Browsing by Author "Bischak, Diane"

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    Active Learning in an Undergraduate Management Science Course Through the Use of a Mobile Computer Lab
    (Inderscience Publishers, 2009) Bischak, Diane; Eliasson, Janice B.; Snider, Brent R.
    Our business school’s undergraduate degree program includes a required spreadsheet management science course taught at the third-year level. Employers, faculty, and students consistently indicated that this course was not successful in teaching management science or even basic spreadsheet modeling skills. To improve students’ understanding and retention of the course content, we purchased and implemented a “mobile computer lab” that could be set up in a regular classroom. We discuss how the lab supported a change to active learning, in which informal student groups would “discover” management science techniques, and we provide some examples of the exercises we have incorporated in the course. For instructors who are interested in implementing a mobile lab, we also provide details on the infrastructure of the lab, costs, software and hardware security, and classroom logistics.
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    The Alaska Salmon enhancement program: a cost/benefit analysis
    (Marine Resource Economics Foundation Inc., 1993) Bischak, Diane; Boyce, J.R.; Herrmann, M.L.; Greenberg, J.
    In May 1991. the Alaska Senate's Special Committee on Domestic and International Commercial Fisheries iniiiated the first review ofthe state's salmon enhancement program since its inception 20 years ago. As part of this review, a ccstlhenefu analysis ofthe State's enhancement program for salmon was performed with cooperation from the Fisheries Research Fnhancement Division ofthe Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The main results are that the additional producer's surplus generated by the pink and sockeye hatchery programs are estimated to be less than the costs of running these programs. Eliminating the entire pink or sockeye salmon programs is estimated to increase net benefits by about 8% and 6%. respectively. A 15% increase in either program is estimated to result in a reduction in net benefits and a 15% decrease in either program is estimated to result in a slight increase in net benefits. Estimates of the confidence intervals for net benefits suggest that the gains from the elimination of either the pink program or the sockeye program are statistically different from zero. However, changes of plus or minus 15% of current hatchery production are found not to statistically affect net benefits.
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    Bayesian Estimation of the Rate at Which a Process, Monitored by an X Chart, Goes Out of Control
    (Taylor & Francis, 2004) Bischak, Diane; Silver, Edward A.
    We consider a process that is monitored by an X chart. It is assumed that the process may go out of control due to the occurrence of any of several independent assignable causes. The time until each specific assignable cause occurs is exponential, but the distributional parameters of the various causes are unknown and are not necessarily identical. A Bayesian approach is used to estimate these parameters. The approach encompasses prior knowledge about the parameters as well as observations of the process, including when the out-of-control situation was detected and the associated assignable cause. Numerical illustrations are provided that indicate how the posterior results depend upon the choice of the parameters of the prior distributions.
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    Determining the Reorder Point and Order-Up-To-Level in a Periodic Review System So As to Achieve a Desired Fill Rate and a Desired Average Time Between Replenishments
    (Palgrave Macmillan, 2009) Bischak, Diane; Silver, Edward A; Naseraldin, Hussein
    In this paper we consider a periodic review, reorder point, order-up-to-level system, a type commonly used in practice. Motivated by a specific practical context, we present a novel approach to determining the reorder point and order-up-to-level (for a given review interval) so as to target desired values of i) customer fill rate and ii) average time between consecutive replenishments. Specifically, by using a diffusion model (producing normally distributed demand) we convert a periodic review, constant lead time setting into one having continuous review and a random lead time. The method is simple to implement and produces quite reasonable results.
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    An efficient method for calculating the minimum distance from an operating point to a specific (hyberbolic) efficient frontier
    (Oxford University Press, 2009) Bischak, Diane; Silver, E.A.; da Silveira, G.J.C.
    This paper is concerned with movement from a current operating point so as to reach a two-dimensional, efficient frontier. After a discussion of different criteria for deciding on which point on the frontier to target, we focus, as an illustration, on a particular inventory management context and use of the criterion of minimum distance from the current point to the frontier. Specifically, the efficient frontier turns out to be an hyperbola in a two-dimensional representation of total (across a population of items) average stock (in monetary units) versus total fixed costs of replenishments per year. Any current (or proposed) operating strategy, differing from the class along the frontier, is located above the frontier. Finding the minimum distance from the current point to the frontier requires determining the smallest root of a quartic equation within a restricted range.
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    Estimating the Out-of-Control Rate from Control Chart Data in the Presence of Multiple Causes and Process Improvement
    (Taylor & Francis, 2004) Bischak, Diane; Silver, Edward A.
    We consider a process that is monitored with an X chart. The process may go out of control due to the occurrence of one of several independent assignable causes. After the process has gone out of control and the assignable cause has been determined, the process undergoes improvement that results in a reduction of the rate due to that cause. We develop a Bayesian estimator of the rate at which the process is going out of control as well as of the rates of the individual assignable causes. The estimation procedure makes use of the Markov chain Monte Carlo technique of data augmentation. We provide numerical illustrations that indicate how the posterior results depend upon the data and upon the choice of the parameters of the prior distributions.
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    Experimental Studies on Motivation and Performance
    (2013-08-20) Hendijani, Rosa; Bischak, Diane
    This dissertation consists of three experimental studies to test the effect of motivational factors, such as monetary rewards and social relationships, on performance in different contexts, such as health care. The three studies can be thought of as a single body of work because they use the same methodology to address different research questions related to motivation and performance. In each study, we designed an experiment to test our hypotheses that were developed based on the related literature on motivation in various contexts, including health care. The first study examined the effect of external reward and intrinsic motivation on overall task motivation and performance, using a laboratory experiment; we used self-selection into an area of knowledge for assessing intrinsic motivation. The results of this experiment provided support for our hypotheses regarding the positive effect of external reward and intrinsic motivation on overall task motivation and performance. In the second and third studies, we focused on motivational factors affecting referral processes in health care systems. The second study examined the effect of social relationships on referral rate. Using an online survey, we examined how a shift from a decentralized referral system, characterized by close relationship between general practitioners and specialists, to a centralized system, in which there is no relationship between the referring general practitioner and the specialist, would affect referral decision making. We found partial support for our hypothesis on the effect of social relationships and referral rate. Medical doctors who had high confidence in their referral decision making referred significantly fewer patients under the close relationship condition in comparison with the centralized referral system. The third study examined the effect of fundholding and pay-for-performance schemes on referral rate and referral appropriateness. While we could not find significant statistical support for our hypotheses, the results were in the direction that we predicted. Both fundholding and pay-for-performance schemes decreased referral rate in comparison with the fixed pay treatment. In addition, pay-for-performance resulted in more appropriate referrals in comparison with fundholding and fixed pay schemes. The dissertation chapters are in the following order: chapter one gives an introduction to the field of motivation and performance. Chapter two provides a literature review of intrinsic-extrinsic motivation. Chapter three presents our first study on the effect of external reward and intrinsic motivation on overall task motivation and performance. Chapter four provides a literature review on the factors affecting referral decision making in healthcare systems. Chapters five and six present the second and third studies on the effect of social relationships and financial schemes on referral patterns respectively. Finally, chapter seven provides concluding remarks regarding the results of our three studies and future research directions.
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    Modeling and analysis of oil terminal operations
    (2003) Ahmed, Asad; Bischak, Diane
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    Modeling patient service centers with simulation and system dynamics
    (Springer Verlag, 2007) Bischak, Diane; Rohleder, Thomas R.; Baskin, Leland B.
    We report on the use of simulation modeling for redesigning phlebotomy and specimen collection centers (or patient service centers) at a medical diagnostic laboratory. Research was performed in an effort to improve patient service, in particular to reduce average waiting times as well as their variability. Discrete-event simulation modeling provided valuable input into new facility design decisions and showed the efficacy of pooling sources of variation, particularly patient demand and service times. Initial performance of the redesigned facilities was positive; however, dynamic feedback within the system of service centers eventually resulted in unanticipated performance problems. We show how a system dynamics model might have helped predict these implementation problems and suggest some ways to improve results.
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    The rate of false signals in X-bar control charts with estimated limits
    (American Society for Quality, 2007) Bischak, Diane; Trietsch, Dan
    The in-control statistical properties of X-bar charts have usually been studied from the perspective of the average run length (ARL) until the first (false) signal, known as the in-control ARL. We argue that the ARL is a confusing concept when used with charts with estimated limits and that the rate of false signals (RFS), which focuses on the behavior of charts during extended use, is more intuitive. We use the RFS to illustrate graphically the dangers of using too few subgroups to estimate control limits. We also discuss diffidence charts, which make the inherent uncertainty concerning RFS observable to the practitioner and thus help the practitioner determine what is an acceptable number of subgroups for a given charting application.
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    The Role of Political Parties in the Organization of Congress
    (Oxford University Press, 2002) Bischak, Diane; Boyce, John R.
    Theory and evidence on political party competition in the U. S. Congress and its effect on the compositions of committees is considered. Parties compete over multiple policy dimensions by allocating party members to committees. The leadership of each party simultaneously and non-cooperatively selects its committees’ membership in order to maximize the joint utility of its members, taking into account how the committee membership affects the legislation adopted by the legislature. Parties are constrained both by institutional rules and by the heterogeneity of party members’ preferences in their allocation of members across committees. These restrictions mean that to gain an edge in one policy dimension, a party must give ground elsewhere. Interest group ratings from the U.S. House of Representatives provide evidence that the parties stack of committees in a manner consistent with the predictions of the theoretical model. Indeed, tests of alternative hypotheses reveal that these hypotheses explain at best only half of the committees in the U. S. Congress, while the party competition hypothesis is consistent with the overall structure of the committees.
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    Scheduling to Optimize Due Date Performance under Uncertainty of Processing Times
    (2010) Parajuli, Anubhuti; Bischak, Diane; Enns, Van
    This thesis contributes to the theoretical and practical aspects of scheduling research. It is dedicated to the analysis of scheduling a set of jobs on a single machine when the jobs have uncertain processing times and conformance to the due date is the performance objective. The findings reveal that scheduling based on the point estimates of the processing times, when times are actually uncertain, may not lead to an optimal job sequence. As well, the decisions as to when each job should start on the machine may not be optimal. These decisions are important when costs are associated with both early and tardy completion of jobs. A stochastic scheduling methodology, based on sampling using simulation and optimization using evolutionary search, has been introduced. Results and behaviour have been evaluated and compared with single-machine deterministic scheduling, based on optimization using point estimates. Furthermore, the methodology has also been extended to the two-machine flow shop problem. Results confirm performance improvement using stochastic scheduling.
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    Transitions of People with Dementia in the Continuing Care System
    (2016) Cepoiu-Martin, Monica; Patten, Scott; Maxwell, Colleen; Bischak, Diane; Hogan, David
    Aging of the population raises a number of challenges to health care and continuing care systems around the world. One of them is ensuring that seniors with disabilities receive the best care at home and in the continuing care system, in order to avoid unnecessary transitions. Dementia is one of the major sources of disability in seniors and the literature exploring the transitions of people with dementia in the continuing care system is growing. Nevertheless, there are still important gaps in the literature pertaining to specific factors that govern these transitions, especially those related to informal caregivers. Moreover, the complexity of the continuing care system makes it difficult to meaningfully incorporate research data on transitions into policies meant to improve the outcomes of people with dementia. The work reported in this dissertation focuses on addressing these gaps and applying system thinking to policy making in continuing care. The systematic review and meta-analysis provided pooled estimates of known and less well-known risk factors for long-term care (LTC) placement in people with dementia. Also, our review highlighted the scarcity of data on resident and caregiver related factors that may delay the LTC placement in people with dementia living in supporting living (SL) settings. This gap in the literature was addressed in the second study, which found that low strength of social relationships, among other factors, significantly increases the risk of LTC placement (HR=1.57, 95% CI: 1.02 – 2.43). Also, the number of activities performed by the informal caregivers modified the effect of residents’ level of ADL impairment on the risk of LTC placement. Specifically, among residents with severe ADL impairment, those with caregivers that performed 5 to 7 activities had a significantly lower risk of LTC placement, compared to those with caregivers that performed 4 or fewer activities (p=0.017). These research findings, along with data extracted from various reports and information obtained from continuing care stakeholders, were used to build a system dynamics (SD) model that describes the Alberta Continuing Care System (ACCS). This computer simulation model was used to explore policy options in the ACCS, illustrating the applicability of system thinking to developing and testing policies in continuing care. In the particular case of modifying benchmarks for staff/resident ratios in the continuing care system, increasing the availability of trained staff in SL might help decrease costs in the system by reducing the rapid transitions of people with dementia from SL to LTC, and consequently, reducing the pressure for adding LTC beds in the system. A better understanding of the transitions of people with dementia in the continuing care system, provided by this research, may help researchers to develop and test interventions aimed at improving the outcomes of people with dementia in the continuing care system and allowing them to age in place. Moreover, it lays the foundation for future work in planning, developing and evaluating various components of continuing care using system thinking.
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    Understanding Variation in Processes and Outcomes of Operational Implementations: A Case Study from Healthcare
    (2015-01-21) Asamoah-Barnieh, Raymond; Bischak, Diane; Woiceshyn, Jaana
    Operational excellence is a dimension of performance conferring competitive advantage to those organizations that sustainably achieve it. However, Operational Implementations (OIs) that are expected to confer such operational excellence to organizations, exhibit variation in their implementation processes and outcomes. Operations Management Practice Contingency Research (OM PCR) has been established in order to understand this. Working within the field of OM PCR, my dissertation focuses on healthcare as an industry and Advanced Access (AA) as an OI for research. I conduct a multiple case study where ten implementation teams represent AA implementations in 23 clinic sites. From this study, I select five cases as my core analytic sample for rigorous investigation. My dissertation contains the results of compiling research documents, interviews with 52 individuals related to healthcare and AA, and a qualitative analysis of the data. The main factors responsible for the variation of implementation processes and outcomes are: • a phenomenon I refer to as task ambulation, which stems from complexity and occurs as a result of movement of the task domain, • lack of appropriate prior technology, • the culture of the implementing clinic prior to implementation, • a phenomenon I refer to as institutional managerial apathy, which manifests as a lack of concern and systematization of a healthcare system, • workload, and related phenomena. I interpret these factors through Contingency Theory, Institutional Theory, and a new theory I developed - the Effort Satisficing Theory (EST). I also propose and elaborate on Task Ambulation Contingency to enhance outcomes of operational implementations. Though this research contributes to a deeper understanding of both AA implementations and OIs in general for both academics and practitioners, the most important contribution of this research to new management and economic theory is the Effort Satisficing Theory, and the establishment of the foundations of this theory. Effort Satisficing Theory is a behavioral theory that can be translated into different fields of management and economics, with potential for advancing the performance of organizations and economies, thus establishing this dissertation a valuable contribution to 21st century Economics.
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    Using Simulation Modeling to Improve Patient Flow at an Outpatient Orthopedic Clinic
    (Springer Verlag, 2011) Bischak, Diane; Rohleder, Thomas R.; Lewkonia, Peter; Duffy, Paul; Hendijani, Rosa
    We report on the use of discrete event simulation modeling to support process improvements at an orthopedic outpatient clinic. The clinic was effective in treating patients, but waiting time and congestion in the clinic created patient dissatisfaction and staff morale issues. The modeling helped to identify improvement alternatives including optimized staffing levels, better patient scheduling, and an emphasis on staff arriving promptly. Quantitative results from the modeling provided motivation to implement the improvements. Statistical analysis of data taken before and after the implementation indicate that waiting time measures were significantly improved and overall patient time in the clinic was reduced.