More than 1,700 papers will be presented during the meeting, which will feature educational workshops, live plenary talks and special activities for practitioners. In addition, regular features such as the Job Placement Service, Teachers Program and vendor exhibits will be available.
On Monday, Oct. 30, from 9:35-10:35 a.m., C.K. Prahalad of the University of Michigan will speak on "Competition for Competence: New Games and New Rules" during the first plenary speech of the meeting. He will discuss how the ability to shift focus to new and volatile business opportunities is of increasing importance to the success of organizations. This capacity - the portfolio of competencies acquired by a firm - may be the new measure of corporate health, according to Prahalad.
Ralph Keeney of the University of Southern California will give the Omega Rho Distinguished Lecture on Monday afternoon from 1:30-2:30 p.m. In his talk on "Evaluating Life and Death Decisions," Keeney will present a number of facts to guide constructive thinking about decisions concerning life-threatening risks in order to help evaluate alternatives, design public policy and laws, and communicate specific risk problems. Prior to delivering his speech, Keeney will be inducted as the 22nd honorary member of Omega Rho, a society of collegiate chapters and members founded to honor excellence in OR and MS-related disciplines. Both plenary talks will be given in Room Ponchartrain A of the Sheraton.
Participants interested in improving their teaching methods will have an opportunity to take part in Educational Forum Workshops on Saturday, Oct. 28, and Sunday, Oct. 29. On Saturday, from 3-7 p.m., in the Bayside B Room, Karla Bourland of Dartmouth College and Rajan Suri of the University of Wisconsin will present "Teaching Manufacturing Process Analysis and Choice in a Core MBA Operations Management Course." A module of seven class days for a core OM course in an MBA program will be presented to demonstrate how students can be introduced to the linkage among a firm's objectives, its distinctive competencies, its markets, its products and production process choices, and many other technical manufacturing issues.
The second workshop in the Educational Forum - "Teaching Global Operations and Logistics," will be presented by Ricardo Ernst of Georgetown University and Panos Kouvelis of Duke University on Sunday from 8 a.m.-noon in Bayside B. The workshop will focus on the operations and logistics function in firms that source, produce, distribute and market in multiple nations and compete in a global arena.
When not attending the meeting, participants can immerse themselves in the culture and history of this colorful city. Whether listening to jazz, blues, Cajun or zydeco music at a local club, sampling creole and Cajun food at one of the many outstanding restaurants, or exploring antique shops, attendees at the INFORMS New Orleans meeting will have an opportunity to not only participate in an informative conference, but to enjoy a lively, beautiful city as well.