Multi-Objective Optimization of Nurse Scheduling Problem by Modeling Teamwork and Decision Making Style

Abstract

This study presents a multi-objective nurse scheduling model by considering and integrating teamwork and decision making styles in order to maximize job satisfaction. To achieve high job satisfaction, teamwork which minimizes incompatibility among team members is considered. Teamwork has sustainable impact on job satisfaction in healthcare. In this study, a new mathematical model is proposed for scheduling nurses based on teamwork. First, nursing teams are generated by considering decision making styles. Then, each team is assigned to work shifts in the planning horizon. The unique multi-objective mathematical model considers the inconsistency of nurses’ decision making styles, reliability of teams, allocation costs and penalty of violating soft constraints as the objective functions. A real case study is considered to show the applicability of the proposed model. Finally, the proposed multi objective model is solved using goal programming method. Sensitivity analysis shows the robustness of the proposed mathematical programming model and solution methodology.