The Value of Queueing Theory–A Rejoinder

Professor Jack Byrd, in his article entitled “The Value of Queueing Theory,” expresses his belief that queueing theory has little value to the OR/MS professional. By the illustrations he has provided, it is a convincing case. It is as convincing as the case built by a prosecutor before the defense presents its side of the case. The prosecutor is supposed to present a one sided case. But an academician is supposed to look at all sides and work with a broader horizon. In this case, I submit, the problem is not with queueing theory, but with the vision used in making a case against it. An example is the assumption that the problems given as illustrations in the article are representative of situations where queueing theory is applicable.