| Article ID: | iaor20003868 |
| Country: | Singapore |
| Volume: | 16 |
| Issue: | 1 |
| Start Page Number: | 35 |
| End Page Number: | 51 |
| Publication Date: | May 1999 |
| Journal: | Asia-Pacific Journal of Operational Research |
| Authors: | Clark Delwyn N., Scott John L. |
| Keywords: | strategic planning, New Zealand |
MS/OR has traditionally provided modelling support to improve the operational efficiency and effectiveness of organizations. Is there also a role for MS/OR in crafting strategies for the future and supporting strategic decisions? An empirical study of practitioner members of the Operational Research Societies in the United Kingdom and New Zealand was conducted to investigate MS/OR involvement with strategic level decisions. In this paper key results from this comparative survey are presented. Both the levels of MS/OR tool use for a series of 32 core strategic tasks and familiarity with a series of 25 specific tools are outlined and discussed. Significant levels of MS/OR involvement across the spectrum of strategic tasks were found in both countries. Conclusions supporting future MS/OR development of strategic level work are followed by proposals for further research in this important area.