Advances in Sensitivity Analysis and Parametric Programming

Advances in Sensitivity Analysis and Parametric Programming
Author: Tomas Gal
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 595
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1461561035

The standard view of Operations Research/Management Science (OR/MS) dichotomizes the field into deterministic and probabilistic (nondeterministic, stochastic) subfields. This division can be seen by reading the contents page of just about any OR/MS textbook. The mathematical models that help to define OR/MS are usually presented in terms of one subfield or the other. This separation comes about somewhat artificially: academic courses are conveniently subdivided with respect to prerequisites; an initial overview of OR/MS can be presented without requiring knowledge of probability and statistics; text books are conveniently divided into two related semester courses, with deterministic models coming first; academics tend to specialize in one subfield or the other; and practitioners also tend to be expert in a single subfield. But, no matter who is involved in an OR/MS modeling situation (deterministic or probabilistic - academic or practitioner), it is clear that a proper and correct treatment of any problem situation is accomplished only when the analysis cuts across this dichotomy.

Linear and Nonlinear Programming

Linear and Nonlinear Programming
Author: David G. Luenberger
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 550
Release: 2008-07-07
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0387745025

This third edition of the classic textbook in Optimization has been fully revised and updated. It comprehensively covers modern theoretical insights in this crucial computing area, and will be required reading for analysts and operations researchers in a variety of fields. The book connects the purely analytical character of an optimization problem, and the behavior of algorithms used to solve it. Now, the third edition has been completely updated with recent Optimization Methods. The book also has a new co-author, Yinyu Ye of California’s Stanford University, who has written lots of extra material including some on Interior Point Methods.

Online Optimization of Large Scale Systems

Online Optimization of Large Scale Systems
Author: Martin Grötschel
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 789
Release: 2013-03-14
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 3662043319

In its thousands of years of history, mathematics has made an extraordinary ca reer. It started from rules for bookkeeping and computation of areas to become the language of science. Its potential for decision support was fully recognized in the twentieth century only, vitally aided by the evolution of computing and communi cation technology. Mathematical optimization, in particular, has developed into a powerful machinery to help planners. Whether costs are to be reduced, profits to be maximized, or scarce resources to be used wisely, optimization methods are available to guide decision making. Opti mization is particularly strong if precise models of real phenomena and data of high quality are at hand - often yielding reliable automated control and decision proce dures. But what, if the models are soft and not all data are around? Can mathematics help as well? This book addresses such issues, e. g. , problems of the following type: - An elevator cannot know all transportation requests in advance. In which order should it serve the passengers? - Wing profiles of aircrafts influence the fuel consumption. Is it possible to con tinuously adapt the shape of a wing during the flight under rapidly changing conditions? - Robots are designed to accomplish specific tasks as efficiently as possible. But what if a robot navigates in an unknown environment? - Energy demand changes quickly and is not easily predictable over time. Some types of power plants can only react slowly.

Proportional Optimization and Fairness

Proportional Optimization and Fairness
Author: Wieslaw Kubiak
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 300
Release: 2008-11-16
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0387877193

Proportional Optimization and Fairness is a long-needed attempt to reconcile optimization with apportionment in just-in-time (JIT) sequences and find the common ground in solving problems ranging from sequencing mixed-model just-in-time assembly lines through just-in-time batch production, balancing workloads in event graphs to bandwidth allocation internet gateways and resource allocation in computer operating systems. The book argues that apportionment theory and optimization based on deviation functions provide natural benchmarks for a process, and then looks at the recent research and developments in the field. Individual chapters look at the theory of apportionment and just-in-time sequences; minimization of just-in-time sequence deviation; optimality of cyclic sequences and the oneness; bottleneck minimization; competition-free instances, Fraenkel’s Conjecture, and optimal admission sequences; response time variability; applications to the Liu-Layland Problem and pinwheel scheduling; temporal capacity constraints and supply chain balancing; fair queuing and stride scheduling; and smoothing and batching.

Handbook of Markov Decision Processes

Handbook of Markov Decision Processes
Author: Eugene A. Feinberg
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 560
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1461508053

Eugene A. Feinberg Adam Shwartz This volume deals with the theory of Markov Decision Processes (MDPs) and their applications. Each chapter was written by a leading expert in the re spective area. The papers cover major research areas and methodologies, and discuss open questions and future research directions. The papers can be read independently, with the basic notation and concepts ofSection 1.2. Most chap ters should be accessible by graduate or advanced undergraduate students in fields of operations research, electrical engineering, and computer science. 1.1 AN OVERVIEW OF MARKOV DECISION PROCESSES The theory of Markov Decision Processes-also known under several other names including sequential stochastic optimization, discrete-time stochastic control, and stochastic dynamic programming-studiessequential optimization ofdiscrete time stochastic systems. The basic object is a discrete-time stochas tic system whose transition mechanism can be controlled over time. Each control policy defines the stochastic process and values of objective functions associated with this process. The goal is to select a "good" control policy. In real life, decisions that humans and computers make on all levels usually have two types ofimpacts: (i) they cost orsavetime, money, or other resources, or they bring revenues, as well as (ii) they have an impact on the future, by influencing the dynamics. In many situations, decisions with the largest immediate profit may not be good in view offuture events. MDPs model this paradigm and provide results on the structure and existence of good policies and on methods for their calculation.

Dynamic Portfolio Strategies: quantitative methods and empirical rules for incomplete information

Dynamic Portfolio Strategies: quantitative methods and empirical rules for incomplete information
Author: Nikolai Dokuchaev
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 213
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1461509211

Dynamic Portfolio Strategies: Quantitative Methods and Empirical Rules for Incomplete Information investigates optimal investment problems for stochastic financial market models. It is addressed to academics and students who are interested in the mathematics of finance, stochastic processes, and optimal control, and also to practitioners in risk management and quantitative analysis who are interested in new strategies and methods of stochastic analysis. While there are many works devoted to the solution of optimal investment problems for various models, the focus of this book is on analytical strategies based on "technical analysis" which are model-free. The technical analysis of these strategies has a number of characteristics. Two of the more important characteristics are: (1) they require only historical data, and (2) typically they are more widely used by traders than analysis based on stochastic models. Hence it is the objective of this book to reduce the gap between model-free strategies and strategies that are "optimal" for stochastic models. We hope that researchers, students and practitioners will be interested in some of the new empirically based methods of "technical analysis" strategies suggested in this book and evaluated via stochastic market models.

Modeling Uncertainty

Modeling Uncertainty
Author: Moshe Dror
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 810
Release: 2002-01-31
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780792374633

Writing in honour of Sid Yakowitz, 50 internationally known scholars have collectively contributed 30 papers on modelling uncertainty to this volume. These include papers with a theoretical emphasis and others that focus on applications.

Multicriteria Decision Making

Multicriteria Decision Making
Author: Tomas Gal
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 549
Release: 2013-03-09
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1461550254

At a practical level, mathematical programming under multiple objectives has emerged as a powerful tool to assist in the process of searching for decisions which best satisfy a multitude of conflicting objectives, and there are a number of distinct methodologies for multicriteria decision-making problems that exist. These methodologies can be categorized in a variety of ways, such as form of model (e.g. linear, non-linear, stochastic), characteristics of the decision space (e.g. finite or infinite), or solution process (e.g. prior specification of preferences or interactive). Scientists from a variety of disciplines (mathematics, economics and psychology) have contributed to the development of the field of Multicriteria Decision Making (MCDM) (or Multicriteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), Multiattribute Decision Making (MADM), Multiobjective Decision Making (MODM), etc.) over the past 30 years, helping to establish MCDM as an important part of management science. MCDM has become a central component of studies in management science, economics and industrial engineering in many universities worldwide. Multicriteria Decision Making: Advances in MCDM Models, Algorithms, Theory and Applications aims to bring together `state-of-the-art' reviews and the most recent advances by leading experts on the fundamental theories, methodologies and applications of MCDM. This is aimed at graduate students and researchers in mathematics, economics, management and engineering, as well as at practicing management scientists who wish to better understand the principles of this new and fast developing field.

Just-in-Time Scheduling

Just-in-Time Scheduling
Author: Joanna Jozefowska
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 266
Release: 2007-08-08
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 038771717X

As supply chain management has matured, maintaining the precise flow of goods to manage schedules (and minimize inventories) on a just-in-time basis still presents major challenges. This has inspired an array of models and algorithms to help ensure the precise flow of components and final products into inventories to meet just-in-time requirements. This is the first survey of the theoretical work on computer systems models and algorithms utilized in just-in-time scheduling.

Project Selection Under Uncertainty

Project Selection Under Uncertainty
Author: Stylianos Kavadias
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 152
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1441990801

Project Selection Under Uncertainty is the result of a five-year research program on the selection of projects in New Product Development (NPD). Choosing the New Product Development portfolio is of critical importance in today's business environment. The NPD portfolio has considerable strategic effect on the "middle term" success of a business. This book takes a step in developing a theory that addresses the need for quantitative prioritization criteria within the broader strategic context of the R&D portfolios. Its foundation lies in mathematical theory of resource-constrained optimization with the goal to maximize quantitative returns. The book seeks to broaden the portfolio discussion in two ways. First, simplified models - appropriate for the data-poor NPD context - are developed, which attempt to illuminate the structure of the choice problem and robust qualitative rules of thumb, rather than detailed algorithmic decision support. Such robust rules can be applied in the R&D environment of poor data availability. Second, the annual portfolio review is not the only important choice in resource allocation. In addition, the book discusses how ideas might be pre-screened as they emerge, and how projects should be prioritized once they are funded and ongoing.