More on the team

For Mary Helander, operations research provides the most interesting approach to business-problem solving and analysis because of the strong methodology it invokes to address complex decision making.

Properly addressing an operations issue requires carefully formulating a problem at the outset. Researchers like Mary will first examine the entire system and identify all components. Then they define interrelationships, take into account limiting resources and consider cost and benefit drivers and constraints. All of these factors are then compiled into a representative model before approaching a solution. Formalizing a business problem in terms of mathematics makes it more likely that the most valuable solution will be found.

Having worked on all kinds of business problems in manufacturing, transportation and software development processes – in both academia and business consulting – Mary understands the challenges as well as the importance of discipline in the discovery phases of modeling for business analytics. She has experience with implementing packaged software solutions as well as specifying, designing and developing customized solutions for optimization. Mary has also taken part in numerous studies to determine the appropriate approach for developing solutions and has contributed to the development of IBM’s own unique, quantitative approach for vendor evaluation and selection.

Mary’s work in software reliability engineering has given her an appreciation of the business opportunity for optimal resource allocation. Over the years, she has developed models and solutions based on linear and nonlinear optimization, for continuous and discrete variables, and under both deterministic and stochastic input assumptions. Using various models for optimal resource allocation, Mary has been able to help a telecommunications company make its software testing processes more efficient, saving money in development while making the end product more reliable. Her analytical models have also assisted a household products retailer in finding a solution for performing freight bill auditing and payment. And she has used business models to help a global manufacturer improve its distribution operations through optimized sourcing.

Working with IBM’s On Demand Innovation Services (ODIS), Mary is able to apply her knowledge to what she enjoys most: getting results. Some may enjoy the process of developing a solution, but Mary considers it a means to an end. For her, results are also a matter of teamwork. Just like the soccer teams she has played on for years, each team member brings a unique mix of skills or perspectives to creating a solution that is a win for the client and the solutions team.