at different rates and equipment can be connected together to form different production lines. The production process is continuous and no in-process inventory can be kept. We present and compare several heuristics to generate input data to solve the aggregate production-planning problems using the configuration-based formulation. Computational experiments show that large-scale real-world problems we encountered can be solved in reasonable time using our heuristics and commercial optimization software like CPLEX.     

Successful strategic information systems planning

Abstract. Strategic information systems planning (SISP) is the process of ensuring alignment between business plans and objectives and information systems plans and objectives and/or the process of identifying information systems which will provide the organization with a competitive edge. This paper distinguishes SISP from both tactical and operational information systems planning, discusses the reasons for management concern with SISP, summarizes problems which may be encountered with the planning process and resultant plant implementation and then focuses on the issue of SISP success. Specifically, success is considered not only in terms of how it may be achieved but also in terms of how it can be defined (i.e. what constitutes SISP success) and how SISP success can be measured. Specific research questions addressing the measurement of SISP success are identified.     

A comprehensive framework for I/S strategic planning

Too often hospital information services departments fail to create a strategic plan or make, at best, a half-hearted attempt at it. And many times, sincere efforts are waylaid by poor preparation or inadequate communication with users and management. By applying a systematic planning methodology, however, many pitfalls can be avoided.     

OSPM: A design methodology for open strategic planning

This study employs a design science perspective to propose a methodology for open strategic planning (OSP). Habermas’ discourse theory and Bryson’s strategy change cycle are used as informing kernel theories. A methodology is proposed to satisfy the requirements retrieved from the kernel theories. The proposed methodology contains modules for a planning system and a planning process. Design principles are explained through a blueprint of the system and process. The proposed methodology is applied and evaluated in two cases. Contributions to the literature involve extending the literature on OSP to an applicable methodology with guidelines on how to implement open strategy.     

A strategic knowledge-based planning system for freight forwarding industry

In recent years, over half of the Hong Kong freight forwarding firms experienced a decline in business volume due to the growing challenge from the neighbour ports of Yantian and Shekou in Shenzhen, China, which operated in a much cheaper mode. In order to remain competitive, local freight forwarders in Hong Kong must establish a long-term union relationship with their customers such as the provision of customized logistics services. One of the ways is through the use of a co-loading shipment plan, which is a knowledge intensive and complex process involving multiple knowledge source and decision rules. This paper presents hybrid knowledge and model system, which integrates mathematical models with knowledge rules, in the formulation of such co-loading shipment plans. A strategic knowledge-based planning system, (SKPS) integrates knowledge rules with mathematical model for solving problems of co-loading shipment plans formulation and market constriction prevention, is proposed. The system was implemented in Elite World Logistics Service Limited (EW), a local freight forwarding company, for supporting the planning process of a co-loading shipping plan. The result reveals that both customer retention rate and resource utilization has increased significantly.     

Evaluating strategic options using decision-theoretic planning

The purpose of this research is to examine whether decision-theoretic planning techniques can be used to help managers evaluate strategic options in complex and uncertain environments. Firms faced with choices such as whether to acquire a start-up, develop a new product, or invest in updated production technology continue to make decisions based on unreliable heuristics, “gut feel” or misleading financial measures such as net present value (NPV). In this paper we show that decision-theoretic planning techniques originally developed for robot planning permit us to gain the insights provided by real options analysis without working within the restrictions of models designed to price financial options or incurring the overhead of constructing huge decision trees. A biotechnology licensing problem similar to those addressed elsewhere in the real options literature is used to illustrate the methodology and demonstrate its feasibility.     

Aligning strategic and project measurement systems

Often the technical and business sectors of IT organizations work in opposition, toward different goals and objectives. The authors propose a method that integrates strategic and project measurement systems, supporting long-term growth, stability, and competitiveness     

创意时代中小企业如何策划CIS战略

随着消费者的文化素质和需求品位的不断提高,企业形象战略已进入到高层次的精神领域与设计思维高度统一的时期,经济与文化、技术与艺术高度融合,追求并深化艺术表现设计的内涵,是CI设计的生命力所在。因此,设计者需要具有与创意时代同步的创新能力和审美能力,中小企业必须意识到品牌的价值,并且必须重视企业文化的建立的重要性。回归理性、回归系统化,并有效的进行和实施CIS战略,是中小企业在创意时代中占有一席之地的关键,从而取得更大的成功。     

A mapping model for assessing project effort from requirements

Since the effort required to develop a system depends on its requirements, it is important to consider the resulting effort when deciding on the requirements. Miscalculating the effort may lead to requirements that cannot be implemented within given budget constraints. In order to support requirements engineers in calculating the effort resulting from the requirements they elaborate correctly, we develop a mapping model for assessing project effort from requirements (MMAPER) in this paper. MMAPER incorporates effort estimation into requirements engineering and thereby enables engineers to proactively assess project effort without demanding that they spend significant additional time on this task. MMAPER measures system size using function point analysis and assesses the resulting effort using the Constructive Cost Model 2. The theoretical underpinning of the methods stems from theoretical perspectives from which we derive theories of how requirements determine the resulting project effort. We also take into consideration that it is important to distinguish requirements of different size but also implemented in different contexts for estimating the resulting effort. We empirically evaluate the model using data from five case studies which we conducted with a financial services organization. The developed model provides very accurate effort estimations, across both controlled experiments and field applications.     

Microcomputer based multiple criteria decision support system for strategic planning

There are two major approaches currently used for developing Decision support Systems (DSS) for strategic planning, especially in the objective formulation stage. Several mathematical models have been developed to abstract the decision situation. However, they do not take into account either behavioral aspects of decision making or the presence of multiple and conflicting objectives. A second approach is to consider the several qualitative factors that go into decision making; such considerations are normally situation-dependent and hence it is difficult to provide a system for general managerial situations.The Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) approach combines the advantages of both the approaches and, therefore, is an excellent alternative for designing DSS. This paper develops an MCDM approach to strategic planning. The model is applied to such a problem in a simulated environment and the problem is solved interactively. Our experience shows that the proposed methodology is a viable approach for solving practical decision problems in strategic planning.