Which of the following CPU scheduling algorithms is designed to minimize the average waiting time for processes?

Shortest Job First (SJF) is a non-preemptive scheduling algorithm that selects the process with the smallest execution time to execute next. This strategy minimizes the average waiting time for processes in the ready queue. By servicing shorter jobs first, SJF effectively reduces the time that other processes have to wait, leading to improved overall efficiency in the system. It is particularly effective in batch processing systems where the execution time of processes can be reliably estimated. Option A (FCFS) is incorrect because, while it is simple and fair, it does not optimize waiting time. In fact, it can lead to the "convoy effect," where shorter processes are stuck waiting for longer ones to complete. Option C (Round Robin) is incorrect because it is designed for time-sharing environments and aims to provide fairness by allocating time slices to each process, which may not minimize waiting time. Option D (Priority Scheduling) can lead to starvation, where lower-priority processes may wait indefinitely, thereby not guaranteeing minimal average waiting time. Option E (LIFO) is incorrect as it is not a standard CPU scheduling algorithm used for process management in operating systems and can lead to inefficient waiting times.