OPERATIONAL RESEACH

OPERATIONS RESEARCH

JAYESH C S PAICONTENTSOverview.History.Definitions.Objectives of Operational Research.Scope of Operational Research.Methods of Operational Research.Operational Research process.Operational Research in Public Health.Societies and Journals of Operational Research.Conclusions.

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

OverviewIt is a discipline that deals with application of advanced analytical methods to facilitate better decisions .

It represents the study of optimal resource allocation.

OverviewIn simple terms, it is described as

the science of better.Overview

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.

HISTORYHistory

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 .History

The analytical study of military problems was undertaken to provide scientific basis for decisions to improve military operations.History In the decade after World War-II the techniques began to be applied more widely in problems of business, industries and societies.HistorySince 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.

History

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.Origin of Operational Research in Medicine and Public Heath

Operational Research has been studied in Health Care settings since 1952.

In England , Norman Bailey published Operational Research in Medicine in the June issue in Operational Research Quarterly. (Bailey June 1952).

In the same year Journal of the Operations Research Society was launched in America.

Many Operational Research papers on health care subjects have been published in Operational Research and Health Care Journals.Including American Journal of Public Health.(1952)Operational Research in Medicine. (1952 by Norman Bailey , England). Journals of Operational Research Society.British Medical Journal.Heath Care Management Science.

Despite the proliferation of papers in the academic literature there are still major issues around getting Operational Research models widely accepted as part of mainstream decision making by health managers, policy makers and clinicians. DEFINITIONS DEFINITION Operational Research is the scientific study of operations for the purpose of making better decisions. Definition by WHO (2003) The use of systematic research techniques for program decision making to achieve a specific outcome. A working meeting in Geneva on - Framework for Operation and Implementation Research in Health and Diseases Control Program All participant were agreed on - Any research producing practically usable knowledge ( evidence , finding , information) which can improve program implementation (effectiveness , efficiency , quality , access , scale-up, sustainability) regardless the type of research (design, method, approach) falls within the boundaries of Operational Research.

OBJECTIVES of operational researchObjectivesDecision 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.Objectives 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.

SCOPE OF OPERATIONAL RESEARCHScope of Operational ResearchNational plans and budget.Health care services and National Health Programs.Government development and public sector unit.Industrial establishment and private sector unit.National defense services.Research and development in engineering.Public works department.Business management.Agriculture and irrigation projects. Education and training.Transport and communication. METHODS OF OPERATIONAL RESEARCH MethodsDespite the number of technical labels like- - multi-criteria decision analysis, - linear and non linear programming, - discrete-event simulation, - queuing and stochastic process modeling, - conjoint analysis or - neural networking.

METHODS Most projects of Operational Research apply one of three broad groups of methods :- 1.Simulation methods. 2.Optimization methods. 3.Data-analysis methods.

1.Simulation method

It gives ability to conduct sensitive study to - (a). search for improvements and (b). test the improvement ideas that are being made.2.Optimization methods 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.Data-analysis methodsThe goal is to aid the decision-maker in detecting actual patterns and inter-connections in the data set andUse of this analysis for making solutions.

This method is very useful in Public Health.

OPERATIONAL RESEARCH PROCESSProcessIdentification of program problem.Identification of possible reasons and solutions .Testing of potential solution.Results utilization.Results dissemination.1.Identification of the program problemMost critical step in the process.

Unless problem is clearly defined it is impossible to develop good solutions. 2.Identification of possible 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 of potential solutionA 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 utilizationIt 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 dissemination Results dissemination are done in the form of seminars or by meeting with decision makers.

PROCESS OF OPERATIONAL RESEARCH

Operational research in public health The mission of public health is to assure the conditions in which people can be healthy.

This mission is accomplished by the application of Public Health Science in operations of Public Health Services.

Operational Research ( management principles and techniques) can be applied in both of these areas of the Public Health.

Public Health Science.Public Heath Services.

Composition of O. R. team in Public HealthA Public Health Administrator.An epidemiologist.A mathematician.A statistical scientist and A social scientist.

Process of O.R. in Public HealthFormulation of the problem,Collection of data,Analysis and hypothesis formulation,Deriving solutions from the models,Choosing the optimal solution and forecasting results,Test the results andRecommending implementation.

Uses in Public Health Identify and solve the problems of program in timely manner.Helps policy maker and program manager to make evidence based program decisions.Improve program quality and performance by using scientifically valid methods.Public Health Operations

Disease screening and surveillance.(e.g. HIV, Influenza)Outbreak investigations.( e.g. SARS)Vaccination.Quarantine and isolation.(e.g. T.B.)Behavioral modification program.(e.g. STDs)Inspection and standard enforcement at public establishment.( e.g. restaurants )Environmental monitoring.(e.g. bacterial level at public swimming areas)Vector control.(e.g. mosquito, ticks etc.)

SOCIETIES AND JOURNALS OF OPERATIONAL RESEARCH IFORS International Federation of Operational Research Society

IFORS is an umbrella organization for Operational Research societies world-wide . It represents 50 national societies including those in US, UK , France , Germany, Canada , Australia , New Zealand, Philippines , India , Japan and South-Africa.

ORSI Operational Research Society of India

founded in 1957. the society is affiliated to the IFORS.Head quarter of ORSI is located in Kolkata at 39, Mahanirvan Road , Kolkata 700029.The society publishes a quarterly journal OPSEARCH.

OPSEARCH

INFORMS Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences

USbased organization. INFORMS started an initiative to market the Operations Research profession better. website : The Science of Better.

This initiative has been adopted by Operational Research Society in UK. website : Learn about OR .

INFORMS publishes twelve Scholarly journals about Operational Research.Including-Decision Analysis.Information System Research.INFORMS journal on computing.Interfaces: An International Journal of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences.Management Science: A Journal of the Institute for Operations Research.

C.O.R.T. Center for Operations Research and Training

CORT established in 1991 is one of the leading research and training organization in India.Its headquarter is in Varodara ,Gujarat.Broadly it covers area of health , demography and social and development issues.

CORTCORT is responsible for running State Training and Resource Center (STRC) in the state of Gujarat.CORT is actively involved in building research capacity of NGOs by organizing training workshops

CORT

CONCLUSIONS ConclusionsOperational 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 management system. THANK YOU