OR/MS Today - June 2000

June 2000

INFORMS News

Conference on Practice Set for May 2001

A new INFORMS conference, focusing on "Optimizing the Extended Enterprise in the New Economy," is scheduled for May 20-22, 2001 at the Hyatt Regency in La Jolla, Calif. Designed to meet the education needs of OR practitioners, the conference will emphasize applications, best practices and take-away value.

An Advisory Council made up of INFORMS members involved in practice will select program topics and speakers based on the results of market research with practitioners across the country. INFORMS practice members, as well as nonmember practitioners, are being interviewed to assess their education needs and preferences.

"While we don't have the research results yet, we know already that practitioners are looking for real-world solutions for real-world problems," says Brenda Dietrich, chair of the Advisory Council and INFORMS VP-Practice. The conference will offer success stories from leading companies on supply-chain integration, revenue management, customer service, risk management, e-commerce and other issues that apply across industries. Overall, the focus will be on using OR techniques and skills to maximize return.

The program will incorporate keynotes by top business leaders and innovators. Interactive and in-depth sessions, such as tutorials and software demonstrations, are also planned. "Our goal is to provide registrants with new concepts, knowledge and skills they can take back to the office and apply immediately," says Dietrich.

Preliminary research results have shown that practitioners place a high value on learning from each other. The conference will provide a business forum for networking and information-sharing, with many sessions that stimulate interaction and dialogue. A full exhibit program and social events offer other opportunities for exchange.

The conference site, the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine, is a landmark hotel set on 11 acres in scenic hills overlooking the California coast, just minutes from Sea World, downtown La Jolla, great restaurants and beaches. The hotel's Sporting Club is rated one of the top fitness spas in the country.

OR practitioners are encouraged to provide their input by participating in the market research, which is being conducted during June. If you are involved in practice in any way — whether you work within a company, in government, as a consultant or do consulting along with teaching — you are invited to participate in a half-hour telephone interview. To arrange an interview or receive more information, contact Terry Cryan, manager of Continuing Professional Education, at 1-800-343-0062 or (401) 274-2525, ext. 210, or via e-mail at: terry.cryan@informs.org

For continuing information about the conference, visit us online at www.informs.org/conf/practice2001/

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