Processes of engagement and methodology design in Community Operational Research – Insights from the indigenous peoples sector

This paper seeks to explore and illustrate the proposition that although the Community Operational Research field has developed intellectually over recent years, and has generated useful knowledge about how particular OR methods and techniques can be brought to bear upon a wide range of community-based problems, more needs to be known about the underlying experiences and challenges that are associated with carrying out work of this nature. We argue that surfacing, reflecting upon and raising awareness of these aspects is important in furthering the development of the field. The paper focuses on two key processes: client and stakeholder engagement, and the alignment of methodologies and techniques with the socio-cultural context of their application. The argument is framed theoretically and illustrated through reference to a project carried out in an indigenous community setting. Our proposition is that conducting Community Operational Research in indigenous peoples settings can sharpen our awareness and understanding of aspects of practice that present significant challenges and which to varying degrees are more widely applicable in the community OR context.