Karen Smilowitz
Professor of Operations
Professor of Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences, McCormick School of Engineering
Karen Smilowitz is the James N. and Margie M. Krebs Professor in Industrial Engineering and Management Science at Northwestern University and a professor of Operations at the Kellogg School of Management. Dr. Smilowitz is an expert in modeling and solution approaches for logistics and transportation systems in both commercial and nonprofit applications. She has been instrumental in promoting the use of operations research within the humanitarian and nonpro?t sectors through the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the National Academy of Engineering, as well as various media outlets. Dr. Smilowitz is the Editor-in-Chief of Transportation Science and a Fellow of the INFORMS society.
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INFORMS Fellow, Class of 2022, INFORMS
Operations for Social Impact (OPNS-951-0)
The rise in data availability and analytics capabilities have begun to revolutionize the way non-profit and humanitarian organizations engage in their work to advance social good. In this course, we will explore the challenges and opportunities of achieving social good in the age of analytics through the lens of operations management. While the ultimate goals of the organizations we study focus on achieving their broad social mission, we will consider how improved operational decisions can facilitate greater impact. Students will explore the links between operational decisions and the mission outcomes of an organization. As one example, we will study how operational decisions related to the scheduling of patients for a mobile health care provider can impact the organization's ability to increase access to healthcare for children with asthma. Students will work in teams on a series of group projects and case studies that range in topic from advanced technology for disaster response and preparedness to improved decision-making frameworks for community-based health care providers. To assist in the understanding of these complex settings, the course will include guest speakers from local and national organizations. Class discussions and related assignments will focus on the development of quantitative models and tools to inform operational decisions that efficiently use limited resources and ultimately expand the capacity of organizations to achieve their missions.
