| Article ID: | iaor20084207 |
| Country: | Brazil |
| Volume: | 26 |
| Issue: | 1 |
| Start Page Number: | 69 |
| End Page Number: | 90 |
| Publication Date: | Jan 2006 |
| Journal: | Pesquisa Operacional |
| Authors: | Vidal R.V.V. |
| Keywords: | philosophy |
This paper is focusing on the following question: What is Operational Research (OR)? We will show that there is not a single and simple answer. Epistemological assumptions and practical traditions define different types of OR. We have identified three: The technical or hard OR, the practical or soft OR, and the critical OR. Following a historical perspective we will present these three schools. Habermas' theory about the three cognitive interests will provide a framework to understand this development. Finally, some final remarks about the future of OR will be outlined.