Science in Management : Some Applications of Operational Research and Computer Science

Originally published in 1970. Management consultants in the United Kingdom are often accused of cloaking their activities in secrecy. The confidential nature of consulting work often precludes the publication of case examples and it is only occasionally that press reports appear summarizing particular studies. Consulting firms, however, are in the unique position of gaining experience over the whole range of industry, commerce and government, and consequently have a full opportunity for spear-heading new developments and gathering technical know-how of wide value to managers. Science in Management outlines the methods used by a consulting firm specializing in operational research and computer science and describes numerous case examples taken from a wide range of industries and from the public sector. These examples cover tactical problems, problems which overlap functional boundaries within a company and a few major projects of a strategic nature. The aim of the twenty contributors has been to explain in relatively simple terms, some of the more important techniques and to illustrate by practical examples, the wide scope of the management science approach at all problem levels. The book will be helpful to all those seeking to apply science in management. It is written primarily for managers and those studying modern management methods, but parts of the book will be of interest to specialists as well.