13.2 Operations Research Methodology
Operations research, like all scientific research, is based on scientific methodology
which proceeds along the following lines:
1. Formulating the problem.
2. Constructing a model to represent the system under study.
3. Deriving a solution from the model.
4. Testing the model and the solution derived from it.
5. Establishing controls over the solution.
6. Putting the solution to work, i.e. implementation.
13.2.1 Formulating the Problem
As it is not easy to obtain the “correct” answer from the “wrong” problem, it is
important that the problem at hand be clearly defined, either by the customer, the
sponsoring organisation or the Operations Research (OR) team..
Four important components are required for the analysis:
(a) the environment, which describes the physical, social and economic factors
which may affect the problem under consideration.
(b) the decision maker, who is the person in actual control of the operations
(system) under study.
(c) the objectives, which should be identified by considering the system (problem)
as a whole.
(d) the alternative courses of action to achieve the given set of objectives, under the
constraints of the problem. One alternative would be most effective, among
the lot.
13.2.2 Constructing a Model for the Problem
Formulation of the OR problem is followed by the construction of a mathematical
model, consisting of a set of equations which describe the system or problem. These
equations represent: (i) the objective function and (ii) constraints.
The objective function and constraints depend on two types of variables, controllable (or decision) variables and uncontrollable variables. A decision variable is
directly under the control of the operations analyst and their values are to be
determined from the solution of the problem. An uncontrollable variable depends
on the external environment over which the operations analyst has no control, is also
a state of nature.
13.2 Operations Research Methodology
357
Operations research, like all scientific research, is based on scientific methodology
which proceeds along the following lines:
1. Formulating the problem.
2. Constructing a model to represent the system under study.
3. Deriving a solution from the model.
4. Testing the model and the solution derived from it.
5. Establishing controls over the solution.
6. Putting the solution to work, i.e. implementation.
13.2.1 Formulating the Problem
As it is not easy to obtain the “correct” answer from the “wrong” problem, it is
important that the problem at hand be clearly defined, either by the customer, the
sponsoring organisation or the Operations Research (OR) team..
Four important components are required for the analysis:
(a) the environment, which describes the physical, social and economic factors
which may affect the problem under consideration.
(b) the decision maker, who is the person in actual control of the operations
(system) under study.
(c) the objectives, which should be identified by considering the system (problem)
as a whole.
(d) the alternative courses of action to achieve the given set of objectives, under the
constraints of the problem. One alternative would be most effective, among
the lot.
13.2.2 Constructing a Model for the Problem
Formulation of the OR problem is followed by the construction of a mathematical
model, consisting of a set of equations which describe the system or problem. These
equations represent: (i) the objective function and (ii) constraints.
The objective function and constraints depend on two types of variables, controllable (or decision) variables and uncontrollable variables. A decision variable is
directly under the control of the operations analyst and their values are to be
determined from the solution of the problem. An uncontrollable variable depends
on the external environment over which the operations analyst has no control, is also
a state of nature.
13.2 Operations Research Methodology
357