A roommate problem and room allocation in dormitories using mathematical modeling and multi-attribute decision-making techniques
Abstract
Purpose
In recent decades, the student population in dormitories has increased notably, primarily attributed to the growing number of international students. Dormitories serve as pivotal environments for student development. The coordination and compatibility among students can significantly influence their overall success. This study aims to introduce an innovative method for roommate selection and room allocation within dormitory settings.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, initially, using multi-attribute decision-making methods including the Bayesian best-worst method and weighted aggregated sum product assessment, the incompatibility rate among pairs of students is calculated. Subsequently, using a linear mathematical model, roommates are selected and allocated to dormitory rooms pursuing the twin objectives of minimizing the total incompatibility rate and costs. Finally, the grasshopper optimization algorithm is applied to solve large-sized instances.
Findings
The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in comparison to two common alternatives, i.e. random allocation and preference-based allocation. Moreover, the proposed method’s applicability extends beyond its current context, making it suitable for addressing various matching problems, including crew pairing and classmate pairing.
Originality/value
This novel method for roommate selection and room allocation enhances decision-making for optimal dormitory arrangements. Inspired by a real-world problem faced by the authors, this study strives to offer a robust solution to this problem.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Funding: No specific grant was given to this research by funding organizations in the public, private or not-for-profit sectors.
Declaration of competing interest: None.
Declaration of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process: The authors used Chat-GPT Version 3.5 during the writing of the study to enhance readability and language. The authors examine and amend the text as necessary after using this service, and they are solely responsible for the publication’s content.
Citation
Khalili-Fard, A., Tavakkoli-Moghaddam, R., Abdali, N., Alipour-Vaezi, M. and Bozorgi-Amiri, A. (2024), "A roommate problem and room allocation in dormitories using mathematical modeling and multi-attribute decision-making techniques", Journal of Modelling in Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/JM2-09-2023-0214
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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