Abstract
This paper critically examines the weighted sample average approximation (wSAA) framework, a widely used approach in prescriptive analytics for managing uncertain optimization problems featuring non-linear objectives. Our research pinpoints a key deficiency of the wSAA framework: when data samples are limited, the minimum relative regret—the discrepancy between the expected optimal profit realized by an oracle aware of the genuine distribution, and the maximum expected out-of-sample profit garnered by the data-driven policy, normalized by the former profit—can approach towards one. To validate this assertion, we scrutinize two distinct contextual stochastic optimization problems—the production decision-making problem and the ship maintenance optimization problem—within the wSAA framework. Our study exposes a potential deficiency of the wSAA framework: its decision performance markedly deviates from the full-information optimal solution under limited data samples. This finding offers valuable insights to both researchers and practitioners employing the wSAA framework.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 8355 |
Journal | Applied Sciences (Switzerland) |
Volume | 13 |
Issue number | 14 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jul 2023 |
Keywords
- data-driven optimization
- limited data
- prescriptive analytics
- weighted sample average approximation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Materials Science
- Instrumentation
- General Engineering
- Process Chemistry and Technology
- Computer Science Applications
- Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes