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ASP, The Art and Science of Practice: Elements of a Theory of the Practice of Operations Research: A Framework

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  • Frederic H. Murphy

    (Fox School of Business and Management, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122)

Abstract

The ultimate value of operations research (OR) is making real differences in organizations. Yet little has been written on how one becomes good at doing OR and successful in practice. I propose a framework for understanding what makes good practice and an expert practitioner that encompasses the technical skills required to do OR through the managerial and marketing skills necessary to run an OR enterprise. The potential for success with OR methods depends on the nature of the problem, whether the initial and goal states are well defined or ill defined. The tools of artificial intelligence are useful for organizing the expertise in being a successful practitioner.

Suggested Citation

  • Frederic H. Murphy, 2005. "ASP, The Art and Science of Practice: Elements of a Theory of the Practice of Operations Research: A Framework," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 35(2), pages 154-163, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orinte:v:35:y:2005:i:2:p:154-163
    DOI: 10.1287/inte.1050.0126
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gerald F. Smith, 1989. "Defining Managerial Problems: A Framework for Prescriptive Theorizing," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 35(8), pages 963-981, August.
    2. R J Ormerod, 2002. "On the nature of OR: taking stock," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 53(5), pages 475-491, May.
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    5. Scott Andrews & Frederic H. Murphy & Xiao Pei Wang & Steve Welch, 1996. "Modeling Crude Oil Lightering in Delaware Bay," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 26(6), pages 68-78, December.
    6. Frederic H. Murphy & Venkat Panchanadam, 1999. "Using Analogical Reasoning and Schema Formation to Improve the Success in Formulating Linear Programming Models," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 47(5), pages 663-674, October.
    7. Corbett, Charles J. & Overmeer, Willem J. A. M. & Van Wassenhove, Luk N., 1995. "Strands of practice in OR (the practitioner's dilemma)," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 87(3), pages 484-499, December.
    8. Robert E. D. Woolsey, 1998. "The Fifth Column: On Doing Well by Doing Good and an Offer of Free Education," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 28(2), pages 99-103, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Matthew J. Drake, 2019. "Teaching OR/MS with Cases: A Review and New Suggestions," INFORMS Transactions on Education, INFORMS, vol. 19(2), pages 57-66, January.
    2. Frederic H. Murphy, 2005. "ASP, The Art and Science of Practice: Elements of a Theory of the Practice of Operations Research: Expertise in Practice," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 35(4), pages 313-322, August.
    3. Patrick Hew, 2007. "ASP, The Art and Science of Practice: Direct Advisors vs. Tool Developers---Implications for Practice," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 37(3), pages 279-284, June.
    4. V J Mabin & J Davies & S Kim, 2009. "Rethinking tradeoffs and OR/MS methodology," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 60(10), pages 1384-1395, October.
    5. Franco, L. Alberto & Greiffenhagen, Christian, 2018. "Making OR practice visible: Using ethnomethodology to analyse facilitated modelling workshops," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 265(2), pages 673-684.
    6. Paucar-Caceres, Alberto, 2010. "Mapping the changes in management science: A review of 'soft' OR/MS articles published in Omega (1973-2008)," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 38(1-2), pages 46-56, February.
    7. S Robinson, 2007. "PSMs: looking in from the outside," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 58(5), pages 689-691, May.
    8. R. John Milne & Amy K. Zander, 2012. "Operations Research Capstone Courses for Business Majors with Analytical Backgrounds," INFORMS Transactions on Education, INFORMS, vol. 13(1), pages 2-9, September.
    9. Frederic H. Murphy, 2005. "ASP, The Art and Science of Practice: Elements of a Theory of the Practice of Operations Research: Practice as a Business," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 35(6), pages 524-530, December.
    10. Merrick, James H. & Weyant, John P., 2019. "On choosing the resolution of normative models," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 279(2), pages 511-523.

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