Assignment-10 b

This is a review of the paper, "Use of Optimization Models in Public Sector Planning" by E. Downey Brill, Jr. published in Management Science, INFORMS in May, 1979.

The author discusses the use of multi-objective optimization methods in solving real time public sector planning. He is positive about the use of the optimization methods but in a limited perspective as most of the models in lieu of simplicity have a tendency to curtail some of the important decision elements which generally make the model complex. He also mentions that the use of trade-off curves and pareto fronts is limited as the exclusion of some important factors or an oversimplification may result the optimal solution to lie in the sub-optimal or inferior alternatives region than on the frontier of the so obtained trade-off curves. He also proposes the use of optimization schemes as tools in the planning process which is much more comprehensive and takes into account many factors which are not easily modelled.

Thoughts?
I completely agree with the author in the case of the scope of the use of optimization as tools in a comprehensive planning process with limited use. I also understand the fact that with advanced methods being developed optimization might have a fair chunk of a rational planning process the recent failures involving complex social models used in the optimization process may still allow us to think before we act.