Continuous personnel scheduling algorithms: a literature review

Hospitals frequently use personnel scheduling options as recruiting and retention instruments. The successful application of these personnel scheduling tools, whether developed in-house or purchased from vendors, requires appreciation of the interrelationships of three basic manpower decisions--staffing, personnel scheduling, and allocation. This article introduces these basic relationships and their influence on the development of satisfactory personnel schedules. Next, it reviews published personnel scheduling algorithms, applicable to hospital operations, within the context of the three manpower decisions. It is proposed that scheduling algorithms be classified by type of schedule produced (cyclic or noncyclic); and technique used (heuristic, mathematical programming, or self-scheduling). The characteristics of each classification are discussed. Considerations for the development of new personnel scheduling algorithms are also presented.