Winners and losers: Adding organisational value

As part of a major study into the success and survival of in-house OR groups in the UK the closure of 15 groups was investigated. Six selected continuing groups were also examined with the aim of identifying critical success and survival factors. Information was collected by interviews with key personnel, backed with questionnaire data. The results showed that external and organisational factors were a major cause of closure but that some factors within the control of a group could have been managed more vigorously. Suggestions for improving the effectiveness of OR groups and supporting dispersed practitioners are given.