A multi-objective approach to the cash management problem

Abstract

Cash management is concerned with optimizing costs of short-term cash policies of a company. Different optimization models have been proposed in the literature whose focus has been only placed on a single objective, namely, on minimizing costs. However, cash managers may also be interested in risk associated to cash policies. In this paper, we propose a multi-objective cash management model based on compromise programming that allows cash managers to select the best policies, in terms of cost and risk, according to their risk preferences. The model is illustrated through several examples using real data from an industrial company, alternative cost scenarios and two different measures of risk. As a result, we provide cash managers with a new tool to allow them deciding on the level of risk to take in daily decision-making.