Looking Up at Mathematical Programming

It is estimated that more people in the world are busy sowing methodologies of mathematical programming than reaping the fruits that these might bear. This paper investigates the fruits: it is looking up from the black soil of practice to the pure air of theory. If mathematical programming may be compared to a pyramid, it turns out that the pyramid is positioned upside-down, a paradoxical position found to correspond with nature.

First results and research plans are discussed in two areas, market research and consumer research of mathematical programming. Market research considers the applications field of methodologies as a whole: which methodologies can be “sold” and in which areas is future demand? Consumer research considers methodologies from the viewpoint of the individual user; he will use benchmarks and other means to evaluate the software products in which the methodologies are incorporated.