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The purpose of the study was to develop a resource allocation model that would apply mathematical techniques to the restrictions and priorities imposed bar educators in order to produce feasible alternatives for large classes in higher education.`Because the simplex method of linear programming has been widely and successfully used in business applications, the method was chosen to solve the linear programming program formulated by the model. Components were chosen for the model to reflect the allocation of institutional resources to classes. Faculty, staff, supplies and equipment were chosen as cost items. The interaction of such resources was reflected in the size and number of student sections. Equations were developed which showed limitations on such factors and/or interrelationships. Since cost is not the only consideration in educational decisions, an objective function waswritten which reflected priority weights assigned to each factor.The simplex algorithm was applied to the restrictions and priorities imposed by educators in order to produce feasible alternatives. The instructional cost of each alternative was calculated. The number of faculty in each of the ranks and the size and number of sections were given. Such numerical results, coupled with applicable intangible factors which were not readily quantifiable, provided information to educational administrators for more defensible resource allocation decisions.Historical data were obtained from the English, General and Experimental Psychology, and Biology Departments of Ball State University for the purpose of testing the initial model. After modification, the model was applied to experimental data provided by the English Department, Ball State University. Keeping other data constant, the instructional cost of faculty assignments with varying faculty rank mixes was calculated. The model clearly showed that such variations changed the instructional costs for the course.Planning for classes with large enrollments may present administrative problems both in attaining goals and objectives for a course and in utilizing available resources most efficiently. Following are recommendations for utilization of the model.l. The administrator may wish to compare the instructional cost of various faculty rank mixes. Experimental tests in the English department showed a high cost for upper ranks of faculty. However, because of tenure and other considerations most departments, irrespective of the cost, will continue to employ many such people.2. The model should be utilized by administrators for analyzing alternate class sizes, combinations of large lectures and small discussion groups, and variations in instructional methodology. Alternate assignments of faculty workload may change both the distribution of faculty ranks and the instructional costs.3. A primary strength of the model is for use in budget planning. Prorating salaries, enrollments, workload, and miscellaneous costs will give the cost of teaching a course for a year. Alternately, the costs for each term or semester may be calculated and totals computed for the year to derive more defensible resource allocations.4. During testing of the model very close constraints were found to limit the flexibility of the model with respect to the alternatives which could be generated. The administrator should give the model as much freedom as possible in order to obtain a useful variety of alternatives.

Firms in several discrete parts manufacturing industries, e.g., electronics equipment, computers, telecommunications equipment etc. operate in a multi-plant environment where products are processed successively at several plants. Prior studies have ignored the interaction between different plants in a multi-plant scenario. The objective of this dissertation is to study the impact of coordination on the cost performance of a two-plant firm. / We propose a model that jointly determines production and inventory decisions so that the total cost of holding inventory and overtime, at the two plants is minimized. Our model captures the interaction between the two plants and is preferable to the uncoordinated or the sequential approach which ignores this interaction. We consider the case with limited capacity and explicitly model setup times. Strategies based on Lagrangian relaxation and Lagrangian decomposition methodologies are proposed to solve the model. / Two main findings emerge from this research. First, our results indicate that coordination could lead to improved cost performance and enhanced profits for firms. Two parameters, the setup time to processing time ratio and the capacity utilization at the two plants played a significant role in determining the cost improvements. Managerial implications relating to implementation of the coordinated model are discussed. The second important finding of this research is that Lagrangian decomposition consistently outperforms Lagrangian relaxation in terms of achieving better deviation from the optimal solution, for this problem. A Linear Programming based technique for further enhancing the convergence between the upper and lower bounds is presented. / In the quest for improved performance, multi-plant coordination represents an important strategy for firms. The contribution of the current research is in modelling some of the salient issues of this problem and exploring promising methodological directions.

In recent years, dissatisfaction with the quality of the urban environment has become widespread, and opposition to many development proposals has been mounted by citizens groups across Canada. Yet all attempts to improve the environment so far have proved relatively ineffectual. The thesis argues that the environment will continue to deteriorate unless massive changes are made in the structure of decision making which surrounds the urban development process; the major change required being meaningful participation by citizens in making the decisions that affect their lives. A first step towards this goal is the attainment of a clear and comprehensive understanding of how urban development occurs at present. Citizens must be informed before they can be involved. The thesis presents an initial description of the urban development process and outlines the conceptual basis for the construction of a simulation model of the process. It is argued that because of the complexities of urban development, a simulation technique seems appropriate. Given an operating model, it would be possible to test proposals for change on the model before implementing them in reality. Using Metropolitan Vancouver - a typical Canadian urban region - as a data base, the thesis examines the types of public dissatisfactions with the urban environment. These are then translated into the more general categories of urban problems, such as soaring housing costs, transportation congestion, urban sprawl, poverty, pollution and so on. Through a literature survey a number of processes suspected as being related to these urban problems were identified. Two kinds of processes emerged: those which lead to population and economic growth (the ones usually considered in urban models), but also those processes which constrain policy formulation and implementation, such as fragmented authority, inadequate research and development, uncoordinated planning, the pressure of developers. Both types need inclusion in the model. These processes were investigated through a number of case studies of the system in action: downtown redevelopment schemes, Vancouver transportation proposals, a public urban renewal project, a shopping centre proposal, etc. Basic chronologies of events were prepared for each case; the events were then abstracted into a set of actions with the (organizational and individual) actors who engaged in them and the criteria (goals or constraints) upon which the actions were based. These actions were then grouped into related processes. A preliminary conceptual mock-up of the model was made, and a program of research outlined which involves the analysis of factors affecting major processes and the development of values suitable for computer manipulation. At this stage of the work it appears that the building of the model is indeed feasible and that such a simulation will prove most useful in understanding the urban development process. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA), School of / Graduate

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published_or_final_version / Civil Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Transport Policy and Planning / Master / Master of Arts