Perspectives on MS Applications—All Around the Model

The lengthy discussions that occurred ten or more years ago concerning whether the science which we practice should be called “Management Science,” or whether the original term “Operations Research” ought to be used, are long behind us, as they should be. Nevertheless while most of us prefer the term Management Science, we should not forget the descriptive significance of the older term. “Research before design and implementation” ought to be an important guideline for all of us. Two recent cases noteworthy of illustrating this point are presented.