OR/MS Implementation in Valle, Colombia, S. A.: A Profile of a Developing Region

The purpose of the study was to explore the processes of diffusion of management science and operation research managerial technologies into industrial organizations in a developing region. The study focused mainly on the impact of cultural and environmental variables on the process of diffusion.

Two complementary strategies of research were employed: (1) A community study of organizations in the region, and (2) A longitudinal case study of implementations of OR/MS. The paper presents a profile of OR/MS implementation and managerial innovation in the region. The implications of environmental and organizational infra-structures as well as profiles of attitudes toward the formation of possible implementation and diffusion strategies are analyzed. In addition an inventory of propositions are offered to form a base for future cross-cultural analysis of implementation processes of managerial innovation.