In memory of Professor J. Scott Armstrong, 1937 – 2023
We are sad to announce the passing of J. Scott Armstrong, an emeritus professor of marketing who was internationally recognized for his expertise in forecasting. He died September 28, 2023, after a long illness. He was 86. He was one of the founders of the International Institute of Forecasters and of the International Journal of Forecasting (as well as the Journal of Forecasting), from 1979 onwards. He has inspired so many students at The Wharton School, as well as researchers and practitioners in the forecasting community and beyond.
Armstrong spent more than 50 years as an influential and highly cited scholar who pioneered work on forecasting methods, which is the use of historical data to predict future trends. In addition to founding the IIF and IJF, his achievements include publishing four books, and authoring hundreds of papers and articles. Armstrong’s research flowed far outside the bounds of business and into the realms of education, climate change, politics, and other areas. In 2007, he famously challenged former Vice President Al Gore’s warnings about global warming with a scientific forecasting model known as “the climate bet.” He also co-founded PollyVote.com in 2004 to forecast U.S. presidential elections.
Armstrong joined Wharton shortly after earning his doctorate in management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1968. He also earned a master’s degree in industrial administration from Carnegie Mellon University, and two bachelor’s degrees from Lehigh University — one in applied science and the other in industrial engineering.
Fred Collopy and Robert Fildes have written an obituary for us all to remember him and his contributions https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169207023001103