Queing Two Real World Organizations That Immediately

Queing

Two real world organizations that immediately come to mind when thinking of the most common 'standing in line' scenarios are, of course, the military (the ultimate in hurry up and wait situations) and amusement parks; where people stand in numerous, long, snaking lines of little movement in order to achieve a few seconds of fleeting pleasure, only to be caught up in the same scenario again, and again, and again. Each situation seems (to those who are unfortunate enough to be caught in either situation) to provide enough frustration to light a powder keg of incivility.

The type of queing used at amusement parks is necessarily one that cannot be lightly modified. This system of queing can best be described as a single line -- single server model. The ride or amusement at the end of the line rainbow is so large that it cannot be broken down into multiple sections, unless of course, one would consider rides like the roller coaster, and then it would depend on if you were describing the ride as a single entity or a multiple-point entity. For the sake of this discussion the rides are considered as single entities no matter how many individuals are able to enjoy the ride at the same time. It is more of a single line of participants entering a single server entity.

Of course, one could also describe the roller coaster as a multiple-server, single stage que. If one were to think of the individuals in line being allowed entrance singly into the staging area, and then as the roller coaster entered, spewing forth its previous cargo, allowed to enter the various cars from the staging area, that would change the description immensely. Either description would depend on how the participants were allowed to enter the cars of the roller coaster. Each of the various rides at the park would have to be evaluated as to usage, popularity and numbers.

Once those numbers were determined, the queing method most likely to generate the quickest movement of customers through the rides would be implemented; though the people in line surely would think the exact opposite was true.

The military, on the other hand, has a different objective all together. The motto of 'hurry up and wait" rings very true when one finds oneself in a military environment. As an example; chow time, this is a revered time for most military men. As the time for meals draws near, an observer would notice that there was an anxiety filling the air, a feeling of being late, a feeling of hurried actions. One might also notice that it affects all participants and that they seem to be drawn towards a building from which indiscriminate smells are wafting. There seems to be an expectation in the way the men are drawn, as if they were flies to a web.