1. Approximating Maximum Satisfaction in Group Formation
Sean Munson, Grant Hutchins Olin College Exposition 21 December 2004
Design • Lifelong Learning • Communication • Qualitative Analysis

2. Maximize happiness, or satisfaction Input
goal
Maximize happiness, or satisfaction
Input
Preferences: -1, 0, or 1 for each person
Worked with before
Work style preferences
Satisfaction: how many preferences you meet

3. satisfaction Maximize this for each set of teams
For each team, the sum of how each person feels about the each other person in the group.
Maximize this for each set of teams +1 -1 +1 -1 -1
= -2 +1 -1 -1

4. possible combinations in our class
Teams of 4:
Teams of 2:

5. approximations

6. form teams of three based on preferences

7. chain approximation 1 1 -5 -2 -2 3

8. chain approximation 1 1 -5 -2 -2 3

9. chain approximation 1 1 -5 -2 -2 3

10. chain approximation Fast, simple
Variation: choose on most popular or pickiness
Problem: only looks at one person’s preferences at a time

11. group approximation, teams of 3

12. 1 1 -5 -2 -2 3

13. 1 1 -5 -2 -2 3

14. 1 1 -5 -2 -2 3

15. 1 1 -5 -2 -2 3

16. -5 3 1 1 -2 -2

17. -5 3 1 1 -2 -2

18. -5 3 1 1 -2 -2

19. -5 3 1 1 -2 -2

20. group approximation
Includes everyone’s preferences
Still explores very little space

21. hill climbing

22. hill climbing A D G B E H C F I 10 4 3

23. hill climbing A D G B E H C F I 10 4 3

24. hill climbing F A G B D I H C E 10 4 3

25. hill climbing F A G B D I H C E 10 6 5

26. results: prediction accurate?

27. results

28. Assess more seed and convergent processes
future work?
Assess more seed and convergent processes
Weight edges based on prior experience
Break ties with work style
Conduct long-term study to evaluate performance of formed teams
Evaluate effects of number of preferences expressed

29. questions