Suchergebnisse

The human performance characteristics of pitching and batting within the context of baseball game situations are examined to determine their influence on the batter' decision to swing or not at a pitched ball. Signal detection theory techniques are used on generated data to show how the probability of the batter swinging at a "strike" and leaving a "ball" could be optimized. Applications of this approach to game situations and areas for future research are discussed.

AbstractThis paper describes a method for systematically including consideration of noneconomic criteria in the decision‐making process. It focuses on the Space Applications Program of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, but is intended as a general outline applicable to decision problems in both government and business.The methodology involves four stages. First, a Criteria Set is developed by a panel of members with diverse backgrounds. Second, the criteria are made operational by posing a series of carefully worded questions to appropriate experts. Then the responses are scaled according to the degree of refinement considered necessary and appropriate.To allow flexibility and to accommodate differences in the degree of precision considered feasible, a number of scaling methods are identified. These range from a simple positive‐negative response checkoff to summation of individually‐weighted criteria with interaction among criteria. Finally, projects are selected on the basis of predetermined standards of choice.

When a person is working with large scale Markov Decision Processes, he normally uses the policy iteration approach developed by Howard [1] and modified by White [3]. White's modification makes use of the method of successive approximations. Computational experience has shown that for many processes, the rate of convergence of the successive approximation is very slow. In this paper, techniques for speeding convergence are discussed. Numerical examples and computational experience which show the relative merits of the various approaches are presented.

This work of imaginative splendour is the product, in the first place, of Israel Kirzner's magnificient effort in designing, directing and editing a symposium in honour of Ludwig von Mises. Its contents illustrate the presence still of giants in our profession: Lachmann with fifty years of fame; James Buchanan and Stephen Littlechild who lead the van of to‐day's subjectivism. The level of excellence is carried down the list by brilliant minds: Stephan Boehm, Mario Rizzo, Lawrence White, Brian Loasby and many others.