ABSTRACT Human Resource Allocation (HRA) can be defined as the way professionals are distributed across the organization’s tasks, given that each individual has his/her own set of characteristics, and that each task has specific needs. Thus, this paper puts forward a mathematical programming model for allocating human resources that considers employees’ formal qualifications and experience and the possibility of employees sharing tasks in each project. The proposed mathematical model was designed and implemented according to a set of heuristics based on a Greedy Search (GS), a Genetic Algorithm, a Cosine Pigeon- Inspired Optimizer and an Iterated Local Search (ILS), to solve small, medium and large random instances. Thus, it was verified which of the heuristics had the best performance according to certain indicators, such as resolution time and average quality of the solutions found. Finally, they were also compared with the optimal solution obtained for small and medium-sized instances, with the best average results to ILS, although these are not too far from those of the GS.

ABSTRACT This study associates graph theory and a multi-criteria decision aid technique, presenting a different process for doing the investigation of criminal networks. In the criminal subject, privacy concerns limit identification. For this reason, the database composed of 110 actors, involving criminals and peripheral characters to the network, was identified by numbers, without names and penalties. The discrimination of critical actors in criminal networks can help law enforcement officers to conduct a more detailed investigation for their disruption. Communication between drug traffickers was transformed into different centrality indices for each actor in their social network. Centralities and actors compose a decision matrix, analyzed by the Composition of Probabilistic Preferences to identify the most relevant actors in the criminal network. Results indicated that the five actors highlighted in the real investigation have a clear distinction of importance in the network, which in a way have been ratified.

Abstract Paper aims This paper proposes a multicriteria decision approach for supplier selection using a multicriteria method based on Flexible and Interactive Tradeoff (FITradeoff) elicitation process, within the ranking problematic perspective. Originality This paper develops a framework integrating the results of VFT (Value-Focused Thinking) method with the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) dimension and the veto concept to improve the decision process within a multicriteria perspective. Research method This study provides a case study in a textile company in Campina Grande, northeast Brazil using data mainly from semi-structured interviews. It also employs quantitative techniques based on problem structuring methods and multicriteria decision making. Main findings The VFT helped in identifying criteria that are not yet explored by the company, and in structuring the decision problem of how incorporate and balance the TBL dimensions. The recommendation obtained by using the proposed multicriteria decision framework is different from the group of suppliers currently used by the company. Implications for theory and practice Clarify and identify different objectives and to specify the consequences of a decision problem, allowing the Decision Maker (DM) to obtain and prioritize an economic and sustainable solution for a given number of suppliers to be selected, saving his time and effort.