15 quotes
The conclusions of most good operations research studies are obvious.
Principles of Operations Research (1975)
Everyone knows what engineering is. All that's left is to define systems, and I'm not fool enough to do that.
Mathematicians are useful (1971)
If the assumptions are wrong, the conclusions aren't likely to be very good.
Principles of Operations Research (1975)
Sometimes, where a complex problem can be illuminated by many tools, one can be forgiven for applying the one he knows best.
Principles of Operations Research (1975)
Most accidents in well-designed systems involve two or more events of low probability occurring in the worst possible combination.
Principles of Operations Research (1975)
There comes a time when one must stop suggesting and evaluating new solutions, and get on with the job of analyzing and implementing one pretty good solution.
Principles of Operations Research (1975)
Scientists possess healthy skepticism. They realize that you've got to know the answer before you measure it.
Mathematicians are useful (1971)
Sometimes it is more difficult to formulate the criterion for a problem than to state the question itself.
Information and Decision Processes (1960)
The purpose and real value of systems engineering is... to keep going around the loop; find inadequacies and make improvements.
Mathematicians are useful (1971)
Mathematicians are there to find the constraints and to eliminate those things that aren't constraints... I know this will surprise many of you, but they are useful!
Mathematicians are useful (1971)
We have discovered in this past decade that thinking, and decision, are not solely the province of the metaphysicist, but are appropriate subjects for scientific inquiry.
Information and Decision Processes (1960)
[Systems should be classified] on the basis of the types of inputs with which they must cope.
System Engineering (1957)
Every large-scale system is an information system. The automatic factory, the vehicular-traffic system, any military system- in the design of all these systems, primary attention should be given to the flow of information about the elements of the system.
System Engineering (1957)
The ideal system engineer is an engineer thoroughly versed in his field but conversant with and knowledgeable of other fields. You have to have the capability and desire to become a 'six-month expert'... You've got to want to become a generalist, too.
Mathematicians are useful (1971)
The fellow who is able to get the grants and contracts is the fellow who gets the doctoral students. Each student publishes two or three papers on his thesis, in each of which he cites his professor's work. Then he goes on and does his own subsequent work, in which, of course, he cites those thesis papers which were coauthorised by his professor.