The role of Operational Research OR in information systems strategy development

Some of the most inspiring Operational Research OR successes in World War II addressed the deployment of new technology into military operations. Today information technology has strategic implications for most if not all organisations. In addition to their structuring and analytical expertise, Operational Research OR practitioners have developed skills of intervention, knowledge of how organisations work and experience of implementing change. Operational Research OR should therefore have much to contribute to information systems strategy development and implementation but there is little evidence of activity in the U.K. at least. The paper considers why this might be the case and challenges the Operational Research OR community to get involved before it is too late. This lack of activity in the U.K. is particularly surprising given the development of an interest in ‘soft’ Operational Research OR methods, which are well suited to the development of information sytems strategy. As an example, the contribution of ‘soft’ Operational Research OR methods to the development of an IS strategy for a large retailing chain is described.