ON THE NATURE OF OR - ENTERING THE FRAY

In 1980 a seminar of operational researchers and practitioners from a variety of different countries concluded that there was a remarkable c onsensus about the way that the process of operational research and sy stems analysis should be understood and practised. Since then the deve lopment of new methods has continued apace, Stimulated by interaction with the social sciences and paradigms other than natural science. Thi s paper enters the debate, started in this journal, about the nature o f OR's status as science or technology. It recognizes the historic cla ims of science on OR, but it suggests that for 'private' consumption, technology will prove more fruitful, and for 'public' consumption prac titioners will increasingly adopt the label 'consultant'. Ackoff's ori ginal six-step method of OR is updated to reflect current OR practice. The process suggested acknowledges the importance of context, socio-p olitical factors and tie growing role of facilitation.