New for 2026:
Hands-On Analytics Training Workshops
Tuesday, April 14th
2:30pm – 4:30pm EST
You asked. We listened.
In 2026, we’re going deeper with interactive training workshops designed to turn analytics concepts into real-world impact. These sessions go beyond theory, giving you practical tools, expert insights, and immediately usable takeaways.
With sessions designed for a range of experience levels, this workshop series offers something for everyone.
Workshop topics include:
- The INFORMS Analytics Framework in Action – Discover how business problem and analytics problem statements evolve across domains in real scenarios
- Generative AI in Analytics – Bringing analysts, subject matter experts, and decision-makers together to build stronger analytical teams
- AI & Ethics – Navigating responsibility, trust, and transparency in AI-driven work
- The Analyst’s View – explore how the INFORMS Analytics Framework can drive real-world impact across sectors
Hosted by WINFORMS – INFORMS Washington DC Chapter
- Using the INFORMS Analytics Framework in Team Building – smarter decisions when assessing and improving your analytics team’s capabilities.
- Graphical Process Units (GPUs) and the PDHG Algorithm for Industrial Strength Optimization – the ongoing evolution of Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) and an investigation into the potential value of each to solve larger and more complex models.
- Monte Carlo and Discrete-Event Simulation – hands-on training in basic simulation concepts through the use of an R package with built-in functions that perform simulations.
Bonus:
All participants will receive a Certificate of Completion at the end of each workshop—perfect for sharing with your boss or supervisor as proof of skills gained and value delivered.
All workshops are included with your conference registration.
Upgrade your conference experience.
Leave with knowledge you can use on Wednesday.
Louis Luangkesorn
Using Generative AI in Analytics: bringing analysts, subject matter experts, and decision makers into a better analytical team
Generative AI promises to transform the practice of analytics, however, the foundation models, trained on readily available data, fails in situations that experts would recognize but novices would not. In analytics projects where context and nuance are important this leads to faulty analysis and failed projects. This workshop will demonstrate using Generative AI through the steps of the INFORMS Analytics Framework, with special attention to enabling good communication between the analyst, subject matter experts, and decision makers who will use analytical products. Specifically, Generative AI will be used to enable clear communications between stakeholders and analysts. It will use project artifacts such as Product Requirements Documents, mathematical formulations, and implemented models to enable all stakeholders to verify that analytical products meet project requirements. Finally, use Generative AI to present results for a range of different stakeholders. The workshop will be done using Gemini NotebookLM, but can be followed using any Generative AI persistent workspace tool (e.g. Gemini NotebookLM, Gems, Claude Projects, OpenAI Custom GPTs, or Copilot Agents) or terminal based tools (e.g. Gemini CLI, Claude Code, or OpenAI Codex). While the workshop will implement models as project artifacts, Generative AI will be used to translate back and forth to domain language so programming and modeling knowledge is not necessary.
Joseph Cazier
AI²: Making Smarter Decisions with AI as a Thinking Partner
Generative AI can produce answers quickly, but making smarter decisions requires deeper thinking. This hands-on workshop introduces AI², a structured method for reasoning using AI based on Aristotle’s Insight Loop and described in a recent article in OR/MS Today. The core idea is captured in a simple equation: Aristotelian Insight + Artificial Intelligence = Amplified Impact. This workshop features a hands on exercise using topics from the INFORMS Ethics course to allow participants to see how a critical thought partner can help them see gaps in their thinking. Participants will get hands-on experience with a state-of-the-art AI platform, purposefully trained on this material, using it as a disciplined thinking partner to question assumptions, model situations, test alternatives, clarify judgment, and sharpen conclusions. While ethics provides the example, the method generalizes broadly to analytics practice, teaching, leadership, and learning any complex skill where structured thinking leads to smarter decisions. Please bring your laptop or be prepared to share with another.
Nicole Janeway Bills
Framing Analytics Problems That Stand Up to Reality
This two-hour workshop guides participants through transforming vague business concerns into clear, actionable problem statements using the INFORMS Analytics Framework.
The first hour focuses on problem framing (Domains I and II). Participants practice distinguishing ineffective statements from effective ones that define the current issue, scope, and objectives. Through hands-on exercises, attendees will write business problem statements, then reformulate them into analytics problem statements aligned with descriptive, predictive, or prescriptive approaches.
The second hour addresses common roadblocks across Domains III–VII that can derail analytics projects: data unavailability or quality issues, methodology and skills gaps, model bias and ethical concerns, and deployment complications. Participants will learn how these challenges often require revisiting the original problem framing, business case, and stakeholder alignment—applying the foundational skills from the first hour to course-correct in real time.
Attendees will leave equipped with practical frameworks and a one-page framing template to strengthen problem definition practices within their organizations.
Irv Lustig, CAP-X
Understanding the Potential Role of Graphical Processing Units (GPUs) and the PDHG algorithm for Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) within Industrial Strength Optimization (ISO)
When working on large scale optimization models, keeping the model solvable with enough detail is challenging and critical to successful industrial strength optimization (ISO). Historically this gap is bridged by new advances in optimization which make much larger models still solvable. Two recent advances that are covered in this session are GPUs and the PDHG algorithm whose value for large scale MILP is being investigated. Attendees will leave the session with a basic understanding of GPUs and PDHG, current views on challenges, benefits, and limitations for MILP as well as availability of solvers benefiting from GPUs. There will be speakers from Fico (Xpress), Gurobi, and Nvidia. The moderator is Irv Lustig. Ken Fordyce is organizing the workshop.
Jordan Yahiro, CAP-X
Putting the INFORMS Analytics Framework to Work: A Practitioner’s Guide to Analytics Projects
This two-hour workshop guides practitioners through applying the complete INFORMS Analytics Framework to real-world analytics projects, from initial problem identification through deployment and lifecycle management.
The first hour provides a practical overview of all seven INFORMS Analytics Framework domains, followed by hands-on exercises where participants apply the framework to realistic business scenarios. Through interactive case studies, attendees will practice navigating key decision points across the analytics lifecycle—from problem framing and methodology selection to deployment planning and impact measurement.
The second hour focuses on integrated application, where participants work through scenarios that require coordinating across multiple INFORMS Analytics Framework domains. Exercises emphasize the iterative nature of analytics work and how decisions in later phases often require revisiting earlier assumptions. Group discussions will surface common challenges and practical strategies for keeping projects aligned with business objectives.
Attendees will leave equipped with a comprehensive INFORMS Analytics Framework application checklist and practical experience applying the framework to guide analytics projects from conception through delivery.
Kathryn Walter, CAP-X
Richard Rymer, CAP-P
The INFORMS Analytics Framework for Team Building
While the INFORMS Analytics Framework focuses on analytics work, organizations also find it helpful in making team building decisions. In this workshop, we’ll cover using the Framework in determining what skills you want vs need to hire, picking trainings and stretch assignments for upskilling employees, goal setting, writing job descriptions, planning interview questions and case studies, doing performance evaluations, and more. Intended for managers and individual contributors who often find themselves advising on these topics, this workshop will include examples and additional tools you can bring back to your organization.
Lawrence Leemis
Monte Carlo and Discrete-Event Simulation
One of the difficulties in getting up to speed in Monte Carlo and discrete-event simulation is the time required to learn the syntax of a discrete-event simulation modeling language. This workshop introduces basic simulation concepts through the use of an R package with built-in functions that perform simulations. Attendees are asked to load the R language onto their laptop computers prior to the workshop.
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