Strategic Operations Research and the Edelman Prize Finalist Applications 1989–1998

Abstract

In an earlier study we examined the available evidence on the Edelman Prize finalist applications 1989–1998. This study concluded that 13 of the 42 private sector applications provide examples of strategic operations research (SOR) when SOR is defined as operations research that creates a sustainable competitive advantage. In a follow-up study we tested our classifications, gathering longitudinal information on the continued success of the Edelman applications. We contacted people who were familiar with all the private sector applications that were Edelman finalists 1989–1996 and had at least five years of history since the competition. We describe the post-Edelman history of these applications and use this data to reassess their strategic role. We found that the longitudinal data provides evidence to support our original classification, but also suggests that several additional applications were more strategic than was originally apparent. We conclude that almost 60% (20 of 34) of these applications created a sustainable competitive advantage for their firms and provide examples of SOR.

Study on the Evolutionary Mechanism from Operational Research Activities to Sustainable Competitive Advantage

“…In the following study, Bell and his fellowships carried out investigations on 34 Edelman finalist applications. The longitudinal data provide evidence to support SOR [2][3]. However, how to achieve sustainable competitive advantage by the OR activities has not yet been revealed.…”

Reassessing the scope of OR practice: The Influences of Problem Structuring Methods and the Analytics Movement

“…Ormerod, 1996;Ranyard, 1995). More recently, various contributions authored by Bell (Bell, 1998;Bell & Anderson, 2002;Bell, Anderson, & Kaiser, 2003)), in particular Bell and Anderson's discussion of the Edelman award entries provided further evidence of OR's successful strategic innovations.…”

Anatomy of the Edelman: Measuring the World’s Best Analytics Projects

“…A number of prior manuscripts evaluate the Edelman Award finalists based on several dimensions. Bell et al (2003) is the only prior research paper that considers elements of Edelman finalists. They evaluate the presence of "strategic OR" within the 42 private sector Edelman finalists between 1989 and 1998 and the extent to which these projects provided continued, sustainable benefit to the companies at which they were implemented.…”