The decentralization of management science and the birth of self-starters

In this paper, the authors provide a commentary on current trends in management science. This commentary is based largely on US experience gleaned from published material. This material indicates that the environment of management science is rapidly changing. Personal computers, end-user computing, the information centre, other information system elements and the general competitive state of many US organizations provide significant changes. Opportunities for interdisciplinary activity through decision support systems, expert systems, strategic planning and material requirements planning, exist even more than in the past. This opportunity for growth may occur through ‘self-starters’. Self-starters are line managers who develop their own management science projects without direction from above or the direct assistance of management science staff. The current environment, the decentralization of management science and the birth of self-starters are discussed, as well as implications of this trend.