title: The institutionalization of operations research.
abstract: When the conceptualization of OR is inappropriate, institutionalization will not take place. For this reason, the discussion here has focused as much on the pitfalls in OR design as on factors that facilitate institutionalization. Research that is inappropriately adapted to the societal or programmatic context will not be institutionalized, nor will OR lead to institutionalized research capabilities if theory is ignored or the research lacks credibility. The institutionalization of credible and scientifically sound OR requires well-trained social scientists who can carry out this task. Career opportunities must persist in OR so that well-trained scientists will find in an attractive and rewarding pursuit. Long-term projects facilitate institutionalization by providing a setting where work teams can be developed and career tracks defined. Academics and universities institutionalize OR by sponsoring training in applied research and developing high-level research leadership. For this reason, institutional linkages and mechanisms that nurture collaboration facilitate the institutionalization of OR. Finally, institutionalization of OR implies that research is being utilized for action by program management and the policy community. There is extensive literature on the determinants of research utilization, much of which is relevant to the question of how OR can be institutionalized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Planning and International Health, School of Public Health, University of Michigan.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Simmons
mesh_terms: D000047:Academies and Institutes / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000592:standards*; D006291:Health Policy; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D009874:Operations Research; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards