Title: A teaching exercise for the travelling salesman problem with time windows using real-world data

Authors: Stephen E. Hill; Marco Lam

Addresses: Information Systems and Operations Management Department, University of North Carolina Wilmington, 601 South College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403-5611, USA ' Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, and Economics Department, Western Carolina University, Forsyth 124, Cullowhee, NC 28723, USA

Abstract: This article describes an exercise that can be used to teach concepts related to the travelling salesman problem, the travelling salesman problem with time windows, and heuristic solution development. Data from a real-world, parcel delivery service problem instance is used. The exercise is described and results from a brief survey of student experiences from test runs of the exercise are presented. A sample student handout for the exercise is provided.

Keywords: business education; teaching case studies; transport; distribution; travelling salesman problem; TSP; teaching exercises; time windows; TSPTW; heuristics; parcel delivery services; student experience; student handouts.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIOME.2014.067566

International Journal of Information and Operations Management Education, 2014 Vol.5 No.4, pp.363 - 375

Received: 26 May 2014
Accepted: 09 Sep 2014
Published online: 17 Feb 2015 *

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