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Topic 1: An introduction to Operations Research and the nature and identification of problem types. Background to Operations Research (OR). OR tools, techniques and methodologies. What kinds of problems are there? How do we usefully define the problem at hand? How do our expectations influence the way we deal with the problem at hand? How might we usefully address apparently unsolvable problems?

Topic 2. Defining and researching problems within temporal and resource limitations. Given the nature of the current problem, how do we decide what we can do with limited time and resources? How do we logically bound the research? What is Backcasting and how can it be effectively employed? What is planning fallacy and what can we do to address it?

Topic 3: Knowledge and Information. What is knowledge and how does information contribute to it? How do we identify the limits of our knowledge? How do we justify what we know?

Topic 4: Analysis, Synthesis, Analogy and Metaphor. Analysis, synthesis or reification? The use and abuse of analogy and metaphor: the chicken or the egg? If the opposite were true, what evidence would we expect to see (Alexander's question)? Training to fail?

Topic 5: Experts and Predictions. What is an expert and when should we trust them? What is predictable and what is not? Predicting the impossible or conceptualising the probable? What is intuition and when can we trust it?

Topic 6: Situation and Environment. Bad apples or bad barrels: the importance of situation (Zimbardo)? Are you really rational and do you think you should be? What role internal and external factors on human behaviour? When should you follow the crowd and when should you forge your own path?

Topic 7: Techniques and their applications. Nominal Group Technique versus Brainstorming: handling the Alphas. What if it happened differently or didn’t happen at all? If we were wrong, then why would it be: pre-mortems versus post-mortems? Diagnosing evidence, what tells us the most?

Topic 8: Mindsets and Biases. How do we identify and acknowledge our own mindsets? What are some of the more frequent biases limiting cognitive effectiveness? Understanding the importance of context. What are heuristics: when are they helpful and when do they hinder? Deferring your judgement: waiting until the evidence is in and the argument is made.

Topic 9: Argument: Presenting Conclusions. How do we communicate what we understand? Do we understand who we are communicating with? Why is the argument as important as the answer: humility and transparency in representing complex problems? Avoiding manipulation and misrepresentation: legitimate forms of argument.

Workshop presentation in the second week of summer school. Workshop attendance and participation during the summer school. The research essay will be due prior to formal commencement of Semester 1 courses. Students will be expected to discuss their choice of research essay topic and plan with their tutor.

Workshop presentation addresses CLOs 8, 9, 10, 11. Each student must complete an oral presentation of between ten and fifteen minutes duration on one of the ten topics covered in this course. Each student’s presentation should demonstrate depth and breadth of knowledge of the material covered in the topic. The presentation should stimulate class discussion and provide the basis for their research essay.

Workshop attendance and participation CLOs 8, 9, 10, 11.

Research Essay addresses CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9. Students must submit a major essay of appropriate quality and length on one of the topics covered in the course profile. The essay length is 4,500 words. The essay should demonstrate sophisticated research, analysis, synthesis and communication skills, and should meet all appropriate academic standards. Students will be expected to discuss their topic and plan for their research Essay with their tutor.

Electronic submission via email of tutorial presentation notes the evening before the presentation to your tutor. Electronic submission via email of the major essay to your tutor by 5:00pm Monday 16 February 2015.

Please ensure that you CC' yourself on the email, so that you have a copy of your essay.

Extensions

Students wishing to apply for an extension need to submit the relevant form available at  to the school office at least 5 days prior to the due date for the assignment.

Exceptions to the Policy
If one of the following criteria is met, an informal extension can be organised with the course coordinator or tutor:

• small extension – 2 days or less;
• assessment item is worth 20% or less;
• student is registered with the Disability Office (need to attach a Disability Access Plan – DAP).