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Home > CIIMA > Vol. 12 (2012) > Iss. 1

 

Communications of the IIMA

Abstract

Resource allocation can be viewed from several perspectives. One perspective is to view it as a capacitated Facility Location Problem, whereby resources that are located in certain places are being employed to certain other locations at a minimum cost. One of the most challenging scenarios in any organization is the ability to allocate resources to specific functions so as to maximize productivity. This paper develops a mathematical model that can be used to “optimally” deploy human resources to various parts of an organization, while at the same time minimizing the overall cost of operations. The technique to be used belongs to a class of mathematical programming problems known as Mixed-Integer Programming. The model is developed in line with the policies of the organization, and a simulation of the model is applied to Nigeria’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Scheme. This model has several possible applications in situations that involve international and intergovernmental organizations such as the United Nations (UN), the United Nations Development Project (UNDP), Organization of American States (OAS), European Union (EU), as well as the African Union (AU). A classical application of this model is in the Nigerian Youth Service Scheme (NYSC). With this scheme, recent college graduates are required by law, to serve their country for one year after graduation. The idea is to infuse into the country the spirit of nationalism, knowledge of country, mutual appreciation and respect for people from different parts of the country and a better appreciation of one’s self worth. The task of deploying these graduates has been cumbersome at best. This paper develops a mathematical model that can be used to ‘optimally’ deploy these fresh graduates each year, to different parts of the country in such a way that the overall cost of the program is minimized – while at the same time satisfying the constraints imposed on the scheme by policy makers.

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