MS OR ENABLED SYSTEMS-DESIGN

Management (at least as reflected by popular management culture) is no w more interested in redesigning systems completely than in marginal o r continuing improvements. Some practical MS/OR work has recognized th is and produced new systems that have changed their sponsoring organiz ations and provided them with competitive advantages. This paper consi ders the importance for MS/OR workers of focusing on system design rat her than analysis aimed at supporting improvements in existing systems . It notes that MS/OR has traditionally perceived itself predominantly as analysis in this latter sense, and discusses the difference betwee n design and this form of analysis. It then uses some Edelman prize fi nalist papers to illustrate the cycle of design-oriented MS/OR project s. Finally, this paper considers the opportunities and challenging pro blems afforded by system design, with particular reference to techniqu es, education, and the future success of MS/OR.