On the usefulness of soft OR models in decision making: A comparison of Problem Structuring Methods supported and self-organized workshops

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Standard

On the usefulness of soft OR models in decision making : A comparison of Problem Structuring Methods supported and self-organized workshops. / Lami, Isabella M.; Tavella, Elena.

In: European Journal of Operational Research, Vol. 275, No. 3, 2019, p. 1020-1036.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Harvard

Lami, IM & Tavella, E 2019, 'On the usefulness of soft OR models in decision making: A comparison of Problem Structuring Methods supported and self-organized workshops', European Journal of Operational Research, vol. 275, no. 3, pp. 1020-1036. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2018.12.016

APA

Lami, I. M., & Tavella, E. (2019). On the usefulness of soft OR models in decision making: A comparison of Problem Structuring Methods supported and self-organized workshops. European Journal of Operational Research, 275(3), 1020-1036. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2018.12.016

Vancouver

Lami IM, Tavella E. On the usefulness of soft OR models in decision making: A comparison of Problem Structuring Methods supported and self-organized workshops. European Journal of Operational Research. 2019;275(3):1020-1036. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2018.12.016

Author

Lami, Isabella M. ; Tavella, Elena. / On the usefulness of soft OR models in decision making : A comparison of Problem Structuring Methods supported and self-organized workshops. In: European Journal of Operational Research. 2019 ; Vol. 275, No. 3. pp. 1020-1036.

Bibtex

@article{0c8ad7a66f4f4b2992091eca5d706cb1,
title = "On the usefulness of soft OR models in decision making: A comparison of Problem Structuring Methods supported and self-organized workshops",
abstract = "Applications of Problem Structuring Methods (PSMs) are extensively reported in the literature; however, their evaluation remains challenging. Moreover, scholars{\textquoteright} disagreement on how to evaluate and compare PSMs constrains research that seeks to show whether certain PSMs are more useful than others within particular contexts and {\textquoteleft}better than doing nothing{\textquoteright}. Drawing on scholars{\textquoteright} suggestion to evaluate PSMs through a link between action, outcomes and context, we address this gap by adopting an exploratory, quasi-experimental research design with MSc students to evaluate and compare three workshops supported by the use of (i) Strategic Choice Approach, (ii) Soft Systems Methodology and (iii) a non-PSM supported approach, and report on the findings of a quantitative and qualitative analysis. We explore the usefulness of PSMs for achieving outcomes that can support decision making. Our findings show variation in the usefulness of the three approaches and the different workshop outcomes.",
keywords = "Model usefulness, Problem structuring, Questionnaires, Reflective discussions",
author = "Lami, {Isabella M.} and Elena Tavella",
year = "2019",
doi = "10.1016/j.ejor.2018.12.016",
language = "English",
volume = "275",
pages = "1020--1036",
journal = "European Journal of Operational Research",
issn = "0377-2217",
publisher = "Elsevier",
number = "3",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - On the usefulness of soft OR models in decision making

T2 - A comparison of Problem Structuring Methods supported and self-organized workshops

AU - Lami, Isabella M.

AU - Tavella, Elena

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - Applications of Problem Structuring Methods (PSMs) are extensively reported in the literature; however, their evaluation remains challenging. Moreover, scholars’ disagreement on how to evaluate and compare PSMs constrains research that seeks to show whether certain PSMs are more useful than others within particular contexts and ‘better than doing nothing’. Drawing on scholars’ suggestion to evaluate PSMs through a link between action, outcomes and context, we address this gap by adopting an exploratory, quasi-experimental research design with MSc students to evaluate and compare three workshops supported by the use of (i) Strategic Choice Approach, (ii) Soft Systems Methodology and (iii) a non-PSM supported approach, and report on the findings of a quantitative and qualitative analysis. We explore the usefulness of PSMs for achieving outcomes that can support decision making. Our findings show variation in the usefulness of the three approaches and the different workshop outcomes.

AB - Applications of Problem Structuring Methods (PSMs) are extensively reported in the literature; however, their evaluation remains challenging. Moreover, scholars’ disagreement on how to evaluate and compare PSMs constrains research that seeks to show whether certain PSMs are more useful than others within particular contexts and ‘better than doing nothing’. Drawing on scholars’ suggestion to evaluate PSMs through a link between action, outcomes and context, we address this gap by adopting an exploratory, quasi-experimental research design with MSc students to evaluate and compare three workshops supported by the use of (i) Strategic Choice Approach, (ii) Soft Systems Methodology and (iii) a non-PSM supported approach, and report on the findings of a quantitative and qualitative analysis. We explore the usefulness of PSMs for achieving outcomes that can support decision making. Our findings show variation in the usefulness of the three approaches and the different workshop outcomes.

KW - Model usefulness

KW - Problem structuring

KW - Questionnaires

KW - Reflective discussions

U2 - 10.1016/j.ejor.2018.12.016

DO - 10.1016/j.ejor.2018.12.016

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85059347338

VL - 275

SP - 1020

EP - 1036

JO - European Journal of Operational Research

JF - European Journal of Operational Research

SN - 0377-2217

IS - 3

ER -

ID: 211993583