Community OR-Five years of organised activities and beyond

The subject known as Community Operational Research has been around in the U.K. for many years. The election of Jonathan Rosenhead as President of the U.K. Operational Research OR Society in 1986-87 was the catalyst for bringing together and expanding activities which had been carried out largely by individuals working in isolation on a voluntary basis. The following five years have seen the establishment of the Community Operational Research OR Unit at Northern College, the Centre for Community Operational Research OR at Hull University and the Community Operational Research OR Network, which supports the activities of volunteer Operational Research OR workers across the U.K. This paper reviews the range and types of work which have been undertaken by various practitioners. An assessment of the success of community Operational Research OR is made and a number of issues which have arisen are discussed. Finally, given the diverse nature of community OR, its practice and practitioners, there is some discussion about the future of the area.