The registration advisors at a small midwestern university (SMU) help 6,000 students develop their class schedules and register for classes each semester. Each advisor works for 10 hours a day during the registration period. SMU currently has 15 advisors. While advising an individual student can take anywhere from 2 to 30 minutes, it takes an average of 12 minutes per student. During the registration period, the 15 advisors see an average of 500 students a day on a first-come, first-served basis. The head of the registration advisors at SMU has decided that the advisors must finish their advising in 2 weeks (10 working days) and therefore must advise 600 students a day. However, the average waiting time given a 12-minute advising period will result in student complaints, as will reducing the average advising time to 10 minutes. SMU is considering two alternatives:
a. Hire two more advisors for the 2-week (10-working day) advising period. This will increase the available number of advisors to 17 and therefore lower the average waiting time. b. Increase the number of days that the advisors will work during the 2-week registration period to 6 days a week. If SMU increases the number of days worked to 6 per week, then the 15 advisors need only see 500 students a day to advise all of the students in 2 weeks. Requirement 1. What would the average wait time be under alternative A and under alternative B? Begin by selecting the formula to calculate the wait time. (Abbreviations used: Ave = average; Hrs = (Ave students per day) * (Time per student)? = Wait time 2 * [Max time available - (Ave students per day Time per student)] Calculate the average wait time under alternative A. (Enter the amounts in the same order as shown 350 * 10 ) 7 minutes of wait time 350 10 ) 2*( 6,000 Calculate the average wait time under alternative B. (Enter the amounts in the same order as shown 292 * 10 5.89 minutes of wait time 2x( 5,400 -( 292 10 )) Requirement 2. If advisors earn $150 per day, which alternative would be cheaper for SWU (assume that if advisors work 6 days in a given work week, they will be paid time and a half for the sixth day)? The total cost under alternative A (if SWU hires one more advisor for the 2-week (10-working day) advising period) is $ 15,000 The total cost under alternative B (if SWU has its 9 advisors work 6 days a week) is $ 17,550 a. Hire two more advisors for the 2-week (10-working day) advising period. This will increase the available number of advisors to 17 and therefore lower the average waiting time. b. Increase the number of days that the advisors will work during the 2-week registration period to 6 days a week. If SMU increases the number of days worked to 6 per week, then the 15 advisors need only see 500 students a day to advise all of the students in 2 weeks. Requirement 1. What would the average wait time be under alternative A and under alternative B? Begin by selecting the formula to calculate the wait time. (Abbreviations used: Ave = average; Hrs = (Ave students per day) * (Time per student)? = Wait time 2 * [Max time available - (Ave students per day Time per student)] Calculate the average wait time under alternative A. (Enter the amounts in the same order as shown 350 * 10 ) 7 minutes of wait time 350 10 ) 2*( 6,000 Calculate the average wait time under alternative B. (Enter the amounts in the same order as shown 292 * 10 5.89 minutes of wait time 2x( 5,400 -( 292 10 )) Requirement 2. If advisors earn $150 per day, which alternative would be cheaper for SWU (assume that if advisors work 6 days in a given work week, they will be paid time and a half for the sixth day)? The total cost under alternative A (if SWU hires one more advisor for the 2-week (10-working day) advising period) is $ 15,000 The total cost under alternative B (if SWU has its 9 advisors work 6 days a week) is $ 17,550
