| Article ID: | iaor1998263 |
| Country: | United States |
| Volume: | 27 |
| Issue: | 1 |
| Start Page Number: | 7 |
| End Page Number: | 28 |
| Publication Date: | Jan 1997 |
| Journal: | Interfaces |
| Authors: | Gryffenberg Ivan, Lausberg Jean L., Smit Willem J., Uys Stephanus, Botha Sally, Hofmeyr F. Rauten, Nicolay Ruppert P., Merwe Willie L. van der, Wessels Gysbert J. |
| Keywords: | decision: applications |
In January 1994, the chief of the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) asked the question: ‘In the absence of a conventional military threat, what should the size and shape of the SANDF be?’ A joint SANDF and Deloitte and Touche team supported the joint strategic management process (JSMP) with OR/MS based decision support models. The team created the following models: a risk model of the probability and potential impact of various defense contingencies, a growth model of growth potential of force structure elements, a cost model (zero based), a mixed-integer-programming model of all the relationships, and a manual model allowing the user to select different tasks and strategies. The project resulted in a saving on the approved force design (size and shape) of more than 22 percent. The results indicate clear opportunities for major additional savings.