Cara Ryder manages a ski school in a large resort and is trying to develop a schedule for instructors. The instructors receive little salary and work just enough to earn room and board. They receive free skiing and spend most of their free time tackling the resort's notorious double black diamond slopes. Hence, the instructors work only 4 days a week. One of the lesson packages offered at the resort is a 5-day beginner package. Ryder likes to keep the same instructor with a group over the 4 day period, so she schedules the instructors for 4 consecutive days and then 3 days off. Ryder uses years of experience with demand forecasts provided by management to formulate her instructor requirements for the upcoming month.
Day M T W Th F S Su
Requirements 7 5 4 5 6 9 8
a. Determine how many instructors Ryder needs to employ. Give preference to Saturday and Sunday off. (Hint: Look for the group of 4 days with the lowest requirements.)
b. Specify the work schedule for each employee. How much slack does your schedule generate for each day?