Every large-scale system is an . The automatic factory, the vehicular-traffic system, any military system- in the design of all these systems, primar… - Robert E. Machol

Sometimes, where a complex problem can be illuminated by many tools, one can be forgiven for applying the one he knows best.

There are four distinct bases on which a system-design book might be organized. First are the chronological phases through which the system-design effort passes, such as organization and preliminary design. Second are the logical steps such as analysis of the single thread (operation on a single input) and high traffic (methods of handling multiplex inputs). Third are the parts of the system, such as communications and displays. Fourth are the tools of system design, such as information theory and queueing theory.

The conclusions of most good operations research studies are obvious.