Oral history interview with Paul A. Strassmann

Abstract

After briefly describing his early life, Strassmann focuses on his application of electronic data processing technology to statistical business problems. He discusses his engineering education at Cooper Union, and his work with Howard, Needles, Tamman & Bergendoff in turnpike construction. Strassmann highlights his work on the New Jersey Turnpike and his traffic flow analysis of the turnpike in his Sloan School thesis, "Forecasting of Turnpike Traffic and Scheduling of Toll Collection Personnel." He then describes his work in cost analysis and profit accounting with Burns and Roe. Strassmann concludes the interview with a description of his work in plant and inventory control management for General Foods including his decision to contract the firm's computing work to C-E-I-R rather than purchase computers from International Business Machines.