Last updated on May 8, 2024

Here's how you can make your feedback in Operations Research specific and actionable.

In Operations Research (OR), providing feedback that is specific and actionable is crucial for the continuous improvement of models, systems, and decision-making processes. When you're involved in OR, your ability to give clear feedback can significantly impact the success of a project. Whether you're reviewing a linear programming model or assessing the efficiency of a queuing system, the insights you provide need to be well-structured to be useful. Remember, feedback in OR isn't just about pointing out what's wrong; it's about fostering an environment where constructive criticism leads to practical solutions and advancements.

1 Define Goals

To ensure your feedback in Operations Research is specific, start by clearly defining the goals of the project or model. Understand what the end objective is, whether it's to minimize costs, maximize efficiency, or optimize resource allocation. By having a firm grasp on the intended outcome, you can tailor your feedback to address whether the current approaches are aligned with these goals. This specificity not only helps in pinpointing where adjustments are needed but also sets a clear direction for the necessary actions to achieve the desired results.

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Michael Agarana, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Mathematics. Operations Research/Management Consultant. Swarm/Artificial Intelligence Researcher. ROBOTICS/STEM Enthusiast.
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Any feedback outside the set goals of a project or model at hand is undesirable. So well defined goals would help to direct feedback to specific aspects of the project or model. Also actionable feedback is enhanced with specific goals because what to be done is/are well known through these goals

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Padmanabha T

Self motivated Global Mobility & Immigration professional with 15 years Experience in Operations Project Management, Permanent Residency, Work Permits, Dependents & Visitor Visas across Australia, Canada, UK, and the US.
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Clearly highlight the objectives and set expectations of the goals to be met in operations research. Outline the minimum requirement, categorised Specifications, measures, actions dos and don't and set a turn around time; Also, scope of this research that may give adverse result, in case plan B and precautionary measures

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2 Focus Points

Concentrate your feedback on key focus points by identifying the most critical aspects of the OR project. This could be the assumptions made in a simulation model, the constraints of a linear programming problem, or the data sources used for stochastic modeling. By zeroing in on these pivotal elements, your feedback becomes more targeted, making it easier for the recipient to understand which areas require attention and why they are important. Specific feedback on focus points ensures that improvements are made where they will have the most significant impact.

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Padmanabha T

Self motivated Global Mobility & Immigration professional with 15 years Experience in Operations Project Management, Permanent Residency, Work Permits, Dependents & Visitor Visas across Australia, Canada, UK, and the US.
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By clearly defining and designing the objectives ,the focus point can be set strongly, so that the process doesn't get deviated without disturbing the productivity.

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3 Suggest Solutions

When providing feedback, it's not enough to identify issues; you must also suggest actionable solutions. For example, if a queuing theory model isn't accurately predicting wait times, propose alternative methods or adjustments to the distribution assumptions. Offer clear steps that can be taken to remedy the identified problems. This approach not only helps to resolve current issues but also empowers the team to apply similar strategies in future projects, enhancing their problem-solving skills in OR.

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Padmanabha T

Self motivated Global Mobility & Immigration professional with 15 years Experience in Operations Project Management, Permanent Residency, Work Permits, Dependents & Visitor Visas across Australia, Canada, UK, and the US.
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Identifying the issues and problems plays major roles. Eg, is the data accurate before setting the goal, so that the process remains to set a focus point. Data analysis and alternative solutions can be implemented, followed by implementation and actions. Monitor and re- evaluate the process.

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4 Use Examples

Using concrete examples can greatly enhance the clarity of your feedback. If a network optimization model is not performing as expected, illustrate your points with specific instances where the model fails to deliver optimal solutions. Providing examples helps to bridge the gap between abstract criticism and practical application. It allows the recipient of your feedback to see exactly what you're referring to, which can be particularly helpful when dealing with complex OR problems.

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Padmanabha T

Self motivated Global Mobility & Immigration professional with 15 years Experience in Operations Project Management, Permanent Residency, Work Permits, Dependents & Visitor Visas across Australia, Canada, UK, and the US.
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feedback in operations research specific and actionable, examples really work. Taking up a similar sample project worked earlier, analysing the work flow methods used and solutions implemented can really help up to give alternative ideas and solutions.

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Padmanabha T

Self motivated Global Mobility & Immigration professional with 15 years Experience in Operations Project Management, Permanent Residency, Work Permits, Dependents & Visitor Visas across Australia, Canada, UK, and the US.
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Yes, examples really work. Taking up a similar sample project worked earlier, analysing the work flow methods used and solutions implemented can really help up to give alternative ideas and solutions.

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5 Encourage Dialogue

Encourage an open dialogue by inviting questions and discussions around your feedback. This practice fosters a collaborative environment where ideas can be exchanged freely, and solutions can be refined. When you present your feedback as a starting point for conversation rather than a final verdict, you create an atmosphere where team members are more receptive and engaged. This approach not only leads to better outcomes but also strengthens the team's ability to tackle OR challenges collaboratively.

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6 Measure Impact

Lastly, emphasize the importance of measuring the impact of any changes made in response to your feedback. Suggest implementing key performance indicators (KPIs) or other metrics that can track the effectiveness of solutions over time. This step ensures that feedback leads to measurable improvements and provides a data-driven approach to validate that the actions taken have positively influenced the OR project. By closing the loop with measurement, you ensure that feedback is not just heard but acted upon and its value assessed.

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7 Hereâ€™s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that donâ€™t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Directory

Here's how you can make your feedback in Operations Research specific and actionable.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Define Goals

2 Focus Points

3 Suggest Solutions

4 Use Examples

5 Encourage Dialogue

6 Measure Impact

7 Hereâ€™s what else to consider

Operations Research

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Directory

Here's how you can make your feedback in Operations Research specific and actionable.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Define Goals

2 Focus Points

3 Suggest Solutions

4 Use Examples

5 Encourage Dialogue

6 Measure Impact

7 Hereâ€™s what else to consider

Operations Research

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