Operations Research in Perspective

Abstract

*MORSE, our first president, called in 1953 for increased attention to analytical techniques and their applications, to experiments in operations research, and to education for new operations research workers. [' ORINEHART, after drawing attention to the need for professional standards and for ethics in practice, warned against overenthusiastic selling of the promise of operations research.[2] *STEINHARDT spoke of the need for expansion of operations research into industry and into government outside the military departments. 3] *BROTHERS, in calling for increased educational opportunities for future operations-research workers, stressed three devices: academic leave for senior workers, interchange arrangements between universities and operations-research groups, and similar cooperative arrangements for graduate students. [3 *ACKOFF described the opportunities for operations research in national planning, particularly in underdeveloped countries, and recommended steps to seize them.15] oKoOPMAN urged operations-research work in the spirit of science (as quoted in Lathrop[71). oLATHROP called for more scientific work in the spirit of operations.I71 *HITCH discussed the difficulties of handling uncertainties in operations research and urged an increased recognition of the impact of uncertainty on operations research and system studies. 13 *ERNST discussed the difficulties we face in tackling large strategic problems and urged progress toward conquering them. [] *And FLOOD, after sketching several challenging new areas that present opportunities for operations-research workers, called for cooperation between them and other specialists who can contribute to effective work in these new areas.1101