Special Interest Groups and Networks

Our special interest groups (SIGs) are at the forefront of advancing OR in specialised areas, catering to the diverse interests and expertise of our members. These dynamic and focused communities bring together professionals, academics, and enthusiasts passionate about specific fields within OR.

Our SIGs play a crucial role in driving innovation, sharing knowledge, and promoting best practices within their respective domains. Through specialised events, webinars, and workshops our SIGs offer a wealth of opportunities for members to stay at the cutting edge of research, gain insights into emerging trends, and collaborate with like-minded individuals.

These groups provide a supportive environment for networking, mentorship, and professional development, encouraging a sense of camaraderie and a space for robust discussions.

Events are generally free and open to all, giving members the freedom to invite clients and others outside OR who are interested in the subject. Details of activities can be found on these pages as well as in our membership magazine, Inside OR.

SIG Representative to General Council

Christina Phillips is the SIG Representative to The OR Society's general council. Please use the contact form on this page if you have a question for her.

Are you part of a Special Interest Group or Network Committee?

Find useful information about the running of a SIG or Network, and the answers to all your questions, here.

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Analytics Network

For those with an interest in analytics, in topics such as data science, optimisation, visualisation, big data, regression, data mining, predictive modelling or forecasting.

Behavioural OR

The main aim of the SIG is to foster interest in behavioural OR among members of The OR Society and to organise events which will be of interest to practitioners and academics alike.

Decision Analysis

The group is committed to the application and better understanding of soundly-based approaches to structuring and analysing decisions under uncertainty and conflicting objectives ('decision analysis').

Defence

The aim of the group is directed towards the practical and theoretical development of defence-related OR. and the promotion of a wider knowledge and appreciation of defence-related OR.

Early Career Researchers (ECR)

The Early Career Researcher Network was set up to nurture OR research, connect early career researchers, and support OR in research institutions.

Health & Social Services

The group’s main aims are to facilitate the exchange of information about current work, to disseminate information about OR studies to doctors, nurses, administrators and other health service workers and to provide a forum.

Independent Consultants Network

If you're looking to connect, share experiences, and receive support from fellow independent consultants or considering becoming one, this network is a perfect fit for you.

New to OR Network

The New to OR Network was set up to support operational researchers in the early stages of their careers.

OR, Analytics, and Education

The OR, Analytics, and Education SIG is a forum that aims to gather academics and practitioners at the intersection of OR and Business Analytics.

OR and Strategy

The OR and Strategy group discusses the contribution that OR makes to strategic issues in organisations and also to increase awareness of the potential for OR methods to support strategic development and strategic level analysis.

OR in Practice

The OR in Practice SIG aims to create a platform to disseminate knowledge and understanding of OR approaches to structure business problems, develop models and propose solutions for real-life decision-making problems of complex business systems.

OR in the Third Sector

This group aims to help OR analysts working in third sector organisations (charities, social enterprises, voluntary and not for profit groups and NGOs) to do a better job and to encourage OR analysts to practise in a wider arena.

People Analytics

The People Analytics SIG aims to share best practise and knowledge of OR in HR decision-making, explore new thinking and techniques applicable to HR and to explore some of the challenges faced in using data and working in HR.

Problem Structuring Methods

This group's aims include providing a forum to increase understanding and use of PSMs amongst members, and to allow specialist PSM practitioners to explore the connections between PSMs and other MS/OR approaches.

Public Policy Design

The Public Policy Design SIG aims to advance interest in, and the use of, OR in improving public policy design at local, regional, national and international levels.

Simulation OR

The Simulation Special Interest Group aims to provide a forum for the regular exchange of ideas on simulation theory and practice, for academics, practitioners and software suppliers.

Systems Thinking

The Systems Thinking Special Interest Group (ST-SIG) is for Systems/OR practitioners who are using, or want to learn about, systems theories, methodologies and methods to prevent or address highly complex organizational, social and environmental problems.

Women in OR & Analytics Network

The Women in OR & Analytics Network is a network for female OR practitioners and academics.

Special Interest Groups

& Networks