Operations Research beyond elementary lessons

Abstract

Different viewpoints on the field of Operations Research are put forward to ask from the reader a few minutes to think about. An outsider looks at OR in Belgium. The academia-industry relationship is put into question. A comparison with the Japanese colleagues is made. OR can be difficult or can be easy: does complexity give the answer? Or do we remain optimistic in OR solving all complex problems. We take a look at the fifties, the forties and even a glimpse of the previous century and before.