INTRODUCING UNDERGRADUATES TO THE SPIRIT OF OR WHILE IMPARTING SUBSTANTIVE SKILLS

This paper presents an outline of two introductory undergraduate cours es in OR which specifically aim to emphasize aspects of Operational Re search (OR) other than just the mathematical tools involved. The cours es were developed independently, but have many similarities and both a ddress the same problem-how to present the broad and somewhat elusive nature of practical OR to undergraduate students encountering the subj ect for the first time. It is the authors' belief that, although diffi cult, this is both desirable and possible within the resource constrai nts which naturally apply to undergraduate level teaching. A basic und erstanding of the general nature and philosophy of OR at an early stag e can do much to stimulate and motivate students to get the most out o f their further studies, not only in OR, but also in statistics, compu ting, applied mathematics and related fields. Both of the courses desc ribed include elements such as special lectures, case studies, group w orking, report writing and management games - ideas which may be able to be adapted and improved to be of use in a variety of introductory O R courses.