Location-Allocation Analysis of Retailing Using Microsoft Windows

Abstract

The chief objective of this research project is to provide a user-friendly graphical interface for location-allocation analysis of retailing. An application program named Loc is developed with Microsoft Windows. The application program allows a user to interactively supply the paramters for a location-allocation algorithm. It also presents maps and reports to assist users to analyze the results. The program serves very well as an instructional tool for the concepts of location-allocation analysis. It is also a tool for decision makers for conducting quick visual comparison of location plans. This paper is a description of the research project. The next secion introduces the basic concepts of location-allocation analysis in general and the application of such analysis to retailing. The third section describes the characteristics and functionalitites of the Loc program. Since the secondary objective of this research project is to explore the programming features of Microsoft Windows, the fourth section is a detailed discussion of the Windows programming environment and its object-oriented nature in particular. Some future enhancements of the application program are suggested in the last section.