OR/MS Today - December 1997

December 1997

Looking for a Few Good People

By Mohan Sodhi

The time has come to actually do something.

Since August 1996, I have been writing this column on cyberspace issues with emphasis on the creation of online communities of OR professionals. Now I want to create such a community of logistics modeling professionals. Do you want to contribute to the logistics modeling profession, increase your logistics business contacts and make some money as well? If so, read on...

To increase the use of logistics modeling in industry, we can create a Web-mediated community of logistics industry professionals that would include discussions moderated by experts, a digital library, compendia of logistics-related resources and thoughtfully compiled summaries of important issues related to logistics modeling. Such an activity would have close ties with INFORMS-sponsored meetings, publications, subdivisions and continuing education. And, as a community of logistics professionals from different companies, it will have an orientation toward promoting logistics commerce while being even-handed to all logistics firms.

Sustaining a community with the Web
The Web enables cheap access of information, is ubiquitous and can transmit different types of information ranging from text files to multimedia movies. Still, a lot needs to be done to manage and create content in order to provide value to busy professionals. We should have:

A good logistics modeling focus.
A reasonable number of professionals with logistics modeling interests from different industries.
Discussions with (a) expert moderators to seed, guide and add value to discussions, (b) complete and easily searchable compendia of discussions, and (c) expert editors to write summaries and syntheses of substantative discussions.
Comprehensive "White Pages" directory with information on professionals (with their permission).
"Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQ) lists with answers.
One-stop shopping with pertinent information from and about those who offer to meet the needs of patrons commercially with such products and services as books and other publications, conferences and professional development seminars, consulting services and software and "Yellow Pages" directory.
Comprehensive, resources pertaining to logistics modeling organized for easy navigation and screened for quality.
Calendar of events at logistics-oriented subdivisions of INFORMS, exhibitions, meetings and conferences, talks at universities, seminars and training sessions.
A listing of logistics modeling job opportunities, initially with links to job-related resources on the Internet and references to the print media.

We can create this online community in four phases:

Phase I: Building the Infrastructure

Identify prospective team members from INFORMS subdivisions and other logistics societies.
Install key team members (volunteers, paid staff).
Register domain name and virtual mailboxes.
Create the Web site using the latest tools available, and the processes for updating it.

Phase II: Building Initial Content

Write FAQ list on the purpose of this community, how to benefit from it and how to participate in it.
Create starting set of discussion forums with broad focus, each with a moderator.
Create satellite of a book-selling e-commerce site.
Create White and Yellow Pages directories.
Start digital library.
Create a process for getting news and announcements.
Create links to job-related sources on the Internet.
Create links to Web sites of logistics organizations, logistics practice journals, etc.

Phase III: Launch

Launch the new online community with suitable announcements (and perhaps advertising) in practice journals and magazines, INFORMS and other society meetings, news groups, and through Web sites of cooperating societies.
Web-based and e-mail listserver-based periodic digests.
Sponsor meetings in INFORMS (or other) conferences.

Phase IV: Enhancement

Create and Moderate additional forums.
Write summary/synthesis documents based on discussions.
Write more FAQ lists.
Continue periodic digest as its editor.
Make White and Yellow Pages more comprehensive.
Make digital library, custom content, and pertinent downloadables more comprehensive.
Expand job opportunities section to allow posting of positions by employers.
Sponsor meetings at INFORMS (or other) conferences.

What are you interested in doing?
There are many ways in which you can help to create this online community and contribute to the logistics modeling profession. As participants of this community are expected to consist largely of professionals from industry, you could increase your logistics business contacts as well. I expect there will be some monetary compensation for your time, if not instantly, then at least in the not-too-distant future. The time has come, so let's do it.

Dr. ManMohan S. Sodhi is the incoming President of the Logistics Section of INFORMS and has recently joined Andersen Consulting in Chicago as Experienced Consultant in supply chain planning. He is the founder of the OR news group, sci.op-research, and helped design and create INFORMS Online. He welcomes your comments at MohanSodhi@AOL.com.

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