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Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business Uses Integer Programming to Form Equitable, Cohesive Student Teams

Operations and Decision Technologies, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405
S.C. Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853
S.C. Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853
rcutshal{at}indiana.edu
sg337{at}cornell.edu
ks28{at}cornell.edu

We used integer programming to form student teams for case studies in the integrated core courses at Indiana University. The previous assignment method achieved academic balance but was time consuming and limited. We developed and implemented an integer-programming-based computerized method for forming teams. It achieves equity in team members’ academic performance, functional diversity, and demographic balance. Students perceived the system as fairer than the previous method, and it forms teams of students that work better together. Students complain less about other team members, and the students and the instructors report improvement in their experience. Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business has adopted the integer-programming method for forming the teams for its I-core group of four courses.

Key Words: programming; integer; education systems; operations

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