After OR: An Agenda for Postmodernism and Poststructuralism in OR

The differences between modernism and postmodernism are explored, moving on to the study of language through structuralism and into poststructuralism, and some of the ideas that have inspired O(u)R practice are introduced.

Abstract

Postmodernism and poststructuralism have only been mentioned in passing within this journal. There is much more to be said, and this paper aims to open up the debate, to begin to explore the vast terrain and to present one/some agenda/s for the future, introducing some of the ideas that have inspired O(u)R practice. The paper is in four episodes. We begin by exploring the differences between modernism and postmodernism and introducing some of our sources (episode 1), moving on to the study of language through structuralism and into poststructuralism (episode 2). This section introduces some key concepts and approaches which we illustrate in a short case study (episode 3) of the language of OR. The final section (episode 4) sketches in the outlines of our future agenda. A warning is in order for people unfamiliar with postmodernism: the terminologies and style may seem unusual and untraditional for the journal.