Returns on investments in management sciences: six case studies

Ernst S. Valfer; Malcolm W. Kirby; Gideon Schwarzbart

doi:10.2737/PSW-GTR-52

Treesearch

Returns on investments in management sciences: six case studies

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Ernst S. Valfer, Malcolm W. Kirby, Gideon Schwarzbart

Year:

1981

Type:

General Technical Report

Station:

Pacific Southwest Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2737/PSW-GTR-52

Source:

Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-52. Berkeley, Calif.: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Exp. Stn. 14 p

Download (PDF 423 KB)

Download (PDF 423 KB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/27000.pdf

Abstract

In 1962, the Management Sciences Staff was organized in Berkeley, Calif., as the internal consultant to the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. From then until 1979, the Staff conducted 41 major studies. Although the rate of implementing recommendations from these studies was high, a more formal self-assessment was considered advisable. The following six case studies with the largest investment were analyzed: size of Ranger Districts, solid waste management, radio telecommunications design and management, computer support systems, ADVENT, and rock aggregates transport. The results suggest that all six studies have proved to be good management investments.

Keywords

cost/benefit analysis, investment analysis, engineering economics, Management Sciences studies, return on investment, research evaluation

Citation

Valfer, Ernst S.; Kirby, Malcolm W.; Schwarzbart, Gideon. 1981. Returns on investments in management sciences: six case studies. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-52. Berkeley, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station. 14 p.