Getting "Messy" with Problems: The Challenges of Teaching "Soft" OR
Fran Ackermann
Department of Management Science, Strathclyde Business School, Glasgow G1 1QE, United Kingdom, fran.ackermann@strath.ac.uk
Abstract
For many, teaching soft "OR" or problem structuring methods (PSMs) within the constraints of a degree program can be a challenge. For example, effort is needed in managing student expectations—particularly as problem structuring methods typically do not give "a single right answer." Then there is the requirement of working interactively with groups—a daunting task to many! Finally, adding the extra consideration of teaching distance-learning students just exacerbates the situation—or does it? However, despite these challenges PSMs clearly provide benefit to many and are a valuable part of an operational researcher's armoury. This paper reflects on a selection of the challenges faced by those teaching such methods, and provides some insights into their management.
Key words
soft operational research methods; problem structuring methods; teaching; qualitative modelling
History
Received: June 2010; accepted: February 2011.
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Citation Information
Ackermann, F. 2011. Getting "messy" with problems: The challenges of teaching "soft" OR. INFORMS Trans. Ed. 12(3) 55–64. Available online at http://ite.pubs.informs.org/.