A Multicriteria Assignment Problem: A Goal Programming Approach

The article focuses on a generalized goal programming (GP) model used to resolved a real-world human resource allocation problem involving allocating teachers to 22 private schools in Saint Louis, Missouri. The model provides a solution that balances cost minimization with preference goals of the teachers, administrators, and schools. One of the most commonly used multicriteria optimization techniques is GP. The GP approach allows additional relevant criteria to be considered. In addition to the usual goal of cost minimization, judgmental preferences can be incorporated as separate goals in an assignment problem. The advantage of a goal programming model is that these goals can be weighted in accordance with opinion or in accordance with a derived mathematical weighting system. Including such humanistic information in the decision model helps to improve the resulting solution in real terms and to improve its psychological acceptance for implementation purposes. GP has been used in assignment-related problems, such as manpower planning.

Publication Information

Researcher Information

	Lee, Sang M Emeritus Expertise: Entrepreneurship Information Systems International - Europe International - South and Central America International - Asia Management CBA 251 P.O. Box 880491 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NE 68588-0491, USA Phone: (402) 472-3915 Fax: (402) 472-5855 slee1@unl.edu	Lee, Sang M	Management