Fifty years of Soft Operational Research: The contribution of EURO and EJOR to its foundation and development

• The role attention to stakeholder agency played in the development of Soft OR • The effectiveness of modelling and workshopping techniques in addressing complex problems • The importance of understanding the socio-technical aspect of Soft OR, • The promising future of incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance Soft OR Soft Operational Research (Soft OR) emerged as a distinctive approach emphasising stakeholder engagement to address complex, ill-defined problems, departing from traditional OR methods. This review explores the nature and potential of Soft OR over the past fifty years, focusing specifically on articles published in the European Journal of Operational Research (EJOR) to clarify some foundational principles and trace its evolution. The review highlights essential aspects such as stakeholder agency, engagement as both representing (the role of modelling) and intervening (workshop facilitation), and the socio-technical aspect crucial for effective problem-solving. Fifty years on, debates about Soft OR’s legitimacy and its critical role in contemporary issues, including climate change and technological disruption, remain highly relevant. Future directions suggest further developing theories of engagement and integrating technological advancements, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), to ensure that Soft OR continues to be relevant and impactful in addressing exceedingly complex societal challenges in the twenty-first century.