Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Community Operational Research: Its Context and its Future

  • Chapter
Community Operational Research

Part of the book series: Contemporary Systems Thinking ((CST))

Abstract

It is three years since the Community OR initiative was launched [this chapter was originally published as a journal paper in 1991—eds.]. A Community OR Unit has been set-up at Northern College, a Centre for Community OR is operating at Hull University, and a Network of inter-ested members of the OR community has been established. However, there remain many questions about what operational research can offer to community groups and how relationships should be developed. This chapter aims to set the Community OR initiative in context, to trace its historical antecedents, and to discuss a number of issues which need to be addressed to help the initiative to succeed. The ideas and conclusions are based, in part, on a survey of community groups in the West Midlands (Parry and Mingers, 1989) and interviews both with members of inter-ested groups and with OR practitioners.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Ackoff, R.L. (1970). A black ghetto’s research on a university. Operations Research, 18, 761–771.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ackoff, R.L. (1974a). Redesigning the Future. Wiley-Interscience, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ackoff, R.L. (1974b). The social responsibility of Operational Research. Operational Research Quarterly, 25, 361–371.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beer, S. (1985). Diagnosing the System for Organisations. Wiley, Chichester.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, P.G., Dando, M.R., and Sharp, R.G. (1980). Using hypergames to model difficult social issues: An approach to the case of soccer hooliganism. Journal of the Operational Research Society, 31, 621–635.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernai, J.D. (1939). The Social Function of Science. Rouledge & Kegan Paul, London, pp. 410.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blackett, RM.S. (1938). The frustration of science. In: The Social Function of Science. Bernai, J.D. (1939), pp. 396. Routledge, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Butler, R. and Wilson, D. (1990). Managing Voluntary and Non-profit Organizations. Routledge, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carter, R, Jackson, M.C., Jackson, N.V., and Key, P. (1987). Announcing a centre for Community OR at Hull University. Dragon 2, 5–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Checkland, P.B. (1987). The application of systems thinking in a real-world problem situa-tions; the emergence of Soft Systems Methodology. In: New Directions in Management Science. Jackson, M.C. and Keys, P. (eds.). Gower, Aldershot.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chesterton, K., Goodsman, R., Rosenhead, J., and Thunhurst, C. (1975). A comment on ‘The social responsibility of Operational Research’. Operational Research Quarterly, 26, 91–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chung, C.E. and Jackson, M.C. (1987). Soft systems methodology: A case study for Winterton Co-Operative Developoment Agency. Working Paper 16, Department of Management Systems and Sciences, University of Hull, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clemson, M. and Jackson, M.C. (1988). Evaluating organisations with multiple goals. OR Insight, 2, 2–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cobb, M. (1990). Acorn: The Newsletter of the Community OR Unit 3. Northern College, Sheffield.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook, S.L. (1973). Operational Research, social well-being and the zero growth concept. Omega, 1, 647–667.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cook, S.L. (1984). Can a social wage solve unemployment? In: The Writings of Steve Cook, pp. 52–65. Bowen, K., Cook, A., and Luck, M. (eds.). The OR Society, Birmingham.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cowan, R. (1981). Providing Planning Aid. Town and Country Planning Association, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cropper, S.A. (1988). Bricycles, bricycles. Presented at Young OR Conference, Coventry, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dando, M. and Eden, C. (1977). Reflections on Operational Research: A report from the Euro II Congress. Omega, 5, 225–270.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dick, W.E. and Evans, I.B.N. (1946). Science and Human Welfare. Temple Fortune Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dombey, N. (1975). Experts at planning inquiries. The Planner, 61, 299–301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eden, C. and Smithin, T. (1979). Operational gaming in action research. European Journal of Operational Research, 3, 450–458.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eden, C, Jones, S., and Sims, D. (1983). Messing About in Problems. Pergamon Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eden, D. and Simpson, P. (1989). SODA and cognitive mapping in practice. In: Rational Analysis for a Problematic World. Rosenhead, J. (ed.). Wiley, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farmer, J. (1975). Scientific method and social progress. Operational Research Society Newsletter, 4(7).

    Google Scholar 

  • Flagle, C.D. (1964). Operations Research in community services. In: Proceedings in Operations Research, vol. 2. Hertz and Edison (eds.). Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Friend, J.W. (1989). Acorn: The Newsletter of the Community OR Unit 1. Northern College, Sheffield.

    Google Scholar 

  • Friend, J.W. and Jessop, W.N. (1977). Local Government and Strategic Choice, 2nd edn. Pergamon Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hales, M. (1974). Management science and the second industrial revolution. Journal of Radiation Science, 1, 5–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harman, D. (1986). Letter. Operational Research Society Newsletter 16(1).

    Google Scholar 

  • Harman, D. (1988). Report on conference. Process of OR Study Group—Methodology in Community OR Conference 1987. Health Service Management Centre, University of Birmingham.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, M.C. (1988). Some methodologies for community Operational Research. Journal of Operational Research Society, 39, 715–724.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, S. and Eden, C. (1981). OR in the community. Journal of Operational Research Society, 32, 335–345.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lally, R. (1989). Letter. Operational Research Newsletter, 18, 12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Landry, C, Morley, D., Southwood, R., and Wright, P. (1985). What a way to Run a Railroad: An Analysis of Radical Failure. Comedia, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luck, G.M. (1984). Working with inner-city community organisations. In: The Writings of Steve Cook, pp. 77–78. Bowen, K., Cook, A., and Luck, M. (eds.). The OR Society, Birmingham.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mar Molinero, C. (1988). Schools in Southampton: A quantitative approach to school loca-tion, closure and staffing. Journal of Operational Research Society, 39, 339–350.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason, N. (1987a). Community OR Network to be launched in May. Operational Research Society Newsletter, 16(8).

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason, N. (1987b). The Community Operational Research (OR) network. Dragon, 2, 135–141.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason, R.O. and Mitroff, I.I. (1981). Challenging Strategic Assumptions. Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mingers, J. (1989). Letter. Operational Research Newsletter, 19, 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moullin, M. (1989). Acorn: The Newsletter of the Community OR Unit 2. Northern College, Sheffield.

    Google Scholar 

  • Noad, N. and King, L. (1977). Area co-ordination: Some examples compared. Linkage, 2, 10–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nygaard, K. (1977). Co-operation with the trade unions: A challenge to OR workers. Presented at Euro II Congress, Stockholm.OR for the People (1974). Orgasm 2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parry, R. and Mingers, J. (1989). Contacting Community Clients. SIBS, University of Warwick, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Policy of the British Association of Scientific Workers (1939). In: The Social Function of Science. p. 461. Bernai, J.D. (ed.). Routledge & Keegan Paul, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritchie, C. (1989). Acorn: The Newsletter of the Community OR Unit 2. Northern College, Sheffield.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenhead, J. (1976). Some further comments on ‘The social responsibility of Operational Research’. Journal of Operational Research Quarterly, 27, 266–272.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenhead, J. (1978). Letter. Operational Research Society Newsletter 8(3).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenhead, J. (1981). OR and trade unions: Report of the OR society working party.Operational Research Society Newsletter, 10(6).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenhead, J. (1985). Manifesto for Election as OR Society President.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenhead, J. (1986a). Community OR and conflict research: A comment. Journal of Operational Research Society, 37, 1199–1201.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenhead, J. (1986b). Custom and practice—Inaugural Presidential address. Journal of Operational Research Society, 37, 335–343.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenhead, J. (1987a). From the President. Operational Research Society Newsletter 16(5).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenhead, J. (1987b). From management science to workers’ science. In: New Directions in Management Science. Jackson, M.C. and Keys, P. (eds.). Gower, Aldershot.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenhead, J. (1989). Operational Research at the cross-roads: Cecil Gordon and the devel-opment of post-war OR. Journal of Operational Research Society, 40, 3–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenhead, J. and Thunhurst, C. (1982). A materialist analysis of Operation Research. Journal of Operational Research Society, 33, 111–122.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sagasti, F.R. (1976). Thoughts on the use and abuse of OR/MS in the planning and manage-ment of development—Can OR/MS help in the planning and management of manage-ment? Operational Research Quarterly, 27, 937–947.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sims, D. (1981). The practice of OR: Operationalising Ackoff. Management Decision, 19, 39–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sims, D. and Smithin, T. (1982). Voluntary OR. Journal of Operational Research Society, 33, 21–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smithin, T. and Sims, D. (1982). Ubi caritas? Modelling beliefs about charities. European Journal of Operational Research, 10, 237–243.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stern, E. (1980). Community organisations in changing settings. Linkage, 5, 6–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stringer, J. (1967). OR for multi-organisations. Operational Research Quarterly, 18, 105–120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thunhurst, C. (1973). Who does OR operate for? Presented at OR Society Conference, Torquay, November.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thunhurst, C. (1987). Doing OR with the community. Dragon, 2, 143–153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trist, E. and Burgess, S. (1978). Multiple deprivation: A human and economic approach. Linkage, 3, 8–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ware, A. (ed.) (1989). Charities and Government. Manchester University Press, Manchester.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. British Airports Authority, UK

    Richard Parry

  2. Canterbury Business School, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, UK

    John Mingers

Authors
  1. Richard Parry
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. John Mingers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR Ltd), Christchurch, New Zealand

    Gerald Midgley

  2. Centre for Systems Studies, Business School University of Hull, Hull, UK

    Gerald Midgley

  3. Universidad de Los Andes, Marida, Venezuela

    Alejandro Ochoa-Arias

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2004 Springer-Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Parry, R., Mingers, J. (2004). Community Operational Research: Its Context and its Future. In: Midgley, G., Ochoa-Arias, A. (eds) Community Operational Research. Contemporary Systems Thinking. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8911-6_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8911-6_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-4716-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-8911-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation