AbstractThe use of OR was studied in 12 companies. Material was obtained through interviews with operational researchers and users. The result shows that coordination and production problems are the most common application areas. Network planning and simulation have often been used. Most projects cost less than $$\$$$6000 and require a work input of less than 4 man-months. The operational researchers are mostly located in staff positions and independent of any specific line function. The opposite is true for the users. If the company is divided into five levels, most operational researchers and users are located at the third level. A university degree in engineering is characteristic both for operational researchers and users with the operational researcher younger than the user.