A microcomputer cashier scheduling system for supermarket stores by Emanuel Melachrinoudis Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USAandMichael Olafsson Exxon Company USA, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA"

Read the article “A Microcomputer Cashier Scheduling System for Supermarket Stores” Answer the following questions in no more than two pages.

1. What is the problem addressed in this paper?

2. Briefly, in a few sentences (avoid symbols and equations as much as possible), describe the mathematical model developed in this paper. In particular, what is the objective, the decision variables, and the types of constraints in the model?

3. If you were to use a modeling language, which would have been the sets?

4. What type of software was used to solve the optimization model?

5. What is the meaning of the “Difference” column in the Cashier Staffing section of Table II, III and IV? What is the meaning of the negative values in Table II and IV versus zero values in Table III?

6. Answer the following questions by looking at the optimal spreadsheet of Table III:

• How many cashiers start their shifts at 12 noon?
• How many full-time cashiers (8 hours) and how many part-time cashiers are recommended during the day?
• How many 3-hour shifts are recommended?