President Trump’s commitment to making the US government more efficient is commendable. However, some of his recent executive orders have raised questions about the effectiveness of his plans. Nonetheless, there is a great opportunity for the US government to collaborate with thousands of US researchers from the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) and the Production and Operations Management Society (POMS), who have proven records of helping the government become more efficient and effective.
FEATURED ARTICLE
Improving the Peer Review Process: How to Write a Good Referee Report
It is almost impossible to imagine the operations research and management science (OR/MS) academic field (or most others) without the institution of peer review. Yet, this institution is neither as old (only becoming ubiquitous since the 1970s) or as universally established as one may imagine. In fact, recently, peer review has received serious criticism. How to improve our peer review system, explore alternative publication models and seek the future of academic publishing is a worthwhile discussion.
LATEST NEWS 
FEATURED ARTICLE
Living and Teaching with Data
On Oct. 24-25, 2024, the North Carolina State University (NC State) Data Science and AI Academy (DSA), Data Science 4 Everyone, the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation, The Science House and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) division hosted the second annual NC Data Science Education Summit. The event brought together educators, students and industry leaders to highlight the growing need for data science curricula in North Carolina schools and promote data literacy among students and educators.
SPONSORED CONTENT from Gurobi
WELL INFORMED
Pursuing a doctoral degree can be both rewarding and challenging. Traditionally, the Ph.D. process is one of navigating rigorous course loads; unrealistic expectations imposed by family, advisors and self; and moments of intense stress. Many students feel overextended, isolated and unsupported, which produces a rise in mental stress/illness. For students in underrepresented groups, the journey can be more complex because of the unique stressors they may face.
What's Your StORy?
Carol DeZwarte, CAP
“There are two big things about being involved with INFORMS. In order: people and profession. As an introvert, I don’t meet people very easily, which makes it harder for me to know where to go and what to do when I’m frustrated at work, or when I wanted to change industries. Having INFORMS people to talk to has been so helpful. The more powerful thing is showing up at a conference and knowing you are with your people.”
—Carol DeZwarte, CAP, Data Science & Analytics Leader
Click here to watch the full video interview.FEATURED ARTICLE
Tribute to John D.C. Little
John D.C. Little was a giant in the field of operations research (O.R.) and marketing science. A vast amount of bibliographic material, remembrances and video content exists. The purpose of this In Memoriam is to review his contributions to the field, highlight critical links to the historical documentation and draw out his lessons for us in the future.
SPONSORED CONTENT from INFORMS
Behind the scenes with #2025Analytics Keynote Dick den Hertog
I really like the name, Analytics+, because for me it also means Analytics+ is broadening the scope. I think I would also like to broaden the scope in application into the NGO (nongovernmental organization) world, to the sustainable development goals world. So in that sense, I think this new name fits very well with my mission that I have when I go to the conference.
We’re in the countdown to the 2025 INFORMS Analytics+ Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, April 6-8, when more than 700 leading analytics professionals and industry experts will come together to discover new solutions to business problems, connect and network, and celebrate excellence in the field.
Joining me to help build the excitement for this year’s conference is Dick den Hertog, professor of operations research at the University of Amsterdam, who will be sharing a sneak peek of his keynote presentation titled, “Analytics for a Better World,” which will showcase the transformative potential of analytics in enabling nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to make a greater impact on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
FEATURED ARTICLE
The Symbiotic Relationship of Humans and AI
As the capabilities, accessibility and availability of artificial intelligence (AI) systems grow, the future of work depends on creating effective collaborations between those systems and humans. Instead of replacing human labor, AI is more productively viewed as augmenting it. AI excels at analyzing stable historical data, whereas humans bring intuition, innovation and the ability to adjust rapidly to dynamic environments. These complementary skills hint at the potential for human and AI interactions that are not defined by the extremes of full automation versus human supremacy, but instead rest on a collaborative continuum that depends on the strengths of each participant and the needs of the problem at hand. This article offers insights into three factors that can lead to more productive human and AI collaborations.
What's Your StORy?
Jonathan Owen, CAP
“You don’t know what you don’t know. We interview a lot of new graduates, and I always tell them, when you’re looking for something, the two most important things (in my experience) are 1) who your leader is (your direct boss) and 2) the culture of the team. I never try to sell anybody. When you’re interviewing for jobs, you’re looking for a match.”
—Jonathan Owen, CAP, GM, Retired
Watch the full interview on the INFORMS YouTube channel.
FEATURED ARTICLE
A Prominent Role for INFORMS in the Age of AI
In recent decades, much of the emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI) has been on machine learning, which has led to significant successes in tasks such as natural language processing, image recognition, game playing, robotics and self-driving cars. As a result, AI has gained prominence in the public eye as a foremost set of advanced analytical techniques that can bring practical value. These promising AI developments run the risk of overshadowing OR/MS, including in the very organizational and societal decision-making scenarios in which OR/MS has been focused and typically extremely impactful and effective. It is important to emphasize that, despite the successes of AI, there are many organizational decision-making scenarios in which techniques from OR/MS are more suitable than an AI approach, yielding significantly better (often provably optimal) solutions.
DEPARTMENTS 
Inside Story
Steady in a Shifting World
For more than 50 years, this publication has been a trusted source of knowledge, exploration, history and narratives. Through decades of societal shifts, technological revolutions and academic advancements, OR/MS Today has remained committed to delivering well-researched, timely and thought-provoking content. Although the world may change, our dedication to uncovering and sharing meaningful insights remains unchanged.
President's Desk
INFORMS: 30 Years and Going Strong
As the leadership is passed to me by the 2024 president, Julie Swann, INFORMS has never been stronger. We have exceeded 12,000 members and set a record with more than 7,000 attendees at the 2024 INFORMS Annual Meeting in Seattle. We also set an astounding record with more than 5.8 million downloads of journal articles in a single year. I appreciate the hard work done by Julie and her predecessors to get INFORMS to this point. I am honored that the membership has elected me to build on this momentum.
HQ Highlights
Dispelling the Myths About Advanced Degrees
Too often, I hear people say they can’t afford to pursue an advanced degree, especially a Ph.D., and it breaks my heart. They think it’s financially out of reach, that it’s a luxury reserved for those with deep pockets or that they’ll be buried in student debt forever. As many of you already know, those myths are just that: myths.
INFORMS Initiatives
Introducing the INFORMS Quantum Computing and Operations Research Ad Hoc Committee
Quantum technology is projected to unlock up to $2 trillion in economic benefits over the next 10 years, with the largest gains expected in industries such as chemicals, life sciences, finance and mobility. Beyond economic benefits, quantum technology holds significant potential for societal advancements, which is why the United Nations has proclaimed 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. Within INFORMS, there is a growing community contributing to quantum technology, particularly in the development of algorithms that run on quantum computers.
Forum
How Big Data Can Make (or Break) Your Online Shopping
When it comes to online shopping, nothing is more frustrating than waiting for your online order to arrive … and it’s late. Whether it’s the hot new tech gadget or your favorite brand of athletic shoes, consumers expect their orders to arrive on time. Some might call this magic, but in the real world, it’s called big data.
Conference Preview
2025 INFORMS Analytics+ Conference
The 2025 INFORMS Analytics+ Conference is set to bring together more than 700 analytics professionals, industry leaders and innovators in Indianapolis for three days of learning, networking and celebration of analytics excellence. As the vibrant capital of Indiana, Indianapolis offers an ideal backdrop for the conference. The city’s commitment to innovation and its welcoming atmosphere make it an exciting and fitting location for analytics professionals to gather, learn and shape the future of the field.
Subject to ...
The Story Behind the “Subject to” (s.t.) Podcast: Celebrating 100 Episodes
Over the years, I have watched several fascinating oral history interviews with legendary O.R. personalities, professionally conducted and produced by INFORMS. Nevertheless, in this era of podcasts, I thought that an alternative initiative, keeping the oral history format but with a broader and more informal scope, could complement this existing successful project. I shared the idea with close colleagues, who were all very supportive and enthusiastic, which boosted my confidence for what was to come: a life-changing experience.
Tech Tips
Unpacking Shift-Left Testing Benefits: Key to Reducing Costs and Boosting Collaboration
With the introduction of shift-left testing, there is a significant shift in incorporating testing activities earlier in the development life cycle, starting from the design phase. This initiative-taking strategy enables quicker defect detection. By identifying issues early on, shift-left testing notably reduces the chances of rework, enhances software quality and improves team collaboration, resulting in more efficient project delivery.
Student Perspectives
A World Without O.R.
The artistic fervor of this short column is to delete operations research (O.R.) and imagine a counterfactual world that functions in its absence. Nonetheless, the prevailing intent of this article is that of a believer attempting to appreciate the role the discipline has played in society.
Last Word
Solving the Real Problem: The Meta-Problem Approach to Empowering Future Problem-Solvers
In the coming issues of OR/MS Today, I will dive into how that understanding of problem-solving generalizes to other situations. I will cover the idea of the “meta-problem” – the choice of which problem to solve. Taking the idea further, I will discuss the iterative way real-world problem-solving works. Finally, this framework can be used not only to solve problems, but also to teach a generation of more skillful and resilient problem-solvers.
