Question

The scheduling sequencing rule which always results in the lowest average flow (flow) time is the:

A) critical ratio (CR).
B) shortest processing time (SPT).
C) minimum slack time (MST).
D) first come, first serve (FCFS).
E) earliest due date (EDD).

Answer 1

The shortest processing time (SPT) rule results in the lowest average flow time by prioritizing tasks based on their duration, tackling the shortest ones first to improve system efficiency.

Step-by-step explanation:

The scheduling sequencing rule which results in the lowest average flow time is B) shortest processing time (SPT).

This sequencing rule prioritizes jobs or tasks based on the duration it takes to complete them, with the shortest ones being dealt with first. By focusing on the shortest tasks initially, the SPT reduces the overall time that all tasks spend in the system (flow time), leading to an improvement in efficiency and productivity.

For instance, if you have tasks that take 2, 5, and 10 hours respectively, completing the 2-hour task first ensures that it doesn't have to wait behind longer tasks, thus minimizing the total time from the start of the first task to the completion of the last task. On the other hand, scheduling techniques like first come, first serve (FCFS) or earliest due date (EDD) might result in longer flow times because they do not take the length of the tasks into consideration when sequencing.