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Module Catalogue

IB3A7-15 The Practice of Operational Research

Department
Warwick Business School
Level
Undergraduate Level 3
Module leader
Frances O'Brien
Credit value
15
Module duration
10 weeks
Assessment
20% coursework, 80% exam
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

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Introductory description

This module covers the craft processes involved in carrying out operational research (OR) studies in organisations. While other modules generally provide specific technical capabilities, the methodology modules supply the general approaches and skills necessary to use these techniques effectively in practical organizational interventions.

Module web page

Module aims

The overall aims are:
(i) to provide students with a general understanding of the process of conducting OR studies;
(ii) to develop in students some of the basic skills required in conducting OR studies.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

The practice of operational research (OR); models and modelling in OR studies; issues in problem structuring and data collection; OR model validation and verification.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • Understand the nature of OR studies and the practical issues involved in developing OR models, as well as recognise the importance of the problem structuring skills required in conducting OR studies.
  • Formulate, test and validate OR models.

Indicative reading list

Daellenbach, H.G. and McNickle D.C. (2005). Management Science: decision making through systems thinking, Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan.
Bryson, J., Ackermann, F., Eden, C. and Finn, C. (2004) Visible Thinking: unlocking causal mapping for practical business results, Chichester: Wiley.
Mitchell, G. (1993) The Practice of Operational Research, Chichester: Wiley.
Pidd, M. (2003) Tools for Thinking: modelling in Management Science (2nd ed.), Chichester: Wiley.
Rivett, B.H.P. (1994) The Craft of Decision Modelling, Chichester: Wiley.
Rosenhead, J. and Mingers, J. (2001) Rational Analysis for a Problematic World Revisited: problem structuring methods for complexity, uncertainty and conflict (2nd ed.), Chichester: Wiley.

Subject specific skills

Appreciate a range of modelling approaches and the circumstances in which they might be applied.

Transferable skills

Conduct interviews using problem structuring methods

Study time

Type Required
Lectures 10 sessions of 1 hour (14%)
Seminars 8 sessions of 1 hour (11%)
Private study 53 hours (75%)
Total 71 hours

Private study description

Private Study.

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group D5
Weighting Study time Eligible for self-certification
Assessment component
Individual Assignment (15 CATS) 20% 16 hours Yes (extension)
Reassessment component is the same
Assessment component
Online Examination 80% 63 hours No
  • Answerbook Pink (12 page)
  • Students may use a calculator
Reassessment component is the same
Feedback on assessment

Feedback via My.WBS.

Past exam papers for IB3A7

Courses

Course availability information is based on the current academic year, so it may change.

This module is Optional for:

  • UIBA-N20B BSc in Management
    • Year 3 of N20B Management
    • Year 3 of N20B Management
    • Year 3 of N23K Management with Accounting
    • Year 3 of N234 Management with Digital Business
    • Year 3 of N235 Management with Entrepreneurship
    • Year 3 of N232 Management with Finance
    • Year 3 of N252 Management with Marketing
    • Year 3 of N23L Management with Strategy and Organisation
  • Year 3 of UIBA-N400 Undergraduate Accounting and Finance
  • UIBA-N404 Undergraduate Accounting and Finance (with Foundation Year and Placement/Undergraduate Partnership Programme)
    • Year 5 of N4N7 Accounting and Finance (Foundation Year and Intercalated)
    • Year 5 of N404 Accounting and Finance (Foundation Year and Placement)
    • Year 5 of N405 Accounting and Finance (Foundation Year and UPP)
    • Year 5 of N403 Accounting and Finance (with Foundation Year)
  • Year 4 of UIBA-N403 Undergraduate Accounting and Finance (with Foundation Year)
  • UIBA-N401 Undergraduate Accounting and Finance (with Placement Year/Undergraduate Partnership Programme)
    • Year 4 of N401 Accounting and Finance (Placement)
    • Year 4 of N402 Accounting and Finance (Undergraduate Partnership Programme)
  • Year 3 of UCSA-I1N1 Undergraduate Computer Science with Business Studies
  • Year 4 of UCSA-I1NA Undergraduate Computer Science with Business Studies (with Intercalated Year)
  • Year 1 of UIOA-VEU Undergraduate EU Visiting
  • Year 3 of UGEA-RN21 Undergraduate German and Business Studies
  • Year 3 of UIPA-L8N1 Undergraduate Global Sustainable Development and Business
  • Year 4 of UIPA-L8N2 Undergraduate Global Sustainable Development and Business Studies (with Intercalated Year)
  • Year 4 of UIBA-N1RA Undergraduate International Business with French
  • Year 4 of UIBA-N1RB Undergraduate International Business with German
  • Year 4 of UIBA-N1RC Undergraduate International Business with Italian
  • Year 4 of UIBA-N1RD Undergraduate International Business with Spanish
  • UIBA-N20F Undergraduate International Management
    • Year 4 of N20F International Management
    • Year 4 of N20F International Management
    • Year 4 of N20S International Management (with Accounting)
    • Year 4 of N20T International Management (with Chinese)
    • Year 4 of N20P International Management (with Entrepreneurship)
    • Year 4 of N20M International Management (with Finance)
    • Year 4 of N20U International Management (with French)
    • Year 4 of N20L International Management (with Marketing)
    • Year 4 of N20V International Management (with Spanish)
    • Year 4 of N20W International Management (with Strategy and Organisation)
    • Year 4 of N20N International Management with Digital Business
    • Year 4 of N20E Management (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 4 of N234 Management with Digital Business
  • UIBA-N220 Undergraduate International Management (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 5 of N220 International Management (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 5 of N221 International Management with Accounting (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 5 of N226 International Management with Chinese (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 5 of N223 International Management with Digital Business (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 5 of N224 International Management with Entrepreneurship (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 5 of N222 International Management with Finance (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 5 of N227 International Management with French (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 5 of N225 International Management with Marketing (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 5 of N228 International Management with Spanish (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 5 of N229 International Management with Strategy and Organisation (with Foundation Year)
  • UIBA-N20J Undergraduate Management (with Foundation Year and Placement Year/Undergraduate Partnership Programme)
    • Year 5 of N20J Management (Foundation Year and Placement)
    • Year 5 of N20K Management (Foundation Year and UPP)
    • Year 5 of N23H Management with Digital Business (with Foundation Year and Placement Year)
    • Year 5 of N23J Management with Entrepreneurship (with Foundation Year and Placement Year)
    • Year 5 of N23G Management with Finance (with Foundation Year and Placement Year)
    • Year 5 of N255 Management with Marketing (with Foundation Year and Placement Year)
  • UIBA-N20E Undergraduate Management (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 4 of N20E Management (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 4 of N23N Management with Accounting (with Foundation Year and Placement Year)
    • Year 4 of N23M Management with Accounting (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 4 of N23E Management with Digital Business (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 4 of N23F Management with Entrepreneurship (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 4 of N23D Management with Finance (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 4 of N252 Management with Marketing
    • Year 4 of N254 Management with Marketing (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 4 of N23P Management with Strategy and Organisation (with Foundation Year)
  • UIBA-N20C Undergraduate Management (with Placement Year/Undergraduate Partnership Programme)
    • Year 4 of N20M International Management (with Finance)
    • Year 4 of N20B Management
    • Year 4 of N20D Management (Undergraduate Partnership Programme)
    • Year 4 of N20C Management (with Placement Year)
    • Year 4 of N20Q Management with Accounting (with Placement Year)
    • Year 4 of N236 Management with Digital Business (with Placement Year)
    • Year 4 of N237 Management with Entrepreneurship (with Placement Year)
    • Year 4 of N232 Management with Finance
    • Year 4 of N233 Management with Finance (with Placement Year)
    • Year 4 of N253 Management with Marketing (with Placement Year)
    • Year 4 of N23L Management with Strategy and Organisation
    • Year 4 of N20R Management with Strategy and Organisation (with Placement Year)
  • Year 3 of UMAA-G1NC Undergraduate Mathematics and Business Studies
  • Year 4 of UMAA-G1N2 Undergraduate Mathematics and Business Studies (with Intercalated Year)
  • UIOA-VOS Undergraduate Overseas Visiting
    • Year 1 of UVOS Undergraduate Overseas Visiting
    • Year 1 of UVOS Undergraduate Overseas Visiting
  • Year 3 of UPXA-F3N1 Undergraduate Physics and Business Studies
  • Year 4 of UPXA-F3ND Undergraduate Physics and Business Studies (with Intercalated Year)