INFORMS Releases

CATONSVILLE, MD, June 19, 2015 – If a firm faces troubled times during a stable market, strong advertising can carry it through. But when the market is turbulent, a firm’s Research and Development is more likely to help save it from bankruptcy. A new study published in the Articles in Advance section of Marketing Science, a journal of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS), shows that “intangible assets” built with advertising (such as brands) and R&D (such as patents) can help protect firms from bankruptcy, but the effectiveness of each depends on the market climate.

CATONSVILLE, MD, June 9, 2015 - Did the cross-country drive that you planned using an online mapping service take twice as long as expected? In a new study published in the Articles in Advance section of Transportation Science, a journal of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS), Microsoft researchers working on a project for Bing Maps explain how they developed the first routing engine that satisfies a large number of algorithmic requirements that overcome barriers to generating directions on multi-stage trips like coast-to-coast drives.

CATONSVILLE, MD, June 8, 2015 - The Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS), announced today that the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) has approved the INFORMS Certified Analytics Professional (CAP^®) for educational benefits under 38 CFR 21.4268 of the Code of Federal Regulations, which covers the Montgomery GI Bill. Veterans and other eligible individuals can now seek VA reimbursement for fees associated with applying for INFORMS certification. Reimbursement covers the initial CAP fee and re-examination fees.

CATONSVILLE, MD, May 14, 2015 - Many television advertisers voice fears that distracted viewers – those increasingly frenetic multitaskers using smartphones, laptops and tablets while viewing TV – are becoming less receptive to advertisers’ messages. A new study published in the online Articles in Advance section of Marketing Science, a journal of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS), refutes this conventional wisdom and concludes that the “second screen” puts a virtual store in every consumer’s pocket. Multitasking viewers now visit, browse, and even buy advertised products within moments of seeing a commercial.

CATONSVILLE, MD, May 4, 2015 - A new study published in Marketing Science, a journal of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS), shows double-digit revenue growth for firms that create their own brand-specific online communities.