[DMANET] Call for Participants: ICORD Workshop, Problem Structuring Methods, Tunisia, October 12-13, 2012

Call for Participants
International Federation of Operational Research Societies
ICORD Workshop
Tunisia, October 12-13, 2012
Theme : Problem Structuring Methods
http://ifors.org/web/icord-workshop/


Background
Since 1992, IFORS has organized a series of International Conferences
on OR for Development (ICORD), approximately every three years. It
has now been decided to hold ICORD conferences on a regular basis in
conjunction with the IFORS Triennial Conference.

In addition, and in order to enhance continuity and interest in the
field, IFORS is now launching an additional program to conduct
workshops in non-IFORS Conference years, to be held across IFORS?
different regions. The hope and intention is that representatives from
these workshops will make presentations at the subsequent ICORD
Conference.

The aims of the new structure are to achieve:
* a greater momentum for the OR in Development programme through
greater frequency and visibility of actions;
* an improved focus for OR in Development activities on selected
problem-oriented themes.

2012 ICORD Workshop
The 2012 ICORD Workshop will be held on Djerba island, Tunisia.
Located south of Tunisia, Djerba is famous for its excellent white
sandy beaches, blue sea, dramatic sunsets, and rural Mediterranean
farms. The island is surrounded by many small islands where the only
inhabitants are birds and is a popular tourist destination.

Program
The Workshop is designed to follow on from the ROAD Conference on
October 11th (http://road2012.logiq-giad.org/). Separate registration
is required, and places on the Workshop are limited. Some of the
sessions will be open to ROAD participants. The language of the
workshop is English.

The program will be limited to 30 participants. Acceptance onto the
program will be based on applicants? previous, current or intended
involvement in the area of OR for development. The purpose of the
workshop is to help participants in strengthening their capacity to
work effectively on development-related problems


The workshop is designed to introduce workshop members to Problem
Structuring Methods, and give guidance on how they can be applied to
problems with a development context. Tuition will be by a mixture of
exposition and case exercises. Participants will be asked to
contribute an example of a development issue or problem relevant to
their own country and situation, which may be chosen for discussion at
the workshop.

Participants will be introduced to methods that help deal with
problems arising from the nature of under-development, and of the
development process. The limitations of more traditional OR methods in
this context will be discussed.
The Problem Structuring Methods to be covered in some depth are
Strategic Options Development and Analysis (SODA) and Soft Systems
Methodology (SSM). In addition there will be some coverage of the
Strategic Choice Approach, and Robustness Analysis.

Participants will find it useful to obtain Rosenhead and Mingers (eds)
Rational Analysis for a Problematic World Revisited, Wiley, Chichester
UK. Other reading will be supplied during the workshop.

Program Leaders
The principal tutors for the Workshop are Mike Cushman and Professor
Jonathan Rosenhead of the London School of Economics, and Professor
Leroy White of the University of Bristol.

Applications
Please submit your curriculum vitae together with a letter explaining
how you feel that the workshop could be useful to your teaching and/or
practice no later than July 7, 2012 to:

Youssef Masmoudi
youssef.masmoudi@gmail.com
Mobile: 00216 23269550

E-mail submissions are acceptable. Selected participants will be
notified by July 15, 2012.

Registration fees: 200 USD

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