A decision support system using goal programming for the study of resource allocation

Planning is the ongoing process of evaluating goals within the context of changing internal and external environments. Academic decision makers must determine how to allocate resources across goals to insure that the fulfillment of the institutional mission is optimized. Implementation of institutional goals occurs at the departmental level. Department chairs must determine how to allocate the resources at their disposal to multiple, conflicting goals. The concept of decision support systems (DSS) was developed to apply the knowledge of modeling and computer technology to inform decision making. Goal programming is a model developed to solve optimization problems in situations with multiple, competing goals. The purpose of this study was: (a) to develop a DSS for studying resource allocation for use by academic department chairs that would be flexible enough to allow for modification to address questions of specific interest, and (b) to assess the applicability and usefulness of the model. A goal programming model developed by Van Horn in 1978 was used as a basis for the DSS, but was customized for use with three academic department chairs in a Teachers College at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Case studies were conducted in three departments to study a total of five programs. Chairs were asked to provide specific data and suggestions for modification of the model for their departments. The DSS was modified to describe each program and the chairs came up with what if questions to study with the model. A final report was provided to each chair. After completion of the modeling phase, chairs were interviewed to determine perceptions of the usefulness and applicability of the DSS. Although the departments have very different programs, results of the case studies highlighted some essential similarities between departments, their structures, the issues facing the departments, and the nature of the questions studied with the DSS. All chairs indicated that they found the DSS to be useful and all were interested in continuing to use the model in the future