INFORMS Open Forum

The MSOM Society calls for volunteers to join the MSOM Diversity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee. As defined by the recently approved bylaw amendment proposal, the MSOM DEI committee:

• conducts an annual Harassment and Inclusion Survey of the MSOM Society membership.  Highlights of the results of this survey are presented at an MSOM Business Meeting each year.
• shares the survey analysis report with the INFORMS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee each year to help this committee make recommendations and to support policies and activities that advance DEI principles across the organization.
• communicates INFORMS DEI Committee updates regarding INFORMS efforts around harassment and inclusion to the MSOM membership.
• and advises MSOM leadership on initiatives to prevent/reduce harassment problems and improve the inclusiveness of the society.

The MSOM DEI committee consists of six members, 2 members rotating off each year to be replaced. In turn, this call for nominations seeks 2 new committee members to serve in the committee for the next three years (starting June 2021). All members of the MSOM society are eligible to serve in the MSOM DEI committee, which targets a diverse makeup including underrepresented groups.

Interested members should email Atalay Atasu (atalay.atasu@insead.edu) to volunteer for one of the committee membership positions by January 31, 2021. The current MSOM DEI committee members and the MSOM Board will select new members from among the volunteers.

Some important remarks regarding the mandate of the committee and the vision of the current MSOM DEI committee are as follows:

The MSOM DEI committee does not engage in punitive actions against individuals. It rather serves to create an inclusive climate in the society. To this end, conducting an annual DEI/inclusive climate survey is one of the key responsibilities of the committee.  The society membership has found the DEI surveys conducted so far to be very informative. In turn, the committee is tasked with continuing the survey to gauge the 'inclusivity climate' of our society. By reporting the results of the survey in society business meetings, the committee reminds our members that promoting diversity, inclusion, and creating a welcoming community is critical; and keeps the conversation going regarding the climate in our community. The committee is also expected to explore and initiate activities to promote the inclusivity-climate of our society. Although the committee or the MSOM Board have no authority regarding any informs journals (including the M&SOM journal), one example of such initiatives could be informing journal editors regarding journal-related findings from the annual DEI/inclusive climate surveys.