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

Introductory description

The module equips students with the skills to conduct analytical / OR projects in
organisations, with an emphasis on practical aspects. Alongside some 'technical',
numbers-based content, the module explores the 'soft' tools needed to make analytical
projects succeed by aligning analysis with business aims. In this context, students develop
basic skills in problem structuring methods (PSMs) such as rich picturing and causal
mapping to allow them to assume an holistic perspective. Students are asked to critically
evaluate the impact of real-world analytical projects and to develop their critical thinking
and logical reasoning skills to this end. Students are expected to work collaboratively and
the group work elements includes a video presentation on a simulated consulting project
that runs alongside the module

Module web page

Module aims

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.

What is Operational Research?; Systems Thinking; Problem Structuring Methods; Causal Mapping; Managing An OR Project; Spreadsheet Modelling; Simulation Modelling; Soft Systems Methodology (SSM); Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA)

Learning outcomes

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

Understand the practical issues involved in undertaking OR / analytical projects in the real world
Understand how to design and implement an OR / analytical project
Understand how to apply soft and hard OR tools to real-world problems.
Critically evaluate impact of real-world OR / analytical projects
Argue for or against / justify a particular approach to an organizational problem
Solve quantitative problems using spreadsheet models
Think innovatively / creatively about organizational problems using PSMs

Indicative reading list

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.
Jackson, M (2019) Critical Systems Thinking And The Management Of Complexity, Chichester: Wiley.
Hindle, G and Vidgen, R (2018) ‘Developing a business analytics methodology: A case study in the foodbank sector’, European Journal of Operational Research, 268 (3)
Pidd, M. (2003) Tools for Thinking: modelling in Management Science (2nd ed.), Chichester: Wiley.
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.

Subject specific skills

Think critically, holistically and creatively about organizational situations; specific technical skills such as problem
structuring (eg. with rich picturing), quantitative modelling (eg. with spreadsheet modelling), and qualitative modelling (eg. with Soft Systems Methodology (SSM)).

Transferable skills

Individual working, group working, presentation skills, IT skills in visualisation software, project management, time
management, online collaboration, video production, inter-cultural working

Study time

Type	Required
Lectures	10 sessions of 1 hour (7%)
Seminars	9 sessions of 1 hour (6%)
Online learning (independent)	10 sessions of 1 hour (7%)
Private study	42 hours (28%)
Assessment	79 hours (53%)
Total	150 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 D6

	Weighting	Study time	Eligible for self-certification
Assessment component
Groupwork Presentation	20%	16 hours	No
Video
Reassessment component
Individual Assignment			Yes (extension)
Assessment component
Online Examination	80%	63 hours	No
~Platforms - AEP Online examination: No Answerbook required Case Study (Provided by Department)
Reassessment component is the same

Feedback on assessment

Feedback via My.WBS.

Past exam papers for IB3A7

Courses

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 4 of UIBA-MN3C Law and Business Four Year (Qualifying Degree)
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
Year 3 of UIBA-MN3A Undergraduate Law and Business Studies
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)