A Letter to the Readers of Interfaces.

This article presents the author's comments on contributions made by the journal "Interfaces" in the field of management science and operations research (MS/OR). Every discipline follows, more or less, the same life cycle. First, initial discoveries focus attention on the subject. Initially, the first discoveries in linear programming and stochastic processes defined MS/OR. New ideas diffused into such activities as operations analysis and planning, corporate planning, marketing, and finance; into various sectors including business, health care, the military, and civilian government; and such subjects as computer science, engineering, sociology, and economics. The diffusion is so complete that many practitioners of MS/OR do not identify with the field at all. Under the strong leadership of Gary Lilien, Interfaces has prospered, gaining respect and broadening our understanding that successful practice goes beyond cost savings. He has encouraged more articles outside the area of operations management, covering such areas as the Turkish housing problem, risk management in transporting hazardous materials, and the use of models in the federal government. Gary has emphasized the point that successful implementation can be measured by more than just cost savings.