Rotation as contagion mitigation

Jeffrey Ely, Andrea Galeotti, Jakub Steiner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

To prevent the spread of an infection, an organization obeys social distancing restrictions and thus limits the number of its members physically present on a given day. We study rotation schemes in which mutually exclusive groups are active on different days. The frequency of rotation affects risk over the duration of diffusion prior to the time the organization is able to react to the infection. If this reaction time is speedy, then such risk is undesirable because prevalence is initially convex in time. In this case, frequent rotation acts as insurance against exposure-time risk and is optimal. Infrequent rotation becomes optimal if the organization reacts slowly. Cross-mixing of the rotating subpopulations is detrimental because it increases contacts between sick and healthy individuals. However, the effect of mixing is small if the terminal prevalence is low in the absence of mixing.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3117-3126
Number of pages10
JournalManagement Science
Volume67
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2021

Funding

History: Accepted by Joshua Gans, business strategy. Funding: J. Steiner acknowledges support from the European Research Council [Grant 770652] and the Experentia Foundation, and A. Galeotti acknowledges support from the European Research Council [Grant 724356].

Keywords

  • Covid-19
  • Epidemiological risk management
  • Firm objectives
  • Industrial organization
  • Organization and behavior
  • Production-scheduling

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Strategy and Management
  • Management Science and Operations Research

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