Most readers of OR/MS Today have played strategy games: chess, checkers and Monopoly, for example, all involve anticipating opponents’ plans and trying to outwit them. Many have played games more detailed and more specifically focused on conflict:“Risk,”“Diplomacy”and the military games from such companies as Simulations Publications, Inc. (SPI) and Avalon Hill. Few, however, have seen the extent to which strategic games are being used to shape national and corporate strategies, or considered the possibilities – and limitations – of incorporating quantitative analysis in these studies.
Volume 36, Number 6, December 2009
FEATURE ARTICLES
DIGITAL EDITION
DEPARTMENTS 
Inside Story
The Amazing Russ Ackoff
One of the true pioneers of O.R., Russell Ackoff, passed away in October. Just about anyone associated with O.R. knows the name “Ackoff.”Among his many accomplishments, he co-authored the first textbook on the subject,“Introduction to Operations Research,” which literally introduced countless thousands of students to the field. Ironically, he was just as famously known for his subsequent “break” from the field, as outlined in a series of papers he wrote that criticized the direction the profession took not long after its founding in the 1950s.
President's Desk
The Three “M”s of INFORMS
Time flies! This is my sixth and final column written as President of INFORMS. The New Year signals a transition in leadership, as I become Past-President and President-Elect Susan Albin steps into my current position. We also wish a fond farewell to Cindy Barnhart, who completes her term as Past-President. Since we serve only 12 months in each role, having the “Three Presidents” function as a team is essential to a smooth transition and continuity. I am lucky to have had the opportunity to work closely with these two extraordinary individuals, and I look forward to working with Susan and our new President-Elect, Rina Schneur.
Issues in Education
Spreadsheets in B-Schools: What’s a Guru to Do?
In 1986, when marking the 350th anniversary of its founding, Harvard’s President Derek Bok was asked what it takes to become a university of that stature. He replied,“About 350 years.”
INFORMS in the News
Movies, Healthcare, War and More
The Netflix Prize caught the attention of operations researchers this fall, with the award for improved film recommendations going to a band of competitors who joined to eke out more than a 10 percent improvement in DVD rental recommendations.Also in the news recently was the perseverance of an injured U.S. marine turned operations researcher and more demonstrations of how O.R.is contributing to healthcare,in particular the treatment of swine flu pandemic.
Was It Something I Said
The Power of Diversity
The pile of books on my nightstand is a constant source of delight (for the vast array of stories and ideas held in these tomes) and despair (for I seem to acquire these books a lot faster than I can actually read them). In recent years, I’ve taken to reading multiple books in parallel, often grabbing one on my way out the door and leaving it somewhere – on a table in another room, on the desk in my office, at the bottom of my travel bag and picking it up at random to read a few pages from time to time.
PuzzlOR
Fish Finder
Finding the perfect spot in a lake to cast your fishing line is an art that requires skill, patience and practice. The chance of catching a fish in a particular spot depends on many variables that affect where fish like to swim.
Roundtable Profile
O.R. at United Parcel Service
Founded in 1907 as a messenger company in Seattle, Wash., United Parcel Service (UPS) has grown into a $51.5 billion corporation by clearly focusing on the goal of enabling commerce around the globe. Today, UPS is a global company with one of the most recognized and admired brands in the world. We have become the world’s largest package delivery company and a leading global provider of specialized transportation and logistics services. Every day, we manage the flow of goods, funds, and information in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.
ORacle
Russ Ackoff’s Parable
”Really interesting, Warren,”Anne, the IT manager, said, as the waiter cleared the plates from the main course and brought dessert menus. “This ‘soft OR’you asked me to read about does sound more useful than what you OR guys typically offer me. Maybe there is more you could do for us. But why don’t we hear more about this less technical, more problem-focused part of the profession?” The colleagues in the analytics group had been enjoying their lunchtime conversation one fall Friday afternoon when one of them, Bruce, an OR/MS analyst, asked, “Say, did you see the news that Russ Ackoff died last week? Another giant of the profession is no longer with us.”