2. WHAT IS OPERATIONS RESEARCH?
OPERATION RESEARCH IS A
SCIENTIFIC METHOD OF PROVIDING
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS WITH A
QUANTITATIVE BASIS FOR DECISION
REGARDING THE OPERATIONS
UNDER THEIRCONTROL.
3. The most important feature of
operations
research is the use of the scientific
method
4. and the building of decision
models. The operations research
approach to problem
solving is based on three phases,
namely:
Judgement Phase.
Research Phase and
Action Phase.
5. Judgement Phase
This phase includes:
(i) Identification of the real-life problem,
(ii) Selection of an appropriate
objective and the values of various variables
related to this objectives
6. (i) Application of the appropriate scale of measurement, i.e. deciding
the measures of effectiveness (desirability) and
(ii) Formulation of an appropriatemodel of the problemand the
abstraction of the essential information, so that a solution to the
decision-maker's goals can be obtained
7. Research Phase
This phaseis the largest and longest amongst all the
phases. However, even thoughthe remaining twoare not
as long, theyare also equallyimportant as they provide
the basis for a scientific method. Thisphase utilizes:
(i) Observations and data collection for a better understanding of the
problem,
(ii) Formulationof hypothesis and model,
(iii) Observation and experimentationto test the
hypothesis on the basis of additional data,
8. (i) Analysis of the available informationand verification of the hypothesis
using pre-established measures of desirability,
(ii) Predictionof various results fromthe hypothesis, and
(iii) Generalizationof the result and considerationof alternative methods.
9. Action Phase
• This phase consists of making recommendations
for implementing the decision.
• Included actions are to write reports, prepare
and deliver briefings, allocate and schedule
resources(PERT, resource planning, scheduling),
and, perhaps, promotional activities.
• This decision is implemented by an individual
who is in a position to implement results.
10. •This individual must be aware of the environment
in which the problem occurred, be aware of the
objective of assumptions behind the problem and
the required omissions of the model.
