Community O.R. / Systems

The Community O.R. Unit was established in 1986 to develop a greater understanding of how research in Management Science traditions could be made use of by communities, for communities.  Over the past decade we have undertaken many research projects and supervised PhD studies as well as managing / participating in research and evaluation teams working on a range of inter-related issues (underpinned with University and community teaching and facilitating activities).

Projects:

Funding for our community-based research activity has come from a variety of sources including local community groups, Charitable Trusts and Charitable Organisations, Local and National Government, and Public Sector Agencies (e.g. LEADER+, Learning and Skills Council, NHS and County and District Councils).  Much of this research has been undertaken collaboratively and in partnership with local organisations, colleagues and students and involves active engagement with community members and partners as co-researchers (or active participants) in learning and research processes – some of which have been sustained over many years.

  • Herron (2008) Growing the Future, Community Operational Research Unit
  • Herron (2006) One Community Against Crime, Community Operational Research Unit
  • Herron, R. (2004) Researching capacity-building in Lincolnshire’s mental health voluntary and community sector (CVS), Community Operational Research Unit
  • CORU (2004) New Lighting in Abbey Ward, Interim Report on Research Findings to-date’, Community Operational Research Unit
  • Herron, R. (2002)  Information Requirements Project, for data-sharing between N.E. Lincolnshire Safer Communities Partnership & Humberside Probation Service, Community Operational Research Unit
  • Herron, R. (2001) North Eastern Counties Amateur Swimming Association, analysis to responses from members on professionalisation, Community Operational Research Unit
  • Herron, R. (2001) The Rural (New Start) Bus – An Independent Evaluation by the Community Operational Research Unit, Community Operational Research Unit
  • Herron, R. (2001) The FAST (Fully Acquainted with Systems Thinking) Project.  Final Report to the European Social Fund, Community Operational Research Unit

Publications:

  • Herron, R (2012) Community OR in Encyclopedia of operations research and management science, 3rd edition, Springer Science and Business Media, New York. ISBN 9780470400630
  • Herron, R (2007) Success & performance: the tail that keeps wagging the dog. Systemica (special issue), 14 (1-6). pp. 181-187. ISSN 0167-9961
  • Herron, R and Vilalta, E. (2005) Self-constructed performances: engaged research with communities. Systemica: Journal of the Dutch Systems Group, 15 (1-6). pp. 27-34. ISSN 0167-9961
  • Herron, R and Finlayson, D (2005) Fast forward with strategic choice: mutual consulting for small enterprise development. In: Planning under pressure: the strategic choice approach. Elsevier Butterworth Heinneman,Oxford, pp. 327-330. ISBN 0750663731
  • Herron, R. (2004)  Supporting the creation and development of community knowledge in social networks, keynote, UK Operational Research Society conference
  • Herron, R (2004)  Energy in Social Dynamics: A Community O.R. Perspective, SysteMexico
  • Herron, R (2003) Editorial – Community OR, OR Insight,  Vol 16 Issues 1

Presentations:

  • Herron, R (2012) Structuring Community Issues – working with community members to identify and (re) structure local problematic issues and support community co-ordinated responses,  EURO 2012, Vilnius, Lithuania
  • Herron R and Mendiwelso Bendek Z (2011) Community interventions that support self-organising processes, in OR53 the UK OR Society conference, 6-9 Sept 2011,University of Nottingham
  • Vilata Perdomo, E. and Herron, R (2011) Different Approaches to Model Communities: Their Impact in the Evaluation of Public Policies.Institute of Industrial Engineering, IIE Annual Conference and Expo 2011. Reno,NV. June 2011
  • Jackson, J. &  Herron, R. (2010), Challenging Inequality? Vertical Interventions to Horizontal Problems? A study of a Healthy Living Centre within Lincolnshire Probation – UK OR Society Conference OR52, 7-9 September, Royal Hollaway, University of London
  • Schuurman, J.G. &  Herron, R. (2010), Why communities must be able to fail in order to survive, Community OR Stream – UK OR Society Conference OR52
  • Herron, R (2009) Panel member presentation at  Tribute to Jonathon Rosenshead @ 70, London School of Economics
  • De Zeew, Z and Herron, R (2009) Life, love and laughter as principles of good organisation, in Fummee 2 – Anticipatory Systems Conference, Lincoln 2009, University of Lincoln
  • R Herron (2008) Empowering Communities – Reflections on Community Operational Research in the East Midlands , EastMidlandsOR Group, EMORG
  • Evans, H and Herron, R (2008) Developing a dialogue to deliver outcomes. In: OR50:UK OR Society Conference
  • Herron, R (2004) Supporting Sustainability in Communities (constructing conversations for change inLincolnshire), Passion, Power and Possibilities conference, March 2004, Cornwall Business School
  • Herron, R. (2002) Community OR in Action, Young OR 13 conference, The University of Bath
  • Herron, R. (2002) Building Community OR Capacity in Dynamic Environments,  IFORS 2002 Conference, The University of Edinburgh