On completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Apply an advanced understanding of the principles of Soft OR, including respective terms and definitions, to the design and implementation of a Soft OR study.
2. Identify and select an appropriate methodology for addressing a complex problem; with a focus on problem structuring/understanding and decision support.
3. Demonstrate skills in the implementation of Soft OR methods including use of formal techniques in the facilitation of workshops
4. Communicate the results of their study in a professionally and academically relevant form.
5. Evaluate the appropriateness of a particular methodology and its outcomes for addressing specific complex problems.

Access to internet and specified reading materials such as the NATO Guide for Judgement-Based Operational Analysis in Defence Decision Making.

Reading lists, web-links, library resources, essay writing guides, study guides, referencing, computing laboratories, IT support, printing quotas, use of TURNITIN as an educational tool. A reading list will be provided prior to the start of the course.

Lecture: Seminars will include a formal presentation to deliver new information relating to the formal methodologies and techniques relevant to Soft OR and Judgement Based Decision Making. Specific approaches covered will include Soft Systems Methodology, Scenario Based Planning, ACTIFELD, influence diagrams and mixed and multi-methodology approaches. Lectures will discuss the techniques and consider issues of suitability, planning and implementation.

Workshop: Based on information provided in lectures students will engage in workshop activities to practice and explore the relevance of the approaches to specific problems and contexts. This will provide students with a broad overview of techniques that can be applied in their own case study (team assignment).

Research: Based on lectures and workshops students will explore relevant literature pertaining to the implementation of approaches covered. This personal study will provide the basis for discussion during seminars/workshops as well as support the selection of techniques for the team assignment.

Team Assignment: The assignment will require students to work in a team to plan and implement a decision support study utilising the principles of Soft OR. Students will need to provide an initial study plan and final written report in addition to an oral presentation.

Students will be required to engage in a high degree of independent learning throughout the course exploring a broader range of Soft OR approaches and studies than those formally presented during lectures. This independent learning will be assessed through individual contributions to seminar/workshop sessions. In addition, the assignment provides an opportunity for enquiry based learning as students identify techniques relevant to their chosen problem and consider issues associated with implementation. The course fundamentally draws on the background and experiences of students and seeks to integrate the new knowledge into existing normative views. In this way student learning is enhanced as they contribute their own knowledge to the course content and draw on each-others experiences.  

Attendance at all session during the two weeks of the summer school is compulsory. Private study/reading time between formal sessions will be required to meet expectations in regards to preparation for future sessions, a resource analysis and conduct of the team project. A deadline for preparation of the final report is set roughly two weeks after completion of the formal seminars.  

Contribution to workshops:

Seminar/workshop sessions will include practice in the application of soft OR approaches and other workshop facilitation techniques. These activities will produce outputs that will be considered as part of the ‘contribution’ assessment.

Resource Analysis:

Different approaches to Soft OR will be presented and discussed during the seminars/workshops. However, these will only scratch the surface of the range of techniques and resources available to support analysts and decision makers in this field. Students will be required to conduct some personal research to identify and critically analyse one of these resources and share their findings with other students (5 min presentation).

Study Plan:

Students will be required to identify an issue or challenge as the focus for a research activity. A 500 word study plan is required by Day 4 outlining;

• The general problem being addressed

• Relevant stakeholders identified

• The proposed methodology, and

• Study schedule

The selection of the proposed methodology should be supported by appropriate literature.

Research Report

Students will be required to implement their study plan and report on their activities and outcomes. The report must follow normal academic and scholarly conventions and be no more than 3000 words in length. Reports are to be written and submitted individually. A rubric outlining the report requirements will be provided to students as well as a report (Journal Style) template.

Research Presentation

Presentations will be made to peers during Day 6 of the course. Each presentation will be no more than 30 minutes including time for questions. A suitable electronic slide show (e.g. power-point) should be prepared in support of the presentation.

Study plans are to be submitted in printed form to the lecturer at the start of Day 4 of the course. The due date for final reports is 26 January 2018. Reports are to be submitted via Turnitin.