What do you do if virtual collaboration is hindering your Operations Research progress?

1 Define the problem and the objectives

One of the first steps in any OR project is to define the problem and the objectives clearly and precisely. This is especially important when working virtually, as you may not have the same level of interaction and feedback as in face-to-face settings. To avoid confusion, ambiguity, and misunderstanding, you should communicate the problem and the objectives to all the team members and stakeholders using simple and concise language. You should also agree on the scope, the assumptions, the criteria, and the deliverables of the project, and document them in a written form.

3 Establish roles and responsibilities

When working on an OR project, it is essential to establish roles and responsibilities for each team member and stakeholder. This will help you to distribute the workload, avoid duplication, and ensure accountability. You should also define the expectations, the deadlines, the feedback mechanisms, and the contingency plans for each task and deliverable. You should communicate these roles and responsibilities clearly and regularly, and update them as needed. You should also assign a leader or a coordinator who can oversee the progress, monitor the performance, and resolve any issues or conflicts that may arise.

4 Communicate frequently and effectively

Communication is vital for any OR project, but especially for virtual collaboration. You should communicate frequently and effectively with your team and stakeholders, using the appropriate tools and platforms. You should also use different modes of communication, such as synchronous and asynchronous, verbal and written, formal and informal, depending on the purpose and the context. You should communicate the status, the results, the challenges, and the feedback of your project, and solicit input and suggestions from others. You should also communicate respectfully, constructively, and positively, and acknowledge and appreciate the contributions of others.

5 Test and validate your models and results

One of the final steps in any OR project is to test and validate your models and results. This is crucial to ensure the quality, the accuracy, and the reliability of your work. However, when working virtually, you may not have the same access and resources as in face-to-face settings. Therefore, you should use various methods and techniques to test and validate your models and results, such as sensitivity analysis, scenario analysis, simulation, benchmarking, or peer review. You should also document and report your testing and validation procedures and outcomes, and share them with your team and stakeholders.