Economic theory is growing not only in depth but in the breadth of its application as well. This study encroaches in part on a field normally considered as the domain of Sociology. But the methods applied here are those of mathematical economics. It has not been my ambition to make this as general and as mathe matically demanding as possible. On the contrary, I wanted to present as simple an argument as possible throughout. I wish to thank Brown University for granting me a Sabbatical leave in the Fall of 1977-78 in the course of which I wrote the first draft of this monograph. I am also...

Experts in operations research and developers of software application systems have been treading separate paths for many years. It is urgently necessary to reset this course so that the demanding requirements of variousCIM concepts can be realized. This is specially relevant for computer-based stock management. Both authors, with a number of years of practical experience behind them, have written this book with this objective in mind. The book shows how modern inventory control can be rationally structured with the help of OR. Two aspects are given importance:1) the necessary mathematical...

Einleitung Ich stehe am Rand einer StraBe, die ich iiberqueren m6chte und blicke auf die FuBgangerampel, die auf der anderen StraBenseite steht. Die Ampel ist rot. Ich stelle meine Tasche ab, warte einige Sekunden und schaue dann emeut auf die Ampel. Ich sehe, daB sie mittlerweile auf griin umgeschaltet hat, nehme meine Tasche und beginne, die StraBe zu iiberqueren. Welche Erklarung wiirde ein zufalliger Beobachter dieser kleinen Szene flir mein Verhalten am StraBenrand finden? Er wird mir zweifellos bestimmte Wahrnehmungs eindriicke, Wiinsche oder Meinungen zuschreiben, die seiner Ansicht...