IN TR O D U C TIO N TO O P ER ATIO N R ES EA R C H

N A M E:-N IH A L PATH A N
B B A -3

O VERVIEW

O verview

Operational Research
is the scientific study of
operations for the
purpose of making better
decisions.

O verview
It is a discipline that deals with

application of advanced analytical

methods to facilitate better
decisions .
It represents the study of optimal

resource allocation.

O verview
In simple terms, it is
described as

the science of
better.

O verview
Modern synonyms for Operational

Research are

Management Science or Decision

Science.
It is often considered to be a sub-

field of mathematics.

But now a days the principles

and techniques of
Operational Research are
being applied in every field of
human research and
development including Health
Care Sciences.

H ISTO RY

H istory
Operational Research has been

existed as a science since 1930s.

But as a formal discipline

Operational Research
originated by the efforts of
military planner during
World War II .

H istory

The analytical study of

military problems was
undertaken to provide
scientific basis for
decisions to improve
military operations.

H istory
In the decade after World
War-II the techniques began
to be applied more widely in
problems of business,
industries and societies.

H istory
Since the time Operational

Research has expanded into a

field widely used in industries
ranging from petro-chemical to
airlines, finances, logistics and
government.
Now it has become an area of
active academic and industrial
research.

H istory
The techniques of Operational
Research have been applied and
proven in many industries under
different names.
For instance :- Lean in manufacturing.
- Supply Chain in logistics
and
- Yield Management in
airlines.

D EFIN ITIO N
Operational Research is the
scientific study of operations
for the purpose of making
better decisions.

O B JEC TIV ES

OF
O P ER ATIO N A L
R ES EA R C H

O bjectives
Decision making and improve its

quality.
Identify optimum solution.
Integrating the systems.
Improve the objectivity of analysis.
Minimize the cost and maximize the
profit.
Improve the productivity.
Success in competition and market
leadership.

O bjectives
The intent of Operational Research
is
to learn about management and
administration of socio-cultural
behavior and economic factors that
exist as bottleneck to effective
implementation and
to develop more effective
approaches to the programming.

S C O P E O F O P ER ATIO N A L
R ES EA R C H

Scope ofO perationalResearch

1.
National plans and budget.
2.
Government development and public

sector unit.
3.
Industrial establishment and private
sector unit.
4.
Business management.
5.
Agriculture and irrigation projects.
6.
Education and training.
7.
Transport and communication.

M ETH O D S O F O P ER ATIO N A L
R ES EA R C H

M ethods
Despite the number of technical labels like- linear and non linear programming,
- multi-criteria decision analysis,
- discrete-event simulation,
- queuing and stochastic process
modeling,
- conjoint analysis or
- neural networking.

M ETH O D S
Most projects of Operational
Research apply one of three broad
groups of methods :-

1.Simulation
methods.
2.Optimization
methods.
3.Data-analysis

1.Sim ulation m ethod

It gives ability to conduct
sensitive study to (a). search for
improvements and
(b). test the improvement
ideas that are being made.

2.O ptim ization m ethods

Here goal is to enable the

decision makers to identify

and locate the very best
choice, where innumerable
feasible choices are available
and comparing them is
difficult.

3.D ata-analysis m ethods

The goal is to aid the decision-maker

in detecting actual patterns and

inter-connections in the data set and
Use of this analysis for making
solutions.
This method is very useful in Public

Health.

O P ER ATIO N A L R ES EA R C H
P R O C ESS

Process
1. Identification of program problem.
2. Identification of possible reasons

and solutions .
3. Testing of potential solution.
4. Results utilization.
5. Results dissemination.

1.Identification ofthe program

problem

Most critical step in the process.

Unless problem is clearly defined it is

impossible to develop good

solutions.

2.Identifi
cation ofpossible reasons and
solutions
Once the problem has been

identified , it is the job of the

program implementer and
researcher to determine the reasons
for the problem and generate
possible solutions.

3.Testing ofpotentialsolution
A good solution must be measurable,

easy to implement and sustainable.

To determine effectiveness of proposed
solution two designs are used(a) quasi-experimental design.
- comparison of situations before and after
the solution.

(b) true experiment.

- comparison of outcome between
experimental and control groups.

4.Result utilization
It is necessary to decide how its

results are meant to be used.

This determine to some extent that

what information should be

collected.

5.Results dissem ination

Results dissemination are
done in the form of seminars
or by meeting with decision
makers.

PR O CESS O F O PER ATIO N A L

R ESEA R CH

Conclusions
Operational Research needs to be

integrated as an essential part of

monitoring and evaluation efforts in
Public Heath.
Thus concept of MORE could
become a new paradigm for
enhancing the practice of integrated
monitoring and evaluation
dimensions as one common
component into program

TH AN K YO U