Blogs

President’s Note – Ann Melissa Campbell

By Jan Ehmke posted yesterday
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I’m excited to begin my term as President of TSL. I consider it quite an honor. TSL has been a big part of my academic career – from using the business meeting to nervously introduce myself to my heroes as a PhD student, to serving the society as clusterchair, on various committees, as secretary/treasurer, as a workshop organizer, and now in this role. I’m glad to have on the board numerous colleagues who have long been active TSL members, with considerable experience guiding the society. Thanks to the hard work of so many past and current officers I take on this role at a time when TSL is in great shape. Our financial situation is strong, and the Society ...
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News and Notes Winter 2020

By Jan Ehmke posted 7 days ago
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Five CUTC student awards were announced in December 2019. Out of 62 submissions, the winners are: Parker P&P: Melissa Sather, UCLA; Pikarsky MS: Pragun Vinayak, The University of Texas at Austin; Pikarsky PhD: Cathy Wu, UC Berkeley; Wootan MS: Anne Brown, UCLA; Wootan PhD: Kyle Sorlie Titlow, University of Arizona. Congratulations! Dr. Carlos Daganzo (UC Berkeley) and Dr. Yanfeng Ouyang (University of Illinois) recently published a textbook on public transportation: Daganzo, C.F. and Ouyang, Y. Public Transportation Systems: Principles of System Design, Operations Planning and Real-Time Control. World Scientific Publishing Company, 2019. Harilaos ...
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Technical Skills for the Analyst

By Abigail Lindner posted 9 days ago
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I am fairly new to the operations research world. In fact, as of writing I am only halfway through my undergraduate years to earn a B.S. in Mathematics. The OR/MS career came to my attention in the middle of my freshman year when I was exploring mathematics-based career options that weren't actuarial science. Since then, I have tried to learn what I can about the vision of the field and the steps I can take to prepare for entry. The advice I read online emphasizes gaining technical skills. Given the increasing digitization of society and the reliance of OR/MS on the volumes of data to which technology gives us access, this doesn't come as a surprise. Knowing ...
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How to Create and Maintain a Safe Work Environment

By James Mellor posted 21 days ago
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Define Workplace Safety for Employees The best way to maintain a safe work environment is to put workplace safety at the top of your company's agenda. That means workers hear a strong safety message from the day they walk in the door – their first day on the job. Include a safety conversation in their orientation, making clear all the ways that THEY, personally, will be held accountable for helping maintain a safe workplace. In addition, today we speak of workplace safety a bit differently than we used to. "Safe and respectful" are our new demands for the workplace – meaning a workplace that keeps everyone safe from bullying and harassment. ...
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Five Benefits Of A Toll Free Number

By James Mellor posted 21 days ago
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Your company should invest in a toll free listing that allows customers to reach you at any time. Your customers can contact you at any time, and they can save these numbers in their phones. The five tips below will help you with business management. Toll Free Numbers Are Easy To Market A toll free number should be used in all your marketing. You can market your phone number in TV and radio ads. You can list your number on your website, or you could list the number on social media. You can share your phone number with customers when they come into your store, or you might list the number on your receipts. Your Number Might ...
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The Human Narrative in Data

By Abigail Lindner posted 01-03-2020
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In her TEDxCambridge talk "The human insights missing from big data", ethnographer Tricia Wang discusses the importance of the immeasurable, in addition to the measurable, in making business decisions. She calls the former "thick" data, which brings the human narrative, including stories and emotions that "cannot be quantified", into the picture. Watch the video here .
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How to Make Extra Money in College

By James Mellor posted 12-15-2019
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When you imagined yourself going to college, you probably thought it would be filled with carefree days with exams and assignments being all you would need to worry about.  The reality might be a little different since college is expensive, and while your tuition and accommodation might be paid for, there are lots of other things you need to buy.  And that’s if you’re one of the lucky ones since many students still need to pay class fees and rent, let alone all the other things they need.   So, what as a college student, can you do to make ends meet?   Tutoring   If you’re fortunate enough to be scoring good grades in your ...
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Food Mistakes That Can Get in the Way of Being Healthy

By James Mellor posted 12-04-2019
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When it comes to eating healthy, most people truly have the wrong idea. A healthy diet does not mean that there are strict limits on what you can eat or depriving yourself of your favorite foods. Instead, a healthy diet is about feeling good, improving your overall health, boosting your mood, and having more energy. One of the mistakes that many people make when it comes to eating healthy is thinking that it has to be overly complicated. If you currently feel overwhelmed with all of dieting and nutrition advice out there, you are not alone. It may even seem like for everything that you read about a food being good for you, there is conflicting evidence saying ...
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Understanding the Use of Toll Free Numbers for Your Business

By James Mellor posted 12-04-2019
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A toll free number makes solving customer problems over the phone easier because it allows your customers to call for free at all hours and from anywhere. Of course, handling issues speedily and with a good attitude is most important when it comes to building up a reputation for good customer service.  Even if you own a small business, having a toll free number has a number of advantages, such as enhancing your brand image, improving your customer service and giving you more credibility.  Instantly activate a number It is not difficult to get a toll free number for your small business. It doesn’t require costly equipment and there are no surprise ...
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Five Traits of a Successful Product

By James Mellor posted 11-18-2019
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What will set the product you sell apart from others? That’s the question you should be asking yourself once you’ve come up with your ‘big idea’, and you want to make it a reality. Even the greatest innovation will fail to impress customers if you do not set it up for success.   Without the right ingredients, a cake will flop, and no one will want to eat it. Similarly, if you don’t masterfully combine the successful traits of a product, you’re going to have an uphill battle getting it off the ground.   Meeting a need   Before you start generating an idea for a product, ask yourself what problem you are trying to solve for the customers. ...
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4 Ways To Help Elderly Loved Ones Age Independently

By James Mellor posted 11-15-2019
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As parents and grandparents begin to age, it can be difficult to handle for both them and us. We want to help them, and they want to do things for themselves. How can both of those things happen?  There are ways you can ensure that your loved ones can age independently, while still easing your mind that you've helped them and ensured their safety. Here are 4 of those ways.  Do a home safety check Stairs, slippery bathtubs, old wiring that could spark a fire, and things on high shelves are just a few of the potential dangers your loved one could face. Go through the home and look for ways to make things safer. Consider asking them to move to ...
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5 Ways to Get Cash Fast

By James Mellor posted 11-15-2019
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You’ve already spent your tax refund on new tires for your car, so what can you do? If the current downturn has taught consumers anything, it’s to prepare for unexpected scenarios. Getting caught off-guard by an unforeseen event like a layoff or an emergency home repair is hard enough. But not being financially prepared — ideally, with six months’ worth of living expenses – can be devastating. For many consumers, that fund may be running a little short. For others, it may be empty. To help you drum up some fast funds to handle whatever emergency comes your way, here are five moves you can make. Try Peer-to-Peer Lending The kindness of strangers ...
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How to Find and Attract New Target Audiences

By James Mellor posted 11-13-2019
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If you own a business, you will want to advertise your products or services to audiences that want to buy them. It may seem obvious but to reach your target audiences, you first need to know who they are.  All too often, companies waste time and money talking about what is important to them and not to their customers. Customers want to know what you can do for them and how you can make their lives better. Identify your audience Using a tool like Google Analytics helps you to pinpoint exactly who is visiting your website and how they are getting there. Demographic data can provide audience insights.  You can find out where your visitors ...
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INFORMS Telecommunications and Network Analytics Conference

By Abdullah Konak posted 10-31-2019
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INFORMS Telecommunications and Network Analytics Conference will take place on 29 March - 1 April 2020 at Zuse Institute Berlin (http://informs_tnac2020.zib.de/). The conference is going to be focused on the theory and application of operations research and management science to problems in telecommunications and network analytics, with particular emphasis on new and emerging technologies. In addition, the conference is going to provide a platform for academics and industry working in telecommunications and network analytics to exchange ideas and initiate new collaborations, as in previous conferences. We are looking forward to welcoming you in Berlin! ...
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Four Tips for Cryptocurrency Trading

By James Mellor posted 10-31-2019
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Once you’ve decided to make a foray into the world of cryptocurrency trading, it’s time to make a start. There’s so much information out there. Often, it is contradictory and full of technical jargon that is hard to understand. Looking at it might make you wonder if your time wouldn’t be better spent elsewhere.   Don’t despair. Once you unravel the information about cryptocurrency, you might well be convinced to give it a try. If you’re one of these people, here are some tips:   Read all about it   There is so much information on the internet for you to access. A lot of sites have guidelines for novice traders. These guides take you ...
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Guide to Hiring a Caregiver

By James Mellor posted 10-28-2019
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When you need to hire a caregiver to provide in-home help, you want someone who provides a high level of care for an aging loved one and it helps if your loved one gets on well with the caregiver.  Finding a good caregiver is not always that easy – it can be an emotional exercise when you have a vested interest in the dignity and well-being of the person being cared for. Here are some steps to bear in mind to help you find the best caregiver.  Come up with a clear job description You need to carefully think through all the needs of your loved one to come up with a job description . It may help you to walk through a week of what you do as a ...
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Advances in Flashlight Technology

By James Mellor posted 10-21-2019
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Think back to the flashlights of your childhood and compare them to your options today. You’ll see that flashlight technology has made several advances since then.   The handy flashlight has been around for many decades. It has proven to be a staple household item. A flashlight is ideal for power cuts, hiking, and camping. Its light helps you to navigate your way around in the dark so that you don’t trip, fall, and hurt yourself.   Shining a light on the past   Conrad Hubert patented the first flashlight in 1898 . He was the founder of the American Ever-Ready Company. His Eveready flashlight was the first handheld flashlight to ...
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6 Tips to Understand Coding Better

By James Mellor posted 10-15-2019
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Teaching yourself to code may seem intimidating. Whether you’re a student, an adult wanting to transition into the tech industry, or someone wanting to understand how software works, all you need is a computer and internet access to start your coding journey. Here are some tips to help you start in the right way. Choose the right programming language Your reason for wanting to learn how to code can determine which programming language to tackle and what sort of time and money commitment this will require. Some languages are more user-friendly than others. HTML and CSS are easy but they are only useful for the most basic purposes. If you want ...
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How to be Comfortable and Healthy as You Age

By James Mellor posted 10-11-2019
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In old age, you should be able to enjoy your life. You are comfortable in your own skin and other people’s opinions do not matter as much as they did before. You have accumulated a wealth of wisdom and you should be free to do what you enjoy doing. However, people are often not as healthy or comfortable as they would like to be at this time in their lives. What can you do to make sure you’re able to enjoy your old age? Have a sense of purpose and stay connected A strong sense of purpose has a protective effect as you age. Staying in touch with family and friends and taking an active role in being a grandparent can help you to have a sense of purpose. ...
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Deadline approaching--The 2019 Pre-ICIS SIGBPS Workshop on Blockchain Technologies and Smart Contracts

By Kang Zhao posted 10-05-2019
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The 2019 Pre-ICIS SIGBPS Workshop on Blockchain Technologies and Smart Contracts Workshop Theme: Security and Trust in the Blockchain Era SIGBPS 2019: December 15, 2019, Munich, Germany (http://2019.sigbps.org/) SIGBPS workshops aim to extend the boundaries of research in business process management and services science by incorporating new elements that have not been sufficiently emphasized in the past. The recent rapid advances in information systems have created both challenges and opportunities to develop new business services via innovative business processes. This workshop promotes theoretical research in business process management and service ...
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