Focus group discussion is a research methodology in which a small group of participants gather to discuss a specified topic or an issue to generate data. The main characteristic of a focus group is the interaction between the moderator and the group, as well as the interaction between group members. The objective is to give the researcher an understanding of the participants' perspective on the...

Article history: Received 30 September 2007 Accepted 11 December 2008 Available online30December2008

In this course, one main objective is to demonstrate the wide applicability of operations research tools to real systems. Hence, we will focus on modeling and analysis of various economic and social problems as illustrated by examples from the literature. Although we will not cover any solution technique in depth, we will introduce some new analysis tools that are typically outside the scope of...

Demand information is an input for a great deal of operations research models. Assumed as given in many problem instances addressed in the literature, demand data are di cult to generate. In this tutorial, we provide an introduction to disaggregate demand models that are designed to capture in detail the underlying behavioral mechanisms at the foundation of the demand.

An ongoing project is described in which qualitative research was undertaken to guide development of a service program for retarded adults. Several issues concerning the need for research, the type of research, and research methodology appropriate to occupational therapy are discussed. The research activity as well as some findings and supporting data is presented to illustrate how the investig...

Operations Research (OR) is gaining importance in public health interventions and programmes increasingly both nationally and internationally. The focus of these research techniques is to constantly guide the programme implementation to achieve best results. It modulates inputs and processes involved in the programme cycle and strive to produce optimal gains in achieving targets and goals. Util...

We study the process of how firms access basic research and translate this into applied research. Drawing on basic research, firms develop higher quality technologies and develop these technologies more intensely internally. Critical in this process are boundary crossing inventors – inventors that access basic research by active involvement in basic research projects and subsequent involvement ...