Introduction: 2013 Daniel H. Wagner Prize for Excellence in Operations Research Practice

Competition for the 2013 Daniel H. Wagner Prize for Excellence in Operations Research Practice provided the six finalist papers featured in this special issue of Interfaces. The prestigious Wagner Prize—awarded for achievement in implemented operations research and advanced analytics—emphasizes quality and originality of mathematical models and clarity of written and oral exposition. Researchers from MIT, Technion—its Israeli counterpart—and the client organization won the competition for the design and successful implementation of a novel two-phase distribution algorithm, which greatly reduces the cost of delivering print magazines for Yedioth Group, the largest media company in Israel. The impressive hospital emergency department work of the team from Georgia Tech and the Grady Health System garnered a unique second-place-winner award. The remaining finalist papers describe work in optimization of the desk customer services staff for an Italian utility company, logistics optimization for an automotive parts manufacturer, efficient management of pressure in a water distribution network, and improved scheduling for the German Basketball League.