Product Description

For over four decades, Introduction to Operations Research by Frederick Hillier has been the classic text on operations research. While building on the classic strengths of the text, the author continues to find new ways to make the text current and relevant to students. One way is by incorporating a wealth of state-of-the-art, user-friendly software and more coverage of business applications than ever before. The hallmark features of this edition include clear and comprehensive coverage of fundamentals, an extensive set of interesting problems and cases, and state-of-the-practice operations research software used in conjunction with examples from the text.

Customer Reviews (22)

Pre-owned book review
I was pleased with the condition of the book and how quickly it arrived at my doorstep; this book will be very beneficial in my studies as an graduate IE. This review would have been a five star rating had the books interactive CD-Rom accompanied it.

Extremelly good condition.
Congratulations ! Thank you for sending the book in an extremelly good condition (new), even tough the edition was a very old one - 2nd. Edition from 1980. Well done ! Reinaldo (Brasilia, Brazil)

Book Review
For an introductory level text the book is very complex in its approach.Graphics are of poor quality (black and white).One positive is that themath used is college level algebra for the most part.The book is fairly comprehensive in scope.Not a lot of focus on the use, influence and relationship of Statistics in Operations Research.Also would have liked to have seen a chapter or two on decision making...

average seller
The seller mailed the book very fast. However, the book is not in "very good" condition as the seller described. The cover almost teared off from the book. The cd that should be with the book is not there.

This textbook isn't new.
This paperback book isn't new FYI. I ordered one and got it with bent on cover, opened CD, and some of worn pages. ... Read more

Product Description
Tackling the broad range of allocation problems that actually confront engineers, programmers and analysts in today's business and industrial worlds, this book takes readers step-by-step through all the mathematical programming techniques--including the trailblazing Karmarkar algorithm--needed to excel in any operations research course. It's easy to see why the first edition of this invaluable study guide sole more than 35,000 copies! It cuts down study time while it builds essential skills. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Good as an introduction
This book makes for a very readable, self contained introduction to the subject through clear examples. As the other reviewers have pointed out, it does not go very far. But, given the price you should not be disappointed. I am told that the majority of day to day operations research can be handled with just the contents of this book.

Review
Good short review of the subject.A bit too terse and lacking in a clear thread of examples in places.

Schaum's Outline of Operations Research (Purchased on 09/29/2007)
Very good classical book for operational research. I would like to find informations about value of information using markov chains and linear programing.

not enough
First of all, be careful, this is not a text book. It has a good presentation for problem solution. First, there are a some solved problems, then supplementary problems are coming. The answers of supplementary problems are at the end of the book.

This book might be useful for beginners. For every topic, there are easy problems, not specific problems similar to case studies. If you are over beginner degree, this book will not be useful for you. Especially, integer programming sections are not satisfactory. For instance, there isn't any facility location problem solution.

To sum-up this book may be useful for a beginner as a workbook.

Doubles as inexpensive textbook on operations research
Some of the primary tools used by operations researchers are statistics, optimization, stochastics, queueing theory, game theory, graph theory, and simulation. Because of the computational nature of these fields operations research also has ties to computer science, and thus this outline is useful to people from both fields. OR is concerned with optimization problems in which one seeks to maximize or minimize a specific quantity. The first part of this book is on optimization vialinear, integer, and nonlinear programming. Next, network analysis is covered. Network analysis is the general name given to certain specific techniques which can be used for the planning, management and control of projects. Two different techniques for network analysis were developed independently in the late 1950's -PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) andCPM (Critical Path Management). These techniques are also covered in the outline. The next subject tackled is that of inventory models - allowing shortages, allowing price discounts, risk conditions, etc., and their mathematical modeling. Game theory, decision theory, and dynamic programming are all explained in the context of inventory models and forecasting. Finally, there is coverage of Markov chains and queueing theory. Queuing Theory arises from the use of mathematical analysis to theoretically describe production processes along with statistical/probabilistic techniques to account for varying dynamic patterns within the stages of a productive process. The problem to be met is simply entitled "congestion", what happens when a system does not operate smoothly or efficiently.
I really liked this Schaum's outline, and I used it to teach myself most of the mathematical processes covered without the need for any additional resources. The theory is given in small doses along with very illustrative examples. The mathematics starts with simple algebra and works up to nothing more complex than probability and statistics. I highly recommend it for anybody enrolled in an operations research class as well as computer scientists and mathematics students that are studying any subset of the topics covered in this book. ... Read more

Product Description

Significantly revised, this book provides balanced coverage of the theory, applications, and computations of operations research. The applications and computations in operations research are emphasized. Significantly revised, this text streamlines the coverage of the theory, applications, and computations of operations research. Numerical examples are effectively used to explain complex mathematical concepts.  A separate chapter of fully analyzed applications aptly demonstrates the diverse use of OR. The popular commercial and tutorial software AMPL, Excel, Excel Solver, and Tora are used throughout the book to solve practical problems and to test theoretical concepts.  New materials include Markov chains, TSP heuristics, new LP models, and a totally new simplex-based approach to LP sensitivity analysis.  

Customer Reviews (14)

Cheap, New, and Quick Arrival
Brand new text book for about 70% discount, arrived within days.CD-ROM included.Great shape.Excellent experience.

The Best Book, Period!
I just want to respond to the CS major from Denmark.If he/she is that knowlegeable about what OR should or should not include, what is he/she doing taking an introductory course in the subject?This is not a book about writing computer codes for algorithms to please CS majors.It is a book that offers a comprehensive treatment of all three aspects of operations research (theory, applications, and computations), and it does it admirably.Also, if the CS major has read past the first few chapters, he/she will find all the LP/IP theory he/she desires.I belive that TORA is one of the best tutorial programs I (and my students) have ever used.It is easy to use and it gives instant feedback to actions initiated by the user.Also, as far as I know, TORA always gives the correct answers. I am currently teaching an introductory class from Taha's book, and I am very pleased with it (not to mention that its page count is about half the size of the competition -- without loss of substance, I must add)

An excellent book
I have used this book as a student some 20 years ago and continue to use it today in my line of work.I was surprised to read a CS student complaining that the book does not provide any LP theory.Huh! Apparently the reviewer did not go past the first two chapters because Chapter 7 gives all the necessary mathematical foundation for linear programming.The reviewer also talks about "signedness" difficulty in the book, something I don't understand because "signedness" is not a word in English.As for TORA, true the software is not an "orthodox" Windows development per se particularly for CS majors, but I find it refreshing that it is desigend to eliminate the need for a user manual. And this perhaps is the reason TORA is designed that way.It is very easy to use, and it can be used interactivly (with instant feedback) to help the reader understand the algorithmic details of the different OR techniques.I might also add that I used TORA's LP and IP modules many many times and have compared the results with those from AMPL and Excel Solver.Contrary to the CS reviewer claim,TORA always gave the correct answers. In summary, this book explains the basics of OR (theory, applications and computations)in a clear, concise, and straightforward manner using multitudes of examples.It is no wonder that it has been a leading textbook worldwide for over 35 years.

Good book for introductory course
This is a good book for an Management Science course book which does not go deep into theory. Primarily its good for business majors, however there are better books for business majors who dont want to be involved with the math using Excel exclusively. Ragsdales book comes to mind.

However, there are plenty problems solved and so if you are one of those people who learn through solving problems this is a decent book.

For theory and math pick Bazraas book on LP and NLP or Model Building by Paul Williams which I think is an excellent book.

Avoid this one...
I'm a student at a CS school in Denmark, doing a course in OR, and this book served as my first introduction to the subject. The book has several flaws making it virtually useless as teaching material. From the very start, he stumbles, as he tries to explain the simplex algorithm, yet he doesn't even give a single mathematical explanation of the process. There are two whole chapsters, devoted to simplex, yet there is no single "algorithmic" presentation in pseudo-code, of the algorithm. Other books (such as Introduction to Algorithms, 2nd ed, managers this fine.)

Many of the more subtle points of OR are badly explained. How duality relates the primal is explained theoretically in virtually a single five centimeter space, far from sufficient to explain the many aspects of duality (a key issue in OR). Further, one of the initially very confusing aspects of LP solving, is the signedness of variables. There are several approaches in the industry, and Taha follows one. This is all good and all, but that he fails to explain, how the algorithms change, depending on what signedness one uses, is totally unforgivable in an introductory text. It makes it very confusing initially (and still) to read other authors text, since it's not clear how procedures vary from one text to another.

The book's single saving grace, is that it has countless examples, but when you're looking for the mathematical reasoning behind a procedure, this book falls far short. A book that proudly proclaims on the backcover: "Complex mathematical concepts are explained by means of carefully designed numerical examples, essentially eliminating the need for [...] mathematical proofs." is not something you want. LP/IP programming IS math heavy, if you do not learn the theory, you will learn a very rigid and inflexible tool.

Further the CD comes with a Visual Basic program, the likes of which I have never seen, except perhaps ten years ago on download.com. It's Windows only, and it has the poorest interface ever (it's so obvious that this used to be a console program, quickly ported to Windows). And what's worse, is that it gives /incorrect/ solutions! Our school has an installation of CPLEX, an industrial strength program for solving LP problems. Of course, one doesn't expect TORA (the name for Tahas LP solver) to handle as big cases as CPLEX can, but it seems only fair to expect it to give the correct results. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Good theoretical reference
This text is self-sufficient and from a theoretical point of view, I found it excellent.But beware if you encounter mathematical difficulties in your operations research course : this is not a cookbook. It's rather formal, abstract and requires thorough work for understanding.However it's mind challenging and very rewarding. Careful reading and working of this text will provide you a deep understanding of the mathematical techniques (linear algebra, matrix calculus, calculus on Rn, linear differential equations, difference equations...) used in linear,nonlinear and even discrete optimization.

Note that probability is not covered and will need an additional text. ... Read more

Product Description

The Handbook of Metrics for Research in Operations Management is a compilation of multi-item scales and objective items that can be used to construct surveys and questionnaires in Operations Management. Such surveys can be sent to manufacturing or service managers to collect empirical data on their operations for research purposes. The metrics can be used to measure constructs such as Total Quality Management, Just-In-Time manufacturing, Operations Strategy, Technology Management, Supply Chain Management, performance of operations and related concepts.

Key Features

• Employs a systematic summary of 1803 multi-item, measurement scales, and objective metrics: Derived from 230 published articles, comprehensive summaries for each scale are available in one source.
• Cross-classifies measurement scales in two ways: Each scale is classified by categories that are based on OM research topics accepted by major OM journals and by first author names.
• Provides a discussion of objective measures used in OM research: Illustrative items and examples from 5 questionnaires are given.
• Increases the efficiency and potential rigor of the researcher’s efforts: Discussion and selected bibliography on key issues for careful construction of new items encourage further development and refinement of psychometrically sound OM metrics.

Intended Audience

This Handbook is an essential, time-saving resource for virtually all operations, supply chain, and technology scholars and practitioners interested in empirical research. A vital addition to all academic libraries, it is intended to serve as a basic reference and guide for construction of surveys and other structured data collection on OM topics.

Periodic updates and further compilations from other journals are available at http://webpages.csom.umn.edu/oms/schroeder/scalebook/index.html.

Meet author Aleda Roth! http://business.clemson.edu/Managemt/faculty/l3_fac_AledaRoth.html

Meet author Roger Schroeder!http://www.csom.umn.edu/Page2075.aspxtype=faculty&eid=21047741

Product Description
The market-leading textbook for the course, Winston's OPERATIONS RESEARCH owes much of its success to its practical orientation and consistent emphasis on model formulation and model building. It moves beyond a mere study of algorithms without sacrificing the rigor that faculty desire. As in every edition, Winston reinforces the book's successful features and coverage with the most recent developments in the field. The Student Suite CD-ROM, which now accompanies every new copy of the text, contains the latest versions of commercial software for optimization, simulation, and decision analysis. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Excellent General Text
This is an all around good book in an area that seems to have far to few books worth mentioning.Although I still think OR texts spend too much time on issues like linear programming, I think this has a good breadth of topics.

The CD is a great learning aid for any student.The problems seem fairly up-to-date and should engage the students.

great OR book
This is a grat book, it covers a broad area of operations research. It is equally good for students, professors and profesionals. Very good explanations and applied exercises from real life.
Definetly a must buy.

Very thorough and comprehensive
Love the text. Has a lot of basic information starting from basic algebra. Any one who is interested to learn Non-linear programming needs to have this book. Great content.

Complete Book for Hard OR
Operations Research is an emergent science!!!
This book provides a complete approach to Hard OR, like modelling and all the required Mathematics...
Winston is an old fox at this area. His books are previoulsy accredited!

Standard Text - Riddled with Flaws
I'm guessing you're on this page because this is your textbook. It works reasonably well for a text, but there are many, many errors. One important problem you should check IMMEDIATELY when you get your copy: some versions double printed pages 705-736 and did not print 737 to 768. These would be the first sections of chapter 13 -- Decision Making under Uncertainty. It is pretty important for the stochastic course, but not so important for the deterministic course (the first part of the book). There are websites that have errata, but even the errata sheets I've found are incomplete. Hopefully your prof should be aware of the flaws. I would NOT recommend this book if you have a coice in the matter. Many of the errors are very confusing to new students. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is specifically designed to change the way deterministic optimization is taught to introductory students.Toward this end, it exposes students to the broad scope of the topic,reinforces the basic principles, sparks students' enthusiasm about the field, provides tools of immediate relevance and develops the skills necessary to use those tools. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

The quality of this book is appalling
As far as regards content, this is a fine book. It's a textbook, and it does that job.

I am commenting on the horrible cheap production:the publisher has effectively made a photocopy of the hardcover, and is selling it for $100. The cover is flimsy paper, scuffs and bends easily;the text on the pages is askew; and the contrast in the charts and shading is awful.

Great book but poor binding
Prof. Rardin's Optimization in OR is a great book. However the binding for the book does not do its justice as it is sold as a paperback at the Amazon.com. The binding of my copy quickly fell apart. With the kind of the price the book demands and its 900+pages size, it should be a hardback binding.

Book Contents
The "Search inside this book" feature was not available for this book when this review was published. Hope it helps.

Table of Contents
1. Problem Solving with Mathematical Models
2. Deterministic Optimization Models in Operations Research
3. Improving Search
4. Linear Programming Models
5. Simplex Search for Linear Programming
6. Interior Point Methods for Linear Programming
7. Duality and Sensitivity in Linear Programming
9. Shortest Path and Discrete Dynamic Programming
10. Network Flows
11. Discrete Optimization Models
12. Discrete Optimization Methods
13. Unconstrained Nonlinear Programming
14. Constrained Nonlinear Programming

If you need more information, Professor Rardin (Purdue University) maintains a website that can be easily located using any web search tool.

A Clear and Concise Textfor OR
Rardin was the first book I used for OR and I keep a copy in my personal library. It offers a series of examples that are followed up throughout the book, chapter by chapter, to provide insight into the application of mathematics to real world problems. By building the level of complexity, on an ogoing basis through the use of specific examples, Rardin shows the extrmely practical side to why Operations Research is such a fundamentaluse of applied mathematics. The book is easy to read and should easily meet the needs of any upperlevel undergraduate course in Operations Research.

Good operations research book
This book presents the subjects in a different and novel way which provides many new insights.

In it, there is a great concern with the practical, professional use of operations research, as can be easily seen in the modeling examples. This book could be named "Optimization theory with realistic applications". This book certainly enables the students to apply the theory learned in practical situations, while providing the necessary mathematical foundations.

Rardin exposes the subject in a very clear and non-orthodox manner, unifying all algorithms through the use of the improving-search framework. The text is also innovative, containing sections on Genetic Algorithms, Simulated Annealing, Tabu Search and Branch and Cut.

But if you want to go deeper in some subject (linear programming for example) you will need another book.


... Read more

Product Description

The book covers the standard models and techniques used in decision making in organizations. The main emphasis of the book is on modeling business-related scenarios and the generation of decision alternatives. Fully solved examples from many areas are used to illustrate the main concepts without getting bogged down in technical details. The book presents an approach to operations research that is heavily based on modeling and makes extensive use of sensitivity analyses. It is a result of many years of combined teaching experience of the authors.

Product Description

• Excel add-ins - Almost all of the examples in the text are solved with Excel, and solution files are included in the CD. ... Read more

  Customer Reviews (2)

  Great book, so so shipping
  I bought this book last September when I started a new course. Since the shipping information was not given online, I missed the parcel for couple of times. Finally, I got the shipping information and had my book back from USPS. Thanks for god the book is great.

  Review of "Operations Research - Models and Methods"
  Great book with good examples - I'm missing the CD that was supposed to have arrived with the book... ... Read more

Product Description

Operations Research: An Introduction, 9/e is ideal for or junior/senior undergraduate and first-year graduate courses in Operations Research in departments of Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, Statistics, Computer Science, and Mathematics.

This text streamlines the coverage of the theory, applications, and computations of operations research. Numerical examples are effectively used to explain complex mathematical concepts. A separate chapter of fully analyzed applications aptly demonstrates the diverse use of OR. The popular commercial and tutorial software AMPL, Excel, Excel Solver, and Tora are used throughout the book to solve practical problems and to test theoretical concepts.

Product Description

Marketing models is a core component of the marketing discipline. The recent developments in marketing models have been incredibly fast with information technology (e.g., the Internet), online marketing (e-commerce) and customer relationship management (CRM) creating radical changes in the way companies interact with their customers. This has created completely new breeds of marketing models, but major progress has also taken place in existing types of marketing models.

Handbook of Marketing Decision Models presents the state of the art in marketing decision models. The book deals with new modeling areas, such as customer relationship management, customer value and online marketing, as well as recent developments in other advertising, sales promotions, sales management, and competition are dealt with. New developments are in consumer decision models, models for return on marketing, marketing management support systems, and in special techniques such as time series and neural nets.

Customer Reviews (1)

Not for an OR student
Didn't really expect this book to be full of qualitative comments. It was not very well put together. I would not suggest for an OR student trying to appreciate the history of OR. ... Read more

Product Description
Operations Research (OR) began as an interdisciplinary activity to solve complex military problems during World War II. Utilizing principles from mathematics, engineering, business, computer science, economics, and statistics, OR has developed into a full fledged academic discipline with practical application in business, industry, government and military. Currently regarded as a body of established mathematical models and methods essential to solving complicated management issues, OR provides quantitative analysis of problems from which managers can make objective decisions. Operations Research and Management Science (OR/MS) methodologies continue to flourish in numerous decision making fields.

Featuring a mix of international authors, Operations Research and Management Science Handbook combines OR/MS models, methods, and applications into one comprehensive, yet concise volume. The first resource to reach for when confronting OR/MS difficulties, this text –

II ends with a chapter on the future of OR/MS applications. ... Read more

Product Description
Totally revised, this 2nd Edition includes a new chapter on decision analysis, and additional material on computer solutions of linear programming problems, LP applications, the use of sensitivity analysis output, minimal spanning tree, goal programming, network of queues, and more. Throughout, mathematics is kept to an intermediate level. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

SUBSTITUTE FOR A TEACHER
All the concepts and methods are explained very clearly.The examples and solved problems are application oriented and are helpful in reviewing the concepts. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
This best-selling introduction to operations research now features the Windows versions of LINDO and LINGO.(LINDO, GINO, and LINGO software packages are also available with the book in Macintosh or DOS versions).Forward thinking in approach, this book emphasizes model-formulation and model-building skills.Winston includes material for a three-semester course, organized into self-contained units that provide flexibility in selecting material.Requiring a background in calculus, linear algebra, and statistics, OPERATIONS RESEARCH offers comprehensive coverage for applications-oriented courses in linear or mathematical programming and stochastic and probabilistic models and processes at the undergraduate and graduate level. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

THE BEST on Operations Research (Deserves 6 stars)
I think this book is the best up to date reference on Operations Research. The book is very well written, very didactic and addresses mainly the practical use of OR. That is, the book isnt so good for algorithm details but it is superb on modeling, interpretation and examples.

Good writing style
I am in my first semester of an MBA program.The required text for my OR/MS class (An Introduction to Management Science, 10th ed., by Anderson, Sweeney, Williams) left something to be desired.I work with the SAS programming language, and happened to be discussing the SAS/OR product with a SAS technical support rep.He recommended this Winston text.I think it explains concepts much better than my Anderson text and has helped me a lot in my OR/MS class.

From Deterministic to Stochastic
This is one of the excellent industrial engineering books. From deterministic and simple linear programming to stochastic systems such as queueing models or dynamic programming, you may read and "learn" lots of things about OR. However, for stochastic cases you will need extra help for its matematics. But if you want to learn something about industrial engineering or something related with it, that is the book you must buy.

A great book for undergraduate engineering students
I have used this book for five years in my Operation Research classes. Its emphasis is in the mathematical modeling. The explanations are complete and clean. But, the exercises are the best part: a lot of examples and modeling exercises. A very good book for engineering students.

Another great text by Dr. Winston
A wonderful compendium of Ops algorythms.It has everything from linear programming to queing theory. ... Read more

Product Description

"Combat Modeling" is a systematic learning resource and reference text for the quantitative analysis of combat. After a brief overview, authors Washburn and Kress present individual chapters on shooting without feedback; shooting with feedback; target defense; attrition models; game theory and wargames; search; unmanned aerial vehicles; and terror and insurgency. Three appendices provide a review of basic probability concepts, probability distributions, and Markov models; an introduction to optimization models; and a discussion of Monte-Carlo simulations. Drawing on their many years of experience at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, Washburn and Kress have created a reference that will provide the tools and techniques for analysts involved in the underpinnings of combat decisions. This is a book that can be used as a military manual, reference book, and textbook for military courses on this vital subject.

Product Description

Within supply chain management (SCM), postponement is a deliberate action to delay final manufacturing or distribution of a product until receipt of a customer order. This reduces the incidence of wrong manufacturing or incorrect inventory deployment. Postponement strategies and practices serve to reduce the anticipatory risk in a supply chain. It can be fine-tuned or staged so that only the generic parts shared by a firm’s various end products are warehoused, used only once orders come in for whichever products are selling, and will reduce inventory pressures throughout the firm.  Despite much existing research in the area, no one book devoted solely to postponement has been published.

At its core, Postponement Strategies in Supply Chain Management analyzes how both pull postponement strategy and form postponement strategy can be leveraged to yield substantial benefits to adopting firms in different competitive environments.  The book is intended for researchers in supply chain management interested in conducting in-depth studies on postponement strategies. It is also intended for practitioners trying to understand the workings of postponement strategies and looking for guidance and decision support for the implementation of postponement strategies. Therefore, the book can be useful not only for researchers but also for practitioners and graduate students in operations management, management science, and business administration.

Product Description
Operations research uses quantitative models to analyze and predict the behavior of systems and to provide information for decision makers. Two key concepts in such research are optimization and uncertainty. Typical models in stochastic operations research include queueing models, inventory models, financial engineering models, reliability models, and simulation models. This book contains a collection of peer-reviewed papers from the International Workshop on Recent Advances in Stochastic Operations Research (2007 RASOR Nanzan) held on March 5 6, 2007, at Nanzan University, Nagoya, Japan. It enables advanced readers to understand the recent topics and results in stochastic operations research. ... Read more