Pub Date : 2022-09-08DOI: 10.1287/ited.2022.0278ca
M. Gorman
This case integrates three different methodologies over a four-part sequence on a problem that mirrors a real-world, published project. Students apply statistics, integer optimization, and simulation analysis toward solving the job assignment problem. The case features four parts: (1) operating cost and runtime estimation via regression, (2) mixed integer optimization analysis of a baseline and two scenarios, (3) simulation of the recommended solution under uncertainty, and (4) reoptimization under uncertainty. The case has been implemented over a one- to four-week period with upper level MBA or masters in analytics students. The case has received very positive feedback.
{"title":"Case Article—Blending Statistics, Optimization, and Simulation in a Multiphase Case","authors":"M. Gorman","doi":"10.1287/ited.2022.0278ca","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1287/ited.2022.0278ca","url":null,"abstract":"This case integrates three different methodologies over a four-part sequence on a problem that mirrors a real-world, published project. Students apply statistics, integer optimization, and simulation analysis toward solving the job assignment problem. The case features four parts: (1) operating cost and runtime estimation via regression, (2) mixed integer optimization analysis of a baseline and two scenarios, (3) simulation of the recommended solution under uncertainty, and (4) reoptimization under uncertainty. The case has been implemented over a one- to four-week period with upper level MBA or masters in analytics students. The case has received very positive feedback.","PeriodicalId":37137,"journal":{"name":"INFORMS Transactions on Education","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43675753","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In this paper, we describe an innovative design for a multidisciplinary service-learning course on supply chain management in the industrial distribution program housed in the College of Engineering at a large research university in Texas. The purpose of this course was to increase students’ technical expertise and build a mindset and skills needed to tackle current societal issues, raising their social responsibility and enhancing civic-mindedness. The course combined curricular learning with community service, applying the content of academic disciplines to practice. It brought students from industrial distribution and sociology together to help food pantries to improve their operational efficiencies so that the food pantries can serve more people and work toward their goal. In this project, student groups identified the specific needs of community food pantries. They recommended solutions to improve operational efficiency so that they could use their technical skills to address the challenges and make an impact on the communities. In addition, student groups interacted with partner agencies via technologies that aided distance communication, which facilitated partnerships in remote locations. We also evaluated this project. The results reveal that this project had an impact on students’ personal and professional development as well as the community.
{"title":"Designing and Assessing a Multidisciplinary Service-Learning Course in Supply Chain Management","authors":"Malini Natarajarathinam, Shaoping Qiu, Wei Lu","doi":"10.1287/ited.2022.0280","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1287/ited.2022.0280","url":null,"abstract":"In this paper, we describe an innovative design for a multidisciplinary service-learning course on supply chain management in the industrial distribution program housed in the College of Engineering at a large research university in Texas. The purpose of this course was to increase students’ technical expertise and build a mindset and skills needed to tackle current societal issues, raising their social responsibility and enhancing civic-mindedness. The course combined curricular learning with community service, applying the content of academic disciplines to practice. It brought students from industrial distribution and sociology together to help food pantries to improve their operational efficiencies so that the food pantries can serve more people and work toward their goal. In this project, student groups identified the specific needs of community food pantries. They recommended solutions to improve operational efficiency so that they could use their technical skills to address the challenges and make an impact on the communities. In addition, student groups interacted with partner agencies via technologies that aided distance communication, which facilitated partnerships in remote locations. We also evaluated this project. The results reveal that this project had an impact on students’ personal and professional development as well as the community.","PeriodicalId":37137,"journal":{"name":"INFORMS Transactions on Education","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47449039","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In this paper, we describe a course project in which teams of undergraduate students propose and execute an end-to-end analytics project to solve a real-world problem. The project challenges students to implement machine learning, optimization, simulation, or a combination of these three techniques on real-world data that they collect. A designated project advisor helps each team refine its project and assesses the quality of the resulting work. In our analysis of 58 past projects, we show that students developed solutions for a wide range of topics by employing various methodologies. However, most teams encountered similar challenges that project advisors helped them overcome with tailored feedback. Based on feedback from 106 previous students, the project experience was largely positive and helped them prepare for their future careers. We believe that this type of hands-on project is conducive to the development of important data analytics skills.
{"title":"Advising Student-Driven Analytics Projects: A Summary of Experiences and Lessons Learned","authors":"A. Babier, Craig Fernandes, Ian Yihang Zhu","doi":"10.1287/ited.2022.0275","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1287/ited.2022.0275","url":null,"abstract":"In this paper, we describe a course project in which teams of undergraduate students propose and execute an end-to-end analytics project to solve a real-world problem. The project challenges students to implement machine learning, optimization, simulation, or a combination of these three techniques on real-world data that they collect. A designated project advisor helps each team refine its project and assesses the quality of the resulting work. In our analysis of 58 past projects, we show that students developed solutions for a wide range of topics by employing various methodologies. However, most teams encountered similar challenges that project advisors helped them overcome with tailored feedback. Based on feedback from 106 previous students, the project experience was largely positive and helped them prepare for their future careers. We believe that this type of hands-on project is conducive to the development of important data analytics skills.","PeriodicalId":37137,"journal":{"name":"INFORMS Transactions on Education","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49341183","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
We introduce a spreadsheet-based game, the multiobjective line balancing (MOLB) game, to teach assembly line balancing as a common topic of discussion in operations research, operations management, supply chain management, or management science courses at the undergraduate or graduate level. The MOLB game was designed based on the triple bottom line framework, in which the economic, social, and environmental aspects of line balancing decisions are simultaneously taken into account. The MOLB game can be played in teams of three or four students. First, each team receives unique information for balancing an assembly line. Each team should find as many feasible balances as possible in a collaborative form and then send the Pareto solution set and the best found solution to a peer team. In the second round of the game, the teams assess the results of a peer team first by trying to find infeasible or non-Pareto solutions and second by attempting to improve on the provided solutions. Finally, the reviewer team presents the results of the peer-review process to the entire class.
{"title":"Multiobjective Line Balancing Game: Collaboration and Peer Evaluation","authors":"T. Ahmadi, Bo van der Rhee","doi":"10.1287/ited.2022.0277","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1287/ited.2022.0277","url":null,"abstract":"We introduce a spreadsheet-based game, the multiobjective line balancing (MOLB) game, to teach assembly line balancing as a common topic of discussion in operations research, operations management, supply chain management, or management science courses at the undergraduate or graduate level. The MOLB game was designed based on the triple bottom line framework, in which the economic, social, and environmental aspects of line balancing decisions are simultaneously taken into account. The MOLB game can be played in teams of three or four students. First, each team receives unique information for balancing an assembly line. Each team should find as many feasible balances as possible in a collaborative form and then send the Pareto solution set and the best found solution to a peer team. In the second round of the game, the teams assess the results of a peer team first by trying to find infeasible or non-Pareto solutions and second by attempting to improve on the provided solutions. Finally, the reviewer team presents the results of the peer-review process to the entire class.","PeriodicalId":37137,"journal":{"name":"INFORMS Transactions on Education","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42283406","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
J.A. Stuart Williams, R. Reid, Philip E. Billings, Natalie C. Belford
How can students prepare for potential business disruptions? The approach shown in this paper uses optimization modeling with parametric sensitivity analysis and further broadens the search for insights with structural sensitivity analysis in a series of contextual exercises. The exercises prompt students to identify critical resources for business impact analysis by extending production planning to include scenario analyses and contingency considerations. During virtual office hours, one participant described the exercises in terms of a “mystery” to solve. For an open-ended contingency planning question, some participants even proposed new product design decisions. Upon conclusion of the study, 25 of the 28 participants recommended the exercises for future semesters.
{"title":"Engaging Students in Optimization Modeling: Gaining Business Disruption Insights","authors":"J.A. Stuart Williams, R. Reid, Philip E. Billings, Natalie C. Belford","doi":"10.1287/ited.2022.0279","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1287/ited.2022.0279","url":null,"abstract":"How can students prepare for potential business disruptions? The approach shown in this paper uses optimization modeling with parametric sensitivity analysis and further broadens the search for insights with structural sensitivity analysis in a series of contextual exercises. The exercises prompt students to identify critical resources for business impact analysis by extending production planning to include scenario analyses and contingency considerations. During virtual office hours, one participant described the exercises in terms of a “mystery” to solve. For an open-ended contingency planning question, some participants even proposed new product design decisions. Upon conclusion of the study, 25 of the 28 participants recommended the exercises for future semesters.","PeriodicalId":37137,"journal":{"name":"INFORMS Transactions on Education","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43755005","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-08-24DOI: 10.1287/ited.2022.0276ca
Ramiro Saltos, Sebastián Maldonado
We present a comprehensive case study to integrate students into several concepts related to integer linear programming. The case article starts with a relatively simple scheduling/assignment problem. Then, the problem incorporates new elements to present various modeling principles incrementally. Each variation of the case enables the instructor to engage in insightful discussion about the nature of the optimal solutions and how the changes made to the objective function or key constraints affect these solutions. The case article also describes different ways to use the case, which range from a comprehensive introduction to a concluding capstone project in an undergraduate or graduate course in linear and integer programming.
{"title":"Case Article—School Timetabling Problem: A Scheduling Problem for High-School Institutions","authors":"Ramiro Saltos, Sebastián Maldonado","doi":"10.1287/ited.2022.0276ca","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1287/ited.2022.0276ca","url":null,"abstract":"We present a comprehensive case study to integrate students into several concepts related to integer linear programming. The case article starts with a relatively simple scheduling/assignment problem. Then, the problem incorporates new elements to present various modeling principles incrementally. Each variation of the case enables the instructor to engage in insightful discussion about the nature of the optimal solutions and how the changes made to the objective function or key constraints affect these solutions. The case article also describes different ways to use the case, which range from a comprehensive introduction to a concluding capstone project in an undergraduate or graduate course in linear and integer programming.","PeriodicalId":37137,"journal":{"name":"INFORMS Transactions on Education","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42922820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-08-24DOI: 10.1287/ited.2022.0276cs
Ramiro Saltos, Sebastián Maldonado
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Pub Date : 2022-06-23DOI: 10.1287/ited.2022.0272ca
N. Agrawal
This case focuses on operational challenges faced by customer service centers, or call centers. The specific context for these cases is Patelco, which is a California based credit union. Patelco is facing a rising number of complaints about customer service, specifically, about the long delay customers had to face when they called one of Patelco‘s four call centers. The purpose of this case is to expose students to the statistical analysis of some of the raw data, obtained from such an environment, to support the investigation of call center performance. Important managerial insights can be drawn by summarizing the data graphically as well as quantitatively. In particular, the data can be used to show students how to perform a number of useful hypothesis tests, which are often needed to answer important questions that arise when assessing the performance of any system. The outcomes from these analyses can provide important managerial insights. In the operations management literature, and in practice, a number of modeling assumptions are made about the distribution of data to facilitate quantitative analysis. However, these assumptions are often not statistically validated. This case study gives students an opportunity to test such assumptions. This case can be used in graduate and undergraduate classes in Operations Management, Supply Chain Management and Service Operations to review statistical concepts related to the topic of queuing analysis, or in a Statistics class to illustrate data analysis and statistical tests in a real-world context.
{"title":"Case Article—Analysis of Call Center Data at Patelco Credit Union","authors":"N. Agrawal","doi":"10.1287/ited.2022.0272ca","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1287/ited.2022.0272ca","url":null,"abstract":"This case focuses on operational challenges faced by customer service centers, or call centers. The specific context for these cases is Patelco, which is a California based credit union. Patelco is facing a rising number of complaints about customer service, specifically, about the long delay customers had to face when they called one of Patelco‘s four call centers. The purpose of this case is to expose students to the statistical analysis of some of the raw data, obtained from such an environment, to support the investigation of call center performance. Important managerial insights can be drawn by summarizing the data graphically as well as quantitatively. In particular, the data can be used to show students how to perform a number of useful hypothesis tests, which are often needed to answer important questions that arise when assessing the performance of any system. The outcomes from these analyses can provide important managerial insights. In the operations management literature, and in practice, a number of modeling assumptions are made about the distribution of data to facilitate quantitative analysis. However, these assumptions are often not statistically validated. This case study gives students an opportunity to test such assumptions. This case can be used in graduate and undergraduate classes in Operations Management, Supply Chain Management and Service Operations to review statistical concepts related to the topic of queuing analysis, or in a Statistics class to illustrate data analysis and statistical tests in a real-world context.","PeriodicalId":37137,"journal":{"name":"INFORMS Transactions on Education","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45967302","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-06-23DOI: 10.1287/ited.2022.0272cs
N. Agrawal
Abstract
摘要
{"title":"Case—Analysis of Call Center Data at Patelco Credit Union","authors":"N. Agrawal","doi":"10.1287/ited.2022.0272cs","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1287/ited.2022.0272cs","url":null,"abstract":"<jats:p> Abstract </jats:p>","PeriodicalId":37137,"journal":{"name":"INFORMS Transactions on Education","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43671046","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This paper presents a didactic approach for teaching integer programming starting from a real-life case on scheduling the Belgian soccer league. We share our experiences as well as didactic resources for two teaching formats. The first format involves hands-on exercises and is more appropriate for small student groups (up to 40 students). The second format is an interactive lecture that focuses more on current research challenges and is better suited for large student groups. During the last decade, both formats have been used repeatedly with consistent, positive feedback from students. The combination of a hands-on, interactive approach that actively involves students with the particularities and experiences of solving a real-life case makes our approach unique and positively affects students’ attention.
{"title":"Teaching Integer Programming by Scheduling the Belgian Soccer League","authors":"Dries R. Goossens, Jeroen Beliën","doi":"10.1287/ited.2022.0269","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1287/ited.2022.0269","url":null,"abstract":"This paper presents a didactic approach for teaching integer programming starting from a real-life case on scheduling the Belgian soccer league. We share our experiences as well as didactic resources for two teaching formats. The first format involves hands-on exercises and is more appropriate for small student groups (up to 40 students). The second format is an interactive lecture that focuses more on current research challenges and is better suited for large student groups. During the last decade, both formats have been used repeatedly with consistent, positive feedback from students. The combination of a hands-on, interactive approach that actively involves students with the particularities and experiences of solving a real-life case makes our approach unique and positively affects students’ attention.","PeriodicalId":37137,"journal":{"name":"INFORMS Transactions on Education","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-05-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44815170","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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