A goal programming approach to address the proposal selection problem: a case study of a clinical and translational science institute

Abstract

AbstractOne of the most challenging tasks faced by healthcare organizations is to properly allocate resources that support the accomplishment of their organizational strategy. This challenge is particularly pressing for healthcare organizations that provide funding through call for proposals processes. In this study, we propose a goal programming (GP) model for the proposal selection problem within a clinical and translational science institute (CTSI) in an academic institution. The proposed GP model seeks to formalize and operationalize the strategy and long‐term vision of the healthcare organization into the selection of a mix of proposals. A case study is presented to illustrate the practical use of the GP model. Additionally, this model was validated using real data from a recent call for proposal cycle at the Pennsylvania State University CTSI. The results provided a match on seven of the nine selected proposals from a pool of 24.