Richard is the head designer for the Optimal Design Company and he must design the layout for a newly constructed office building. The following closeness matrix for daily trips between the offices is as follows:
Closeness matrix: Trips between departments
| Analyst |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
| A |
- |
25 |
90 |
|
|
185 |
| B |
|
- |
|
|
105 |
|
| C |
|
|
- |
|
125 |
125 |
| D |
|
|
|
- |
25 |
|
| E |
|
|
|
|
- |
125 |
| F |
|
|
|
|
|
- |
(a) If other factors are equal, which two offices should be closest together?
(b) The following is an alternative layout or the department.
What is the total weighted distance score for this plan based on rectilinear distance and assuming that offices A and B are three units of distance apart?