My Two Cents Worth on How OR Should Develop

Abstract

This paper outlines a personal view of the OR method. It incorporates scientific methods and systems methods as appropriate, operating in a set of close, linked, parallel, description-to-implementation dimensions. It argues that effective and efficient use of this method requires attention to orthogonal situation-specific and model-specific dimensions. It suggests several other dimensions which may be of value. Its basis is largely experience as a consultant working within the situation- and model-specific dimensions with what some would see as a ‘hard OR’ perspective. Its central concern is making OR more widely applicable by making the OR approach both broader and more coherent, diminishing the ‘hard-soft’ divide in the process.

Keywords:

• Philosophy of OR
• Practice of OR

¹Department of Accounting and Management Science, University of Southampton Inaugural Address as President of the Operational Research Society, 18 March 1992

¹Department of Accounting and Management Science, University of Southampton Inaugural Address as President of the Operational Research Society, 18 March 1992