History of the Management Science

Management science originated during World War II as a means for making the best use of available resources
within military operations. By studying existing strategies and tactics, the military hoped to gain a better perspective on
where resources could best be used. Frederick Winslow Taylor is credited with the initial development of scientific
management techniques in the early 1900s.
The success of this approach soon found its way into the business world after World War II. Based on quantitative
methods developed during World War II, several new applications emerged. Technological advances and economic
growth saw business managers wanting to make the most of their available resources. The development of the simplex
method by George Dantzig in 1947 made application of linear programming practical. C. West Churchman, Russell
Ackoff, and Leonard Arnoff made management science even more accessible by publishing the first operations
research textbook in 1957. The management science approach proved an effective means for maximizing resources
and reframing large operational problems into manageable scenarios.