optimization

Today, I was discussing a dilemma I’ve been struggling with.  When funding gets tight, you constantly have to evaluate whether certain equipment or services are really worth the cost. When money is specifically laid out for some purpose, it’s a very easy decision to make.  If you have to spend the money on a widget, and money not spent on that widget must be returned to the funding agency, the question is a no-brainer.  You buy the best thing that you can get.  However, when the money is coming out of a general use fund and could potentially be used for a lot of things, it becomes the kind of question that leaves you in mental gridlock. I was discussing the problem with a couple colleagues, and one surprised me by saying, “I’m a died-in-the-wool engineer.  I believe that you should get the best equipment you can possibly afford.” I’m […]