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ASP, The Art and Science of Practice: Elements of a Theory of the Practice of Operations Research: Expertise in Practice

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  • Frederic H. Murphy

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

Abstract

This is the second paper in a series of three (Murphy 2005a, b) on the practice of operations research. In the first paper I described an overall framework for a theory of practice and discussed the potential of cognitive science as an organizing framework of the knowledge and skills that make for good practice. Expertise in the context of OR practice consists of technical knowledge, institutional knowledge, and procedures and heuristics for bringing that knowledge to bear on the problem at hand and organizational issues. I illustrate technical expertise and heuristics using linear programming modeling and infeasibility analysis. Soft-OR techniques are useful for developing an understanding of the more complex and ill-formed issues an organization faces.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orinte:v:35:y:2005:i:4:p:313-322
    DOI: 10.1287/inte.1050.0146
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. James S. Hodges, 1991. "Six (Or So) Things You Can Do with a Bad Model," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 39(3), pages 355-365, June.
    2. William B. Roush & Robert H. Stock & Terri L. Cravener & Thomas H. D'Alfonso, 1994. "Using Chance-Constrained Programming for Animal Feed Formulation at Agway," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 24(2), pages 53-58, April.
    3. Thomas R. Willemain, 1995. "Model Formulation: What Experts Think About and When," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 43(6), pages 916-932, December.
    4. Richard J. Ormerod, 1996. "Information Systems Strategy Development at Sainsbury's Supermarkets Using “Soft” OR," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 26(1), pages 102-130, February.
    5. Graeme S. Pauley & Richard J. Ormerod, 1998. "The Evolution of a Performance Measurement Project at RTZ," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 28(4), pages 94-118, August.
    6. Steven O. Kimbrough & Frederic H. Murphy, 2005. "A Study of the Philadelphia Knowledge Economy," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 35(3), pages 248-259, June.
    7. Paul F. Dickens III & David L. McNicol & Frederic H. Murphy & Julie H. Zalkind, 1983. "Net Effects of Government Interventionin Energy Markets," The Energy Journal, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Number 2), pages 135-150.
    8. Harvey J. Greenberg, 1993. "How to Analyze the Results of Linear Programs—Part 3: Infeasibility Diagnosis," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 23(6), pages 120-139, December.
    9. 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.
    10. 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.
    11. Bruce A. McCarl, 1998. "Repairing Misbehaving Mathematical Programming Models: Concepts and a GAMS-Based Approach," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 28(5), pages 124-138, October.
    12. Christine A. Fossett & Dale Harrison & Harry Weintrob & Saul I. Gass, 1991. "An Assessment Procedure for Simulation Models: A Case Study," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 39(5), pages 710-723, October.
    13. Frederic H. Murphy & Susan H. Shaw, 1995. "The Evolution of Energy Modeling at the Federal Energy Administration and the Energy Information Administration," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 25(5), pages 173-193, October.
    14. I Munro & J Mingers, 2004. "Response to Richard Ormerod," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 55(1), pages 90-93, January.
    15. Joyce S. Mehring & Milton M. Gutterman, 1990. "Supply and Distribution Planning Support for Amoco (U.K.) Limited," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 20(4), pages 95-104, August.
    16. Saul I. Gass, 1983. "Feature Article—Decision-Aiding Models: Validation, Assessment, and Related Issues for Policy Analysis," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 31(4), pages 603-631, August.
    17. Thomas R. Willemain, 1994. "Insights on Modeling from a Dozen Experts," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 42(2), pages 213-222, April.
    18. 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. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. 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.
    6. 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.
    7. 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.
    8. 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.
    9. 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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