Decision Science Digest: December 14, 2022

BALTIMORE, MD, December 14, 2022 –

EDITOR’S NOTE: Decision Science Digest is a periodic communique highlighting recent peer-reviewed research published by INFORMS, the largest association for the decision and data sciences, across its 17 journals. This issue highlights four press releases based on the findings of new peer-reviewed articles.

• New Research Finds Evidence of that Cloud Computing Significantly Improves Users’ Energy Efficiency (INFORMS journal Management Science)
• Improving Patient Flow in Emergency Departments: New Research Finds a Solution (INFORMS journal Operations Research)
• Improving Store Productivity and Increasing Sales: New Research Finds Responsible Scheduling is the Key (INFORMS journal Management Science)
• Reducing the Ripple Effects of Online Sex Websites: Shutting them Down is Not the Answer (INFORMS journal Management Science)

Reducing the Energy Footprint: New Research Finds Cloud Services are More Sustainable Than Previously Thought 

The energy consumption by cloud service vendors – often blamed for the energy footprint of the IT industry – is more than offset by the reduced energy consumption by cloud computing users, according to new research in the INFORMS journal Management Science. In the paper, “Green Cloud? An Empirical Analysis of Cloud Computing and Energy Efficiency,” the researchers find that cloud computing actually has sustainability benefits to business users and the economy. They also find that the user-side energy efficiency benefits from cloud computing far outweigh its vendor-side adverse effects on increasing energy consumption. Link to full article.

Reducing Emergency Department Wait Times by 15%, it’s All About Improving the Patient Flow

Emergency Department (ED) overcrowding is a worldwide problem, and its main reason is ED boarding. Part of the solution is improving patient flow in the ED. New research in the INFORMS journal Operations Research finds batching behaviors can improve individual physicians’ productivity, but are detrimental to overall patient flow. Batched patients experience longer boarding times, but eliminating batching behavior has the potential to significantly reduce boarding times in the ED. The paper, “To Batch or Not to Batch? Impact of Admission Batching on Emergency Department Boarding Time and Physician Productivity,” acknowledges that adding inpatient bed capacity is costly, but by doing so, managers can improve ED flow by employing levers to encourage staff to be more consciously aware of how their practice styles – which may seem more productive on an individual level – may hurt system performance. In fact, the researchers find that the waiting cost of batching admissions is equivalent to having an average of 2.3 fewer inpatient beds, and by eliminating batching, boarding times may be reduced by 15%. Link to full article.

Work Schedules that Promote Employee Well-Being Enhance Store Efficiency and Sales

Responsible scheduling practices that take worker well-being into account can enhance store productivity and increase sales. New research in the INFORMS journal Management Science integrates new scheduling practices at Gap, Inc. stores in the San Francisco and Chicago areas, and finds that implementing responsible scheduling practices increased store productivity by 5.1%, a result of increasing sales (by 3.3%) and decreasing labor (by 1.8%). The paper, “Doing Well by Doing Good: Improving Retail Store Performance with Responsible Scheduling Practices at the Gap, Inc.,” considers schedule consistency, predictability, adequacy and employee control – all shown to foster employee well-being.  Link to full article.

Is It Worth Shutting Down Online Sex Advertising Websites? Research Shows It Makes Little Difference

Startling results show the difficulty of shutting down online sex sites and putting a stop to their ripple effects. New research in the INFORMS journal Management Science finds despite the government’s shut down of two online sex advertising websites, it had no real effect on stopping prostitution arrests or violence against women. The paper, “Internet Governance Through Site Shutdowns: The Impact of Shutting Down Two Major Commercial Sex Advertising Sites,” examines the pre- and post-shutdown numbers, and finds minimal to no difference. The researchers say these results are likely due to the fluidity of online markets. Most advertisers and users quickly moved to other (often offshore) commercial sex advertising portals. Link to full article.

About INFORMS 

INFORMS advances and promotes the science and technology of decision-making to save lives, save money and solve problems. As the largest association for the decision and data sciences, INFORMS members support organizations and governments at all levels as they work to transform data into information, and information into insights that lead to more efficient, effective, equitable and impactful results. INFORMS’ 10,000+ members are comprised of a diverse and robust international community of practitioners, researchers, educators and students from a variety of fields.  

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Contact:

Ashley Smith

443-757-3578

[email protected]

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