Death of an OR group

As part of a major investigation into the success and survival of OR groups in the UK, the closure of a long standing OR group in an organisation in the energy sector was examined. Several members of the organization and the OR group were interviewed about the closure and the quality of the OR service, confirming that the Group had many satisfied clients. The factors influencing the closure were related to a set of previously identified success factors. External and organizational factors were the main influences on the closure decision but some weaknesses in the management of the group were observed. Following the closure, several members of the Group were redeployed, but two years afterwards only one remained in the organization, highlighting the reduced chances of survival for dispersed OR.