Size matters: large group methods and the process of operational research

Abstract

This paper will briefly outline some of the reasons for the burgeoning interest in working with the widest range of individuals in an organisation. The paper will explore the emergence of methods and processes to tackle large group work. It will then go on to describe, via case studies, a few methods that have been used in large-scale interventions. The paper will end with some reflections on working with large groups and explore some proposals for the process of OR.

Keywords:

• process of OR
• large group approaches
• problem structuring methods
• soft OR
• facilitation