INFORMS Practice Conference Seeks Proposals for Talks and Posters

The INFORMS practice conference, “Applying Science to the Art of Business,” will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2010 with another intensive, three-day program on real-world analytics. The 2010 meeting is scheduled for April 18-20, at the new Hilton Bonnet Creek Resort in Orlando, Fla.

Known for an invited program of highquality talks on applied analytics, the conference also seeks presentation proposals from practitioners and academics. For the 2010 conference, proposals can be submitted in either of two formats: a 50-minute talk as part of the Select Presentations or a poster presentation. Submissions for both formats will go through a rigorous review and selection process. Selected presenters will be able to register for the conference at $495, 40 percent off the lowest regular rate.

NEW POSTER SUBMISSION FORMAT

The poster session format is a new feature of the meeting, providing a visual, brief-presentation option especially suited to analytics work that may not be extensive enough for a 50-minute talk. This includes analytics projects that are still in progress, noted Conference Committee Chair William Klimack. “The poster format is interactive and allows presenters to benefit from direct feedback from colleagues; this is especially useful for a work-in-progress,” says Klimack.

The poster format also lends itself to corporate or consulting work subject to nondisclosure restrictions that can still be presented at a high level. “We’re also hoping to receive some case studies of projects that were not successful and the lessons learned,” Klimack says. The committee is also interested in practitioners’ experience and advice on “soft topics,” such as selling analytics to internal or client decision-makers, working with non-technical users, etc. Poster presentations will be scheduled in standalone sessions on two days of the conference.

CALL FOR SELECT PRESENTATIONS

The other submission option, Select Presentations, offers a more traditional format. These 50-minute talks are integrated into the regular conference program and scheduled in special tracks. Now in its seventh year as a component of the conference, the Select Presentations draw proposals on the full range of analytics topics, including best practice examples, tutorials with a practice orientation, case studies, emerging topics and applications reports.

The review process is quite rigorous, with both content and speaking expertise considered in the judging. “Because the Practice Conference is a listener’s conference in which the majority of attendees come to listen and learn, it’s important that presenters tailor their talks for this kind of audience and be willing to accept direction from the Selection Committee,” notes Marius Solomon, chair of the Select Presentation review committee.

The submission deadline for both presentation formats is Dec.15. Requirements and guidelines are at: http://meetings.informs.org/Practice2010.

EDELMAN COMPETITION AND OTHER FEATURES

The 2010 Practice Conference will incorporate many other special features that have become important components of the event. The Franz Edelman Competition showcasing the best applications of high-impact analytics will be held on April 19, followed that evening by the announcement of the winner at the Edelman Gala. Two other practice-oriented prizes will be recognized at the Gala: the INFORMS Prize for effective integration of analytics into organizational decisionmaking and the Wagner Prize for outstanding quality and coherence of analysis used in practice.

Two special programs are geared to graduate students and young researchers. The INFORMS Professional Colloquium is a fullday, career workshop for master’s and Ph.D. students interested in analytics practice. The Richard E. Rosenthal Young Researcher Connection is an exclusive networking program for junior faculty and young industry practitioners. Admission to both programs is by nomination, with nominations due by March 1, 2010.

Soft skills are the focus of another intensive program to be held on April 18. Now in its third year, this pair of half-day workshops provides information and practice on the skills needed to work with the people who implement analytics techniques. Group facilitation, interviewing, communicating with senior managers, presenting results and conflict management are covered.

For continuing updates on the 2010 Practice Conference, go to: http://meetings.informs. org/Practice2010.