The end of theory?

This paper explores a number of different theoretical positions concerned with the methodology, philosophy, process and practice of OR. These are presented in order to air some of the debates relevant to the theory of (or the role of theory in) OR, but not to provide any definitive resolution to the debates. In part, and in particular in terms of the style in which it is written, the paper is a response to Burrell's 1989 call for postmodernizing OR. The concluding section explores these links.