C. West Churchman, Russell L. Ackoff, E. Leonard Arnoff.
Introduction to Operations Research.
Wiley. 1957
As its title indicates, this book is an introductory treatment
of a growing field of scientific research.
It grew out of lecture material for the “Short Course in Operations Research” offered,
at first, annually (since 1952) and, now, semiannually by Case Institute of Technology.
For the prospective consumer of O.R. it provides a basis for evaluating the field
and for understanding its procedures and its potentialities.
For the new or future practitioner it presents a survey of the field
and the background necessary for further education to gain competence with the methods and techniques.
The technical material has been simplified, but not at the risk of distortion. In a clear and straight-forward manner, the book presents a general coverage of such topics as inventory, linear programming, waiting line, replacement, competitive and other mathematical methods useful in O.R.
Each method and model is illustrated by an interesting and lucid case example to point up the important implications of O.R. in business and industry. Emphasis is on the importance of defining management problems in terms of objectives and on the importance of administration of O.R.