Arrays and References in Resource Aware ML

This article introduces a technique to accurately perform static prediction of resource usage for ML-like functional programs with references and arrays. Previous research successfully integrated the potential method of amortized analysis with a standard type system to automatically derive parametric resource bounds. The analysis is naturally compositional and the resource consumption of functions can be abstracted using potential-annotated types. The soundness theorem of the analysis guarantees that the derived bounds are correct with respect to the resource usage defined by a cost semantics. Type inference can be efficiently automated using off-the-shelf LP solvers, even if the derived bounds are polynomials. However, side effects and aliasing of heap references make it notoriously difficult to derive bounds that depend on mutable structures, such as arrays and references. As a result, existing automatic amortized analysis systems for ML-like programs cannot derive bounds for programs whose resource consumption depends on data in such structures. This article extends the potential method to handle mutable structures with minimal changes to the type rules while preserving the stated advantages of amortized analysis. To do so, we introduce a swap operation for references and arrays that users can use to make programs suitable for automatic analysis. We prove the soundness of the analysis introducing a potential-annotated memory typing, which gathers all unique locations reachable from a reference. Apart from the design of the system, the main contribution is the proof of soundness for the extended analysis system

The joint effects of customer profitability reports and sales support diversity in effective customer pricing

This paper experimentally investigates the value-enhancing effects of more accurate customer profitability analysis (CuPA) reports on customer pricing decisions and firm profitability when customers place different demands on the firm's support functions. Activity-based driven CuPA reports are contrasted against less accurate reports, either based on traditional volume-based costing or on aggregated feedback. Cost complexity of the environment was further varied by either low or high diversity in resource usage across customers depending on whether or not the most costly type of customer always consumed more resources in each of the various support functions of the firm. Results suggest that the diversity in resource requirements serves as an important 'contextual factor' for CuPA to have incremental value over the less accurate report types. Only when usage of sales support becomes more diverse, CuPA provides strong opportunities for learning resulting in more effective customer pricing and profit improvement. Results further show some profit benefits of volume-based costing reports. Even though cost allocations are more distorted, they still perform better than aggregated reports that do not allocate marketing overhead, but only in a more complex cost settings. Keywords: Customer profitability, pricing, sales support diversity, decision making. JEL-classification: C91, D83, M31, M41, M4

Resource Access with Variably Typed Return

Peer reviewedPreprin

A Calculus of Bounded Capacities

Resource control has attracted increasing interest in foundational research on distributed systems. This paper focuses on space control and develops an analysis of space usage in the context of an ambient-like calculus with bounded capacities and weighed processes, where migration and activation require space. A type system complements the dynamics of the calculus by providing static guarantees that the intended capacity bounds are preserved throughout the computation

Space-Aware Ambients and Processes

Resource control has attracted increasing interest in foundational research on distributed systems. This paper focuses on space control and develops an analysis of space usage in the context of an ambient-like calculus with bounded capacities and weighed processes, where migration and activation require space. A type system complements the dynamics of the calculus by providing static guarantees that the intended capacity bounds are preserved throughout the computation

Employee Voice, Human Resource Practices, and Quit Rates: Evidence from the Telecommunications Industry

In this paper, we examine the predictors of aggregate quit rates at the establishment level. We draw on strategic human resource and industrial relations theory to identify the sets of employee voice mechanisms and human resource practices that are likely to predict quit rates. With respect to alternative voice mechanisms, we find that union representation significantly predicts lower quit rates after controlling for compensation and a wide range of other human resource practices that may be affected by collective bargaining. Direct participation via offline problem-solving groups and self-directed teams is significantly negatively related to quit rates,but non-union dispute resolution procedures are not. In addition, higher relative wages and internal promotion policies significantly predict lower quit rates, while contingent staffing, electronic monitoring, and variable pay predict significantly higher rates

The value of more accurate customer profitability reports: Does cost complexity matter?.

This paper reports experimental evidence on the potential benefits of reporting different levels of customer-related information in a pricing decision context. The paper mainly focuses on the influence of the complexity of the cost environment -measured by the degree of heterogeneity across customers- on the value of more accurate customer profitability systems. Contrary to the findings of Gupta & King (1997) our results indicate that the value of more accurate cost reports increases, as the cost environment becomes more complex. In addition we find that, compared to a situation where decision makers receive only general profit feedback, reports based on traditional costing systems improve the quality of the pricing decision only in a complex cost environment.Activity based costing; Complexity; Cost complexity; Decision; Decision making; Information; Price setting; Pricing; Profitability; Reporting; Systems; Value;