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A two-stage stochastic program for scheduling and allocating cross-trained workers

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  • G M Campbell

    (Fairfield University)

Abstract

A two-stage stochastic program is developed for scheduling and allocating cross-trained workers in a multi-department service environment with random demands. The first stage corresponds to scheduling days-off over a time horizon such as a week or month. The second stage is the recourse action that deals with allocating available workers at the beginning of a day to accommodate realized demands. After the general two-stage model is formulated, a special case is introduced for computational testing. The testing helps quantify the value of cross-training as a function of problem characteristics. Results show that cross-training can be more valuable than perfect information, especially when demand uncertainty is high.

Suggested Citation

  • G M Campbell, 2011. "A two-stage stochastic program for scheduling and allocating cross-trained workers," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 62(6), pages 1038-1047, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:jorsoc:v:62:y:2011:i:6:d:10.1057_jors.2010.16
    DOI: 10.1057/jors.2010.16
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    Cited by:

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    3. Kayse Lee Maass & Boying Liu & Mark S. Daskin & Mary Duck & Zhehui Wang & Rama Mwenesi & Hannah Schapiro, 2017. "Incorporating nurse absenteeism into staffing with demand uncertainty," Health Care Management Science, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 141-155, March.
    4. Restrepo, María I. & Rousseau, Louis-Martin & Vallée, Jonathan, 2020. "Home healthcare integrated staffing and scheduling," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    5. Gang Li & Joy M. Field & Hongxun Jiang & Tian He & Youming Pang, 2019. "Decision Models for Workforce and Technology Planning in Services," Papers 1909.12829, arXiv.org.
    6. Restrepo, María I. & Gendron, Bernard & Rousseau, Louis-Martin, 2017. "A two-stage stochastic programming approach for multi-activity tour scheduling," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 262(2), pages 620-635.
    7. Dipankar Bose & A. K. Chatterjee, 2015. "Specialized versus Multi-skilled Workforce: A Newsboy Approach for Call Centre Resource Planning," Management and Labour Studies, XLRI Jamshedpur, School of Business Management & Human Resources, vol. 40(3-4), pages 252-267, August.
    8. Gnanlet, Adelina & Gilland, Wendell G., 2014. "Impact of productivity on cross-training configurations and optimal staffing decisions in hospitals," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 238(1), pages 254-269.
    9. Tohidi, Mohammad & Kazemi Zanjani, Masoumeh & Contreras, Ivan, 2021. "A physician planning framework for polyclinics under uncertainty," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    10. Van den Bergh, Jorne & Beliën, Jeroen & De Bruecker, Philippe & Demeulemeester, Erik & De Boeck, Liesje, 2013. "Personnel scheduling: A literature review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 226(3), pages 367-385.
    11. Brusco, Michael J., 2015. "A bicriterion algorithm for the allocation of cross-trained workers based on operational and human resource objectives," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 247(1), pages 46-59.

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