Choosing the Operational Research Programme for B.I.S.R.A

This paper examines some important problems in the evaluation and selection of research projects, with particular reference to operational research projects in a central industry research organization. A method for project evaluation is suggested which provides data suitable for use in a powerful and flexible formal procedure for project selection. In evaluating a project, the assessment of resource requirements is based on a probabilistic network plan of the project, and the estimates of benefits are derived from the marginal effects on the industry of performing or not performing the project, using discounted cash flow techniques. The procedure for project selection chooses not only the projects to be undertaken, but also the team sizes that should be used. A wide variety of constraints can be imposed on the system to reflect different aspects of management policy or other special factors. The procedures described have been implemented, and have proved well worth while.