Of Kings and Men,Especially O.R. Men: A Methodological Tale

Operational Research is defined as the application of the methods of science to problems arising in the direction and management of systems of men, machines, materials and money in industry, business, government and defence. This article argues, by way of a story set in ancient Greece, that if Operational Research is to provide practical and helpful advice in these areas, then such a definition is grossly misleading by its failure to spell out the basic necessity of having to apply the methods of technology to these problems. In particular this paper deals with the primary need for Operational Researchers to draw upon the heuristic principles governing technological innovation and creativity. It is further argued that such heuristic activity has an important bearing on just what meaning can be attached to the phrase ‘the application of the methods of science’ referred to in the definition of O.R.