The Fifth Column—O. Tempora, O. Mores, O. C. Jackson Grayson, Jr.

In recent article in the Harvard Business Review [Grayson, C. Jackson, Jr. 1973. Management science and business practice. Harvard Bus. Rev. (July–August) 41–48.], Dr. C. Jackson Grayson discussed the shortcomings of the MS/OR establishment. The article clearly implies that, by and large, practitioners of MS/OR wouldn't know how to punch their way out of a paper bag. Another monumental implication seemed to be that the professon, with very few exceptions, was made up of either fools or knaves. One is left with the uneasy feeling that the MS/OR profession is moving in time to a stately pavane [2], while the world that needs our help is getting its vibes from Alice Cooper or the Led Zeppelin [3].

At the time of this writing, this columnist is not aware of any real reply to, nor discussion of, Dr. Grayson's article in the MS/OR literature. This unfortunate situation, it is hoped, will be somewhat rectified by the following discussion from an admittedly pragmatic point of view.