Book excerpt: This collection of articles aspires to be a permanent record of ideas which are likely to become important determinants in the future of management sciences. These papers were initially presented at the first session on Multiple Criteria Decision Making QMCDM) organized under the auspices of The Institute of Management Sciences (TIMS). All works were prepared by leading spokesmen for three generations of OR/MS change agents. Special mention must be made of the dynamic role which Professor Martin K. Starr played in organizing the program of the TIMS XXII International Meeting. In May, 1973, Professor Starr, who was President of TIMS and Program Chairman of the Kyoto conference, requested me to chair the MCDM session. Throughout the long period of formative inter change, Dr. Starr demonstrated his full and continuing support of both the event and the MCDM field. On July 25, 1975, surrounded by the rocky gardens of the Kyoto International Conference Hall (KICH), located on the shore of Takaraga Ike, we engaged in a day-long discussion of MCDM. Our "talk together in Kyoto" was a professional experience of the highest intensity for participants, speakers and audience alike.