Decision Support for Optimal Use of Joint Training Funds in the Canadian Armed Forces

2019 ◽  
pp. 255-276
Author(s):  
Matthew R. MacLeod ◽  
Mark Rempel ◽  
Michael L. Roi
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Optimization Model ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces ◽  
A Value ◽  
Joint Training ◽  
Training Resources ◽  
Value Model

Joint exercises are vital to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) meeting its readiness targets. However, CAF resources are often insufficient to participate in all candidate joint exercises. Many organizations face resource challenges. In the context of preparing the CAF for its mandated missions and operational tasks, this chapter addresses the following research question: How can the CAF get the most value out of its joint training resources? Using strategic analysis and operations research, the authors designed a value model to gauge a joint exercise's value and an optimization model to support decision makers when selecting a joint exercise portfolio. This chapter describes these models, presents an example of their application, and discusses future improvements.

Decision Support for Optimal Use of Joint Training Funds in the Canadian Armed Forces

2021 ◽  
pp. 49-70
Author(s):  
Matthew R. MacLeod ◽  
Mark Rempel ◽  
Michael L. Roi
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Optimization Model ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces ◽  
A Value ◽  
Joint Training ◽  
Training Resources ◽  
Value Model

Joint exercises are vital to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) meeting its readiness targets. However, CAF resources are often insufficient to participate in all candidate joint exercises. Many organizations face resource challenges. In the context of preparing the CAF for its mandated missions and operational tasks, this chapter addresses the following research question: How can the CAF get the most value out of its joint training resources? Using strategic analysis and operations research, the authors designed a value model to gauge a joint exercise's value and an optimization model to support decision makers when selecting a joint exercise portfolio. This chapter describes these models, presents an example of their application, and discusses future improvements.

scholarly journals DEVELOPMENT AND TEST OF A DECISION SUPPORT TOOL FOR HOSPITAL HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT

2012 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 460-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Sampietro-Colom ◽  
Irene Morilla-Bachs ◽  
Santiago Gutierrez-Moreno ◽  
Pedro Gallo
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Platelet Rich Plasma ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Process Of Care ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Health Technologies ◽  
A Value ◽  
Benefit Patient

Objective: To develop and test a decision-support tool for prioritizing new competing Health Technologies (HTs) after their assessment using the mini-HTA approach.Methods:A two layer value/risk tool was developed based on the mini-HTA. The first layer included 12 mini-HTA variables classified in two dimensions, namely value (safety, clinical benefit, patient impact, cost-effectiveness, quality of the evidence, innovativeness) and risk (staff, space and process of care impacts, incremental costs, net cost, investment effort). Weights given to these variables were obtained from a survey among decision-makers (at National/Regional level and hospital settings). A second layer included results from mini-HTA (scored as higher, equal or lower), which compares the performance of the new HT (in terms of the abovementioned 12 variables) with the available comparator. An algorithm combining the first (weights) and second (scores) layers was developed to obtain an overall score for each HT, which was then plotted in a value/risk matrix. The tool was tested using results from the mini-HTAs for three new HTs (Surgical Robot, Platelet Rich Plasma, Deep Brain Stimulation).Results: No significant differences among decision-makers were observed as regards the weights given to the 12 variables, therefore, the median aggregate weights from decision-makers were introduced in the first layer. The dot plot resulting from the mini-HTA presented good power to visually discriminate between the assessed HTs.Conclusion: The decision-support tool developed here makes possible a robust and straightforward comparison of different competing HTs. This facilitates hospital decision-makers deliberations on the prioritization of competing investments under fixed budgets.

scholarly journals Regional Coordination and Security of Water–Energy–Food Symbiosis in Northeastern China

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1326
Author(s):  
Hongfang Li ◽  
Huixiao Wang ◽  
Yaxue Yang ◽  
Ruxin Zhao
Keyword(s):  
External Environment ◽  
Northeastern China ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Human Survival ◽  
A Value ◽  
Natural Factors ◽  
Regional Coordination ◽  
Micro Level ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Coordination Degree

The interactions of water, energy, and food, which are essential resources for human survival, livelihoods, production, and development, constitute a water–energy–food (WEF) nexus. Applying symbiosis theory, the economic, social, and natural factors were considered at the same time in the WEF system, and we conducted a micro-level investigation focusing on the stability, coordination, and sustainability of the symbiotic units (water, energy, and food), and external environment of the WEF system in 36 prefecture-level cities across three northeastern provinces of China. Finally, we analyzed the synergistic safety and coupling coordination degree of the WEF system by the combination of stability, coordination, and sustainability, attending to the coordination relationship and influences of the external environment. The results indicated that the synergistic safety of the WEF system in three northeastern provinces need to equally pay attention to the stability, coordination, and sustainability of the WEF system, since their weights were 0.32, 0.36 and 0.32, respectively. During 2010–2016, the synergistic safety indexes of the WEF system ranged between 0.40 and 0.60, which was a state of boundary safety. In the current study, the coupling coordination degree of the WEF system fluctuated around a value of 0.6, maintaining a primary coordination level; while in the future of 2021–2026, it will decline to 0.57–0.60, dropping to a weak coordinated level. The conclusion could provide effective information for decision-makers to take suitable measures for the security development of a WEF system.

scholarly journals A Multi-Criteria Decision Support Concept for Selecting the Optimal Contractor

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1660 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Marović ◽  
Monika Perić ◽  
Tomaš Hanak
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Project Performance ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Construction Project Management ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy ◽  
Conflicting Demands ◽  
Decision Making Problem ◽  
Scientific Approach ◽  
Hierarchy Process

A way to minimize uncertainty and achieve the best possible project performance in construction project management can be achieved during the procurement process, which involves selecting an optimal contractor according to “the most economically advantageous tender.” As resources are limited, decision-makers are often pulled apart by conflicting demands coming from various stakeholders. The challenge of addressing them at the same time can be modelled as a multi-criteria decision-making problem. The aim of this paper is to show that the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) together with PROMETHEE could cope with such a problem. As a result of their synergy, a decision support concept for selecting the optimal contractor (DSC-CONT) is proposed that: (a) allows the incorporation of opposing stakeholders’ demands; (b) increases the transparency of decision-making and the consistency of the decision-making process; (c) enhances the legitimacy of the final outcome; and (d) is a scientific approach with great potential for application to similar decision-making problems where sustainable decisions are needed.

scholarly journals Using extended siamese networks to provide decision support in aquaculture operations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bjørn Magnus Mathisen ◽  
Kerstin Bach ◽  
Agnar Aamodt
Keyword(s):  
Neural Networks ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Similar Case ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Similarity Function ◽  
Case Based Reasoning ◽  
Similarity Learning ◽  
Reasoning System ◽  
Siamese Networks ◽  
Case Based

AbstractAquaculture as an industry is quickly expanding. As a result, new aquaculture sites are being established at more exposed locations previously deemed unfit because they are more difficult and resource demanding to safely operate than are traditional sites. To help the industry deal with these challenges, we have developed a decision support system to support decision makers in establishing better plans and make decisions that facilitate operating these sites in an optimal manner. We propose a case-based reasoning system called aquaculture case-based reasoning (AQCBR), which is able to predict the success of an aquaculture operation at a specific site, based on previously applied and recorded cases. In particular, AQCBR is trained to learn a similarity function between recorded operational situations/cases and use the most similar case to provide explanation-by-example information for its predictions. The novelty of AQCBR is that it uses extended Siamese neural networks to learn the similarity between cases. Our extensive experimental evaluation shows that extended Siamese neural networks outperform state-of-the-art methods for similarity learning in this task, demonstrating the effectiveness and the feasibility of our approach.

No umbrella for the rain: Canadian implications following the global revolution in reconnaissance–strike technologies

2021 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-237
Author(s):  
Marc Kieley
Keyword(s):  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Gulf War ◽  
Careful Consideration ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces ◽  
Ballistic Missiles ◽  
Defence Policy ◽  
Revolution In Military Affairs ◽  
The Government ◽  
Government Of Canada

Global conflicts in 2020 have highlighted the unexpected employment of advanced ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles by developing military powers. The development of ballistic missiles by Iran, or the export of advanced drones by Turkey, are ultimately the result of the American-led revolution in military affairs that, during the Gulf War, established the potential of precision guided weapons and reconnaissance systems. In response, America’s competitors have adapted their military doctrines and developed weapons designed to both counter and copy the West’s technological advantages. As the Government of Canada implements its defence policy—Strong, Secure, and Engaged—it has promised to procure a ground-based air defence system for the Canadian Armed Forces. Careful consideration and analysis are required, however, to ensure that Canada procures the best possible solution given limited funding and a wide array of potential threats.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document