AbstractSome authors have expressed concern about the concept of optimisation and the emphasis which is placed in the O.R. literature on the mathematical aspects of models. Case studies are often described as though the mathematical solutions were the most important parts and seldom does the opportunity arise to expose the more behavioural issues of a problem.The reason for the concentration on mathematics may be the form of the classical model of the process of O.R. and the inherent expectation that a study should conform to it. An earlier paper by this author is recognised to have been written in the mode of the classical model and now the issues of a non-mathematical nature are brought to the fore. It is suggested that there is scope for improving the classical model, which could in turn allow the introduction of greater realism into the case studies which are reported.