Operational Research in Organizations: a Metaphorical Analysis

Abstract

The range of possible ways in which OR influences and is influenced by the organization in which it takes place is great. These influences will be due in part to the nature of the organization involved and such factors cannot be considered in general. However, other factors will have their roots in the generic processes and character found in OR and organizations. A potentially useful way of investigating these factors is to ask what part OR plays in an organization. The particular view held of organizations and of the behaviour of people within them will determine how this aspect of OR is understood. In this paper Morgan's method of organizational analysis based upon the idea of metaphor is adopted to explore the place of OR in organizations. This approach explicitly uses a multi-faceted style of analysis, which is seen to be preferable to one which is more partial in its treatment of organization.