Dear list members,
Please find details about the next Problem Structuring Methods SIG event below and in the attached flyer.
Best wishes, Alberto
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L. Alberto Franco, PhD
Professor of Management Sciences
School of Business and Economics
Loughborough University
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The Problem Structuring Methods Special Interest Group is pleased to announce the following event
Best Problem Structuring in Practice:
Sharing lessons from analysts, consultants and researchers
Ian Mitchell, Rob Angell and Colin Eden
27th November 2013, 4.00-6.00 pm at De Montfort University.
Room 3.04 Hugh Aston Building
There is a growing awareness amongst the OR profession that the range of techniques utilised by the Soft OR and Problem Structuring Methods
community in general can be pivotal in ensuring commitment to the development and implementation of strategies and plans. These techniques have been successfully employed in a whole range of organisational settings including: multi-national corporations, national
chains, SME’s, community associations, nationally and locally government-funded projects.
You are invited to the latest event organised by the Problem Structuring Methods Special Interest Group. We have invited three experienced
users of problem structuring approaches to share lessons of best practice.
Talk 1: Systems-based Problem Structuring from the Analyst's Perspective: Establishing the basis for discussion of a basis for decision
Speaker:
Ian Mitchell has worked in Operational Research (OR) since 1988. In 1993 whilst an independent OR consultant Ian found Problem Structuring Methods based on Systems Thinking were essential to support a study for the European Space Agency. As of 1994 he
managed the Battle Group War Game, leading infantry studies. Ian moved to Porton Down in 1998 managing force protection studies until 2000 when he was seconded as an OR specialist in Whitehall, where restructuring problems as systems led to a new resilient
basis for decisions in capability management. Ian joined the OR Unit at the Department for Business Innovation and Skills in 2010 applying Problem Structuring Methods to a broad range of policy areas.
Talk 2:
A Practitioner’s Perspective: Working with multi-party processes to help decision making.
Speaker:
Rob Angell has been the lead facilitator and process consultant for a range of clients to deliberately involve stakeholders in formulating environmental decisions or resolving conflicts, strategy development and visioning. Examples include identification
of marine conservation zones, precautionary measures for electromagnetic radiation, policy & strategy development on waste management and decommissioning approaches for nuclear power stations. He has run several sessions as part of longer term processes to
help set horizons in business strategies and community visions. He has also designed and run European wide e-consultations for WWF and run training courses for the public, private and community sectors on participation in decision making, facilitation skills
and the design and management of stakeholder processes.
Talk 3:
An Action Researcher’s Perspective: Negotiating a problem structure
Speaker:
Colin Eden started his working life as an Operational Researcher in the engineering industry following his PhD,
subsequently becoming Operational Research Manager. This was followed by a period as a Management Consultant specialising in small business problems. He then moved to academia and is currently Professor of Management Science and Strategic Management, Vice
Dean at Strathclyde Business School. Colin is internationally known for his work in the areas of Problem Structuring Methods, Research Methodology, Project Management and Strategic Management. He has published over 180 articles in general management, management
science, and project management journals. He has published 10 books, including: Visible Thinking: Unlocking Causal Mapping for practical business results, 2004, Wiley (with F. Ackermann, J Bryson and C. Finn), and Making Strategy: Mapping out strategic success,
2010, Wiley (with F Ackermann). His published work in PSM started with Messing About in Problems published in 1983 with David Sims and Sue Jones which introduced cognitive mapping as a way of capturing the views of managers about a problem situation. He continues
to work in public and private organisations using causal mapping techniques as a part of work on strategic problems.
We hope you’ll agree this is an excellent set of speakers. Hearing their experiences will help you make the connection between some of
the problem structuring approaches presented in the literature and your area of application. You will also be able to seek support from the many practitioners who will be present.
Contact Details:
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Ashley Carreras,
SIG Chair +44 (0) 116 207 8224 Dept. of Strategic Management and Marketing Hugh Aston Building
Leicester Business School
De Montfort University The Gateway
Leicester LE2 7BQ, UK
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L. Alberto Franco,
SIG Co-Secretary +44 (0) 1509 228 004 School of Business and Economics Management Science & Operations Management Group Loughborough University Leicestershire LE11 3TU, UK |
Giles Hindle,
SIG Co-Secretary +44 (0) 1482 463457 Centre for Systems Studies Hull University Business School University of Hull Hull HU6 7RX, UK |
Venue: Room 3.04 Hugh Aston
Building, De Montfort University (Building 18 on Campus map follow directions link)
Directions:
http://www.dmu.ac.uk/documents/about-dmu-documents/how-to-find-us/august-2013-dmuaccess-map.pdf
Refreshments will be provided.
The event is open to all members of the OR Society, as well as the general public.
In order to reserve your place please reply to Ashley Carreras
[log in to unmask].no later than 31st October
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After the event, there will be a short meeting of the SIG committee. The meeting is open to OR practitioners and academics
who wish to contribute ideas for organising future SIG events, or provide support to SIG activities by joining the committee. |