New #ProBonoOR project: 'Understanding our audience'

Pro Bono O.R. – enabling managers to make more effective decisions

Pro Bono O.R. is a scheme operated by The OR Society that places professional analysts in short term projects with third sector organisations in the UK. 

Projects require skilled professionals who work in operational research, analytics or related professions.  If you have the skills required for a project, we’d love to hear from you.

Please find details of a new project below that we are seeking a volunteer(s) for:

The Theatre Chipping Norton

Information about the organisation:

Charitable objectives:

We exist to ‘promote, maintain, improve and advance education and the encouragement of the arts for the public, particularly the inhabitants of Chipping Norton, its surrounding areas and children within these areas.

Main activities of the organisation: 

Presenting theatre, cinema, screens, dance, music, comedy to the public. Our Take Part department includes 2 youth theatre groups every night of the week plus holiday workshops and 13 regular weekly sessions for young people and adults. We also produce an annual pantomime that is renowned in the UK as being the home of traditional panto, along with 2 other ‘HomeGrown’ shows. Recently these shows have undertaken tours of the UK, we have co-produced with other venues, and have transferred a show into London for a 2.5 week run this Summer.

Project summary:

Project: To understand our audience, locate more audience to reach out to, to build our resilience and sustainability into the future.

Time commitment: approx. 3-5 days

Location: The Theatre, OX7 5NL, but we are happy to also communication via phone/email etc.

Please read project scope  and if you feel you are able to offer your assistance please complete the application form and return to me along with your CV by midday on Monday 17^th October.

If you would like to volunteer on a project but are not able to commit to the full time requirement please let me know as it may be possible to pair you up with another analyst.  Lastly if you would like to work on a project as part of a pair or with the support of a mentor please indicate on your application and we can facilitate this. 

I look forward to hearing from you and once again thank you for your help and support.

For further information about the scheme please visit: http://www.theorsociety.com/Probono  

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Completed case study: Simplifying selection and improving allocation for Charityworks

Charityworks runs a one-year graduate development programme in the third sector.

The Problem

Charityworks wanted to learn how they could streamline their selection and matching processes to make them more efficient and effective as they scaled the programme up.

The Approach

Two Pro Bono O.R. volunteers analysed the contribution of selection components by analysing how the previous years’ results would have changed had they been omitted singly or in combination.

They used data on a selection of best- and worst-performing candidates to assess the predictive power of the different assessment activities

The volunteers recognised the matching candidates to posts as an example of the Assignment Problem and after reviewing the literature decided to approach it using the Hungarian Methgod.

They developed an Excel-based prototype using VBA to produce initial allocations.

The Solution

• The volunteers analysed the components of the selection process to show which ones were contributing to whether candidates passed the selection 
• They also showed which ones were better predictors of performance in post 
• They developed a prototype spreadsheet-based model to allocate candidates to posts

The Benefits

• Charityworks decided to dispense with their second stage assessment centre
• Charityworks were able to make more data-driven decisions about the remaining assessment activities 
• The volunteers learnt about a classic O.R. problem in a different setting and did some fairly intensive coding
• Charityworks are planning to take on a MSc student to carry the work on, so spreading awareness of O.R.

Charityworks commented: 'Dedicated volunteers committed to the project added great value for data/insight-driven decisions'

To view the case study slide and other completed projects with Pro Bono O.R. please visit: www.theorsociety.com/probono

Pro Bono O.R. video - Analysts: volunteer your skills for good causes with Pro Bono O.R.

The Operational Research Society runs its Pro Bono O.R. scheme to match up analysts with charities and other third sector organisations to improve their operations - for free!

This is not only great for the charity but great for the analyst (and their employers), giving you a wider experience, a track record in consultancy and management, and professional stimulation too!

To find out what the volunteers had to say about the scheme click here.

Find out more at about the scheme here or tweet to Felicity McLeister at ‏@FMcLeister to get the conversation started.

Join the Social Impact Analysts Association for Talking Data this November

Talking Data is the fourth international annual conference from the Social Impact Analysts Association (SIAA) on the 3^rd and 4^th November in Toronto, Canada. Join impact analysts from across the globe to discuss questions around how we can ensure that the data we collect is creating the most social impact or value.

Help drive the impact agenda forward across charities, businesses, and governments at this fantastic international opportunity to participate in two days of workshops, dialogue and networking at an international level. Find out more information here: http://talkingdata2014.org/  

Why are we Talking Data?

Collecting data is not enough. Data will not speak for itself. Work needs to be done to ensure that measurements deliver the right message. From writing social impact reports for our funders to telling stories to inspire our stakeholders, how we present data has a huge effect on how it is interpreted and then used. This is why at SIAA’s annual conference this year we will be talking about data and how we make it speak.

This event offers a fantastic opportunity for anyone interested in social impact analysis to engage with expertise that is driving the impact agenda forward across charities, businesses, and governments across the globe.

The day will include:

·         Workshops: Participate in in depth discussions on the key challenges and opportunities in the field of social impact analysis.

·         Plenaries: Hear leading professionals presenting inspirational ideas.

·         Interactive activities: Get hands on in fun and collaborative tasks.

·         Networking: Meet, learn from, and share with those working in social impact analysis internationally.

When: 3^rd – 4^th November 2014

Where: St James Cathedral Centre, Toronto, Canada

Program: Available at http://talkingdata2014.org/program/

Tickets: $325 CAD (+ booking fee). Available at https://talkingdata.eventbrite.co.uk/

There is a $75 discount on tickets for SIAA members. Members should email hello@siaassociation.org to receive their discount code.