INFORMS: Operations research for tough economic times

During these difficult times for the economy, the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS®) is hosting a conference focusing on ways that successful organizations use quantitative methods to make critical business and organizational decisions.

Applying Science to the Art of Business: the 2009 INFORMS Conference on Operations Research Practice will take place at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown from April 26-28, 2009.

The conference highlights include:

• Decision Theater: A presentation by Professor Timothy W. Lant of the Arizona State University Decision Theater on Flexible Decision-Making Platforms for a More Sustainable Future.
• Technology World Series: The 38th Franz Edelman Award Competition . Every year, the competition recognizes outstanding examples of operations research-based projects that transform companies, entire industries, and people's lives. This year's finalists are CSX Transportation, HP, IBM, Marriott International, Norske Skog, and Zara.
• Clinton Foundation: Microbes, Medicines and Math: Applying Operations Research to Global Health by Dr. Justin M. Cohen of the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative, Clinton Foundation.
• Your Kid's Most Frustrating Electronic Purchase: What Went Wrong with Wii Demand Planning at Nintendo: How to Accurately Estimate Demand to Avoid the Same Pitfalls by Beau Martin, Co-Founder and President, American Choice Modeling.
• Risk in Tough Times: Fixing Broken Risk Management Processes by Dr. Louis Anthony (Tony) Cox, Jr., President, Cox Associates; Honorary Full Professor of Mathematics and Clinical Professor of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, University of Colorado.