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Solving the multi-objective nurse scheduling problem with a weighted cost function

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  • D. Parr
  • J. Thompson

Abstract

The primary objective of the nurse scheduling problem is to ensure there are sufficient nurses on each shift. There are also a number of secondary objectives designed to make the schedule more pleasant. Neighbourhood search implementations use a weighted cost function with the weights dependent on the importance of each objective. Setting the weights on binding constraints so they are satisfied but still allow the search to find good solutions is difficult. This paper compares two methods for overcoming this problem, SAWing and Noising with simulated annealing and demonstrates that Noising produces better schedules. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2007

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  • D. Parr & J. Thompson, 2007. "Solving the multi-objective nurse scheduling problem with a weighted cost function," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 155(1), pages 279-288, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:annopr:v:155:y:2007:i:1:p:279-288:10.1007/s10479-007-0202-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10479-007-0202-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Wolbeck, Lena Antonia, 2019. "Fairness aspects in personnel scheduling," Discussion Papers 2019/16, Free University Berlin, School of Business & Economics.
    4. Yiting Xing & Ling Li & Zhuming Bi & Marzena Wilamowska‐Korsak & Li Zhang, 2013. "Operations Research (OR) in Service Industries: A Comprehensive Review," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(3), pages 300-353, May.
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    6. Mohammad Reza Hassani & J. Behnamian, 2021. "A scenario-based robust optimization with a pessimistic approach for nurse rostering problem," Journal of Combinatorial Optimization, Springer, vol. 41(1), pages 143-169, January.
    7. 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.
    8. Kibaek Kim & Sanjay Mehrotra, 2015. "A Two-Stage Stochastic Integer Programming Approach to Integrated Staffing and Scheduling with Application to Nurse Management," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 63(6), pages 1431-1451, December.
    9. Mauro Falasca & Christopher Zobel & Cliff Ragsdale, 2011. "Helping a Small Development Organization Manage Volunteers More Efficiently," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 41(3), pages 254-262, June.
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    11. D. Wooff & S. Stirling, 2015. "Practical statistical methods for call centres with a case study addressing urgent medical care delivery," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 233(1), pages 501-515, October.
    12. Vanhoucke, Mario & Maenhout, Broos, 2009. "On the characterization and generation of nurse scheduling problem instances," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 196(2), pages 457-467, July.
    13. Nieves Brisaboa & Luisa Carpente & Ana Cerdeira-Pena & Silvia Lorenzo-Freire, 2015. "Optimization in dubbing scheduling," TOP: An Official Journal of the Spanish Society of Statistics and Operations Research, Springer;Sociedad de Estadística e Investigación Operativa, vol. 23(3), pages 685-702, October.
    14. Peyman Kiani Nahand & Mahdi Hamid & Mahdi Bastan & Ali Mollajan, 2019. "Human resource management: new approach to nurse scheduling by considering human error," International Journal of System Assurance Engineering and Management, Springer;The Society for Reliability, Engineering Quality and Operations Management (SREQOM),India, and Division of Operation and Maintenance, Lulea University of Technology, Sweden, vol. 10(6), pages 1429-1443, December.
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    16. Falasca, Mauro & Zobel, Christopher, 2012. "An optimization model for volunteer assignments in humanitarian organizations," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 46(4), pages 250-260.

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