Evaluating and Selecting Optimization Software Packages: A Framework for Business Applications
Owing the fact that optimization of business process
is a crucial requirement to navigate, survive and even thrive in
today-s volatile business environment, this paper presents a
framework for selecting a best-fit optimization package for solving
complex business problems. Complexity level of the problem and/or
using incorrect optimization software can lead to biased solutions of
the optimization problem. Accordingly, the proposed framework
identifies a number of relevant factors (e.g. decision variables,
objective functions, and modeling approach) to be considered during
the evaluation and selection process. Application domain, problem
specifications, and available accredited optimization approaches are
also to be regarded. A recommendation of one or two optimization
software is the output of the framework which is believed to provide
the best results of the underlying problem. In addition to a set of
guidelines and recommendations on how managers can conduct an
effective optimization exercise is discussed.
[1] A. Jadhav and R. Sonar, "Evaluating and selecting software packages: A
review," Inform. Software Tech., vol. 51, no. 3, pp. 555-563, 2009.
[2] S. Comella-Dorda, J. Dean, E. Morris, and P. Oberndorf, "A process for
cots software product evaluation," in COTS-Based Software Systems,
ser. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, J. Dean and A. Gravel, Eds.
Springer Berlin / Heidelberg, 2002, vol. 2255, pp. 86-96.
[3] J. Nikoukaran, V. Hlupic, and R. Paul, "A hierarchical framework for
evaluating simulation software," Simulat. Pract. Theory, vol. 7, no. 3,
pp. 219-231, 1999.
[4] T. W. Tewoldeberhan, A. Verbraeck, E. Valentin, and G. Bardonnet,
"Software evaluation and selection: An evaluation and selection
methodology for discrete-event simulation software," in Proc. 34th conf.
Winter Simulation, San Diego, California, 2002, pp. 67-75.
[5] E. Colombo and C. Francalanci, "Selecting CRM packages based on
architectural, functional, and cost requirements: Empirical validation of
a hierarchical ranking model," Requirements Engineering, vol. 9, no. 3,
pp. 186-203, 2004.
[6] X. B. Illa, X. Franch, and J. A. Pastor, "Formalising ERP selection
criteria," in Proc. 10th Intl. Workshop on Software Specification and
Design. Washington, DC, USA: IEEE Computer Society, 2000, pp. 115-
122.
[7] E. Ngai and E. Chan, "Evaluation of knowledge management tools using
AHP," Expert Syst. Appl., vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 889-899, 2005.
[8] J. Nikoukaran and R. Paul, "Software selection for simulation in
manufacturing: A review," Simulat. Pract. Theory, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 1-
14, 1999.
[9] A. Arisha and M. El Baradie, "On the selection of simulation software
for manufacturing application," in Proc. 19th Intl. Manufacturing Conf.,
Belfast, N. Ireland, 2002, pp. 495-507.
[10] N. Patel and V. Hlupic, "A methodology for the selection of knowledge
management (KM) tools," in Proc. 24th Intl. Conf. Information
Technology Interfaces, Cavtat, Croatia, 2002, pp. 369-374.
[11] A. Stylianou, G. Madey, and R. Smith, "Selection criteria for expert
system shells: a socio-technical framework," Commun. ACM, vol. 35,
no. 10, pp. 30-48, 1992.
[12] J. Bhuta and B. Boehm, "A method for compatible cots component
selection," in COTS-Based Software Systems, ser. Lecture Notes in
Computer Science, X. Franch and D. Port, Eds. Springer Berlin /
Heidelberg, 2005, vol. 3412, pp. 132-143.
[13] J. Kontio, "OTSO: A systematic process for reusable software
component selection," Univ. of Maryland Institute for Advanced
Computer Studies Report No. UMIACS-TR-95-63, College Park, MD,
USA, Tech. Rep., 1995.
[14] T. Saaty, "How to make a decision: The analytic hierarchy process,"
Eur. J. Oper. Res., vol. 48, no. 1, pp. 9-26, 1990.
[15] J. Curry, Jr. and D. M. Bonner, How to Find and Buy Good Software: A
Guide for Business and Professional People. Prentice Hall Professional
Technical Reference, 1983.
[16] J. Swisher, P. Hyden, S. Jacobson, and L. Schruben, "Simulation
optimization: A survey of simulation optimization techniques and
procedures," in Proc. 32nd conf. Winter Simulation, San Diego, CA,
USA, 2000, pp. 119-128.
[17] E. Tekin and I. Sabuncuoglu, "Simulation optimization: A
comprehensive review on theory and applications," IIE Trans., vol. 36,
no. 11, pp. 1067-1081, 2004.
[18] S. Rosen, C. Harmonosky, and M. Traband, "Optimization of systems
with multiple performance measures via simulation: Survey and
recommendations," Comput. Ind. Eng., vol. 54, no. 2, pp. 327-339,
2008.
[19] H. Beyer and B. Sendhoff, "Robust optimization-a comprehensive
survey," Comput. Method. Appl. M., vol. 196, no. 33-34, pp. 3190-3218,
2007.
[20] W. Abohamad and A. Arisha, "Optimisation methods in supply chain
applications: A review," in Proc. 12th annu. Irish Academy of
Management Conf., Galway - Mayo Institute of Technology, Ireland,
2009.
[21] X. Franch and J. Carvallo, "Using quality models in software package
selection," IEEE software, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 34-41, 2003.
[1] A. Jadhav and R. Sonar, "Evaluating and selecting software packages: A
review," Inform. Software Tech., vol. 51, no. 3, pp. 555-563, 2009.
[2] S. Comella-Dorda, J. Dean, E. Morris, and P. Oberndorf, "A process for
cots software product evaluation," in COTS-Based Software Systems,
ser. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, J. Dean and A. Gravel, Eds.
Springer Berlin / Heidelberg, 2002, vol. 2255, pp. 86-96.
[3] J. Nikoukaran, V. Hlupic, and R. Paul, "A hierarchical framework for
evaluating simulation software," Simulat. Pract. Theory, vol. 7, no. 3,
pp. 219-231, 1999.
[4] T. W. Tewoldeberhan, A. Verbraeck, E. Valentin, and G. Bardonnet,
"Software evaluation and selection: An evaluation and selection
methodology for discrete-event simulation software," in Proc. 34th conf.
Winter Simulation, San Diego, California, 2002, pp. 67-75.
[5] E. Colombo and C. Francalanci, "Selecting CRM packages based on
architectural, functional, and cost requirements: Empirical validation of
a hierarchical ranking model," Requirements Engineering, vol. 9, no. 3,
pp. 186-203, 2004.
[6] X. B. Illa, X. Franch, and J. A. Pastor, "Formalising ERP selection
criteria," in Proc. 10th Intl. Workshop on Software Specification and
Design. Washington, DC, USA: IEEE Computer Society, 2000, pp. 115-
122.
[7] E. Ngai and E. Chan, "Evaluation of knowledge management tools using
AHP," Expert Syst. Appl., vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 889-899, 2005.
[8] J. Nikoukaran and R. Paul, "Software selection for simulation in
manufacturing: A review," Simulat. Pract. Theory, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 1-
14, 1999.
[9] A. Arisha and M. El Baradie, "On the selection of simulation software
for manufacturing application," in Proc. 19th Intl. Manufacturing Conf.,
Belfast, N. Ireland, 2002, pp. 495-507.
[10] N. Patel and V. Hlupic, "A methodology for the selection of knowledge
management (KM) tools," in Proc. 24th Intl. Conf. Information
Technology Interfaces, Cavtat, Croatia, 2002, pp. 369-374.
[11] A. Stylianou, G. Madey, and R. Smith, "Selection criteria for expert
system shells: a socio-technical framework," Commun. ACM, vol. 35,
no. 10, pp. 30-48, 1992.
[12] J. Bhuta and B. Boehm, "A method for compatible cots component
selection," in COTS-Based Software Systems, ser. Lecture Notes in
Computer Science, X. Franch and D. Port, Eds. Springer Berlin /
Heidelberg, 2005, vol. 3412, pp. 132-143.
[13] J. Kontio, "OTSO: A systematic process for reusable software
component selection," Univ. of Maryland Institute for Advanced
Computer Studies Report No. UMIACS-TR-95-63, College Park, MD,
USA, Tech. Rep., 1995.
[14] T. Saaty, "How to make a decision: The analytic hierarchy process,"
Eur. J. Oper. Res., vol. 48, no. 1, pp. 9-26, 1990.
[15] J. Curry, Jr. and D. M. Bonner, How to Find and Buy Good Software: A
Guide for Business and Professional People. Prentice Hall Professional
Technical Reference, 1983.
[16] J. Swisher, P. Hyden, S. Jacobson, and L. Schruben, "Simulation
optimization: A survey of simulation optimization techniques and
procedures," in Proc. 32nd conf. Winter Simulation, San Diego, CA,
USA, 2000, pp. 119-128.
[17] E. Tekin and I. Sabuncuoglu, "Simulation optimization: A
comprehensive review on theory and applications," IIE Trans., vol. 36,
no. 11, pp. 1067-1081, 2004.
[18] S. Rosen, C. Harmonosky, and M. Traband, "Optimization of systems
with multiple performance measures via simulation: Survey and
recommendations," Comput. Ind. Eng., vol. 54, no. 2, pp. 327-339,
2008.
[19] H. Beyer and B. Sendhoff, "Robust optimization-a comprehensive
survey," Comput. Method. Appl. M., vol. 196, no. 33-34, pp. 3190-3218,
2007.
[20] W. Abohamad and A. Arisha, "Optimisation methods in supply chain
applications: A review," in Proc. 12th annu. Irish Academy of
Management Conf., Galway - Mayo Institute of Technology, Ireland,
2009.
[21] X. Franch and J. Carvallo, "Using quality models in software package
selection," IEEE software, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 34-41, 2003.
@article{"International Journal of Information, Control and Computer Sciences:53536", author = "Waleed Abohamad and Amr Arisha", title = "Evaluating and Selecting Optimization Software Packages: A Framework for Business Applications", abstract = "Owing the fact that optimization of business process
is a crucial requirement to navigate, survive and even thrive in
today-s volatile business environment, this paper presents a
framework for selecting a best-fit optimization package for solving
complex business problems. Complexity level of the problem and/or
using incorrect optimization software can lead to biased solutions of
the optimization problem. Accordingly, the proposed framework
identifies a number of relevant factors (e.g. decision variables,
objective functions, and modeling approach) to be considered during
the evaluation and selection process. Application domain, problem
specifications, and available accredited optimization approaches are
also to be regarded. A recommendation of one or two optimization
software is the output of the framework which is believed to provide
the best results of the underlying problem. In addition to a set of
guidelines and recommendations on how managers can conduct an
effective optimization exercise is discussed.", keywords = "Complex Business Problems, Optimization,
Selection Criteria, Software Evaluation.", volume = "4", number = "11", pages = "1673-7", }
