It can be said that operations research employs the scientific method to study and explain phenomena associated with functional systems, since within this discipline a specific range of real-world phenomena is studied. Such systems frequently include people and mechanisms that operate under real-world conditions, where the word "mechanism" is used in a sufficiently general sense to encompass all cases — from mechanical devices commonly identified by their names, to complex social structures functioning in accordance with established rules.
The scientific discipline known as operations research observes real phenomena associated with functional systems, develops theories (which many researchers call models) intended to explain these phenomena, uses these theories to describe what will happen when conditions change, and verifies predictions through new observations.
Thus, operations research is a science, since it uses the scientific method to obtain relevant knowledge and differs from other sciences in its subject of study. It investigates phenomena associated with functional systems in ways that are rarely addressed by other sciences.
The emergence of operations research as a scientific discipline was driven by the urgent need to solve important practical problems. In its formation and development, the scientists who conducted the corresponding studies not only laid the foundation for a new scientific direction, but also applied their findings to practical problem-solving. During the second and third decades of its existence, operations research groups grew and became diverse in their focus areas. However, the close connection between the research and practical aspects of their work remained a characteristic feature of the discipline: the term "operations research" precisely emphasizes their inseparability. Thus, operations research encompasses both the scientific study of systems and the corresponding kinds of technical activity directed at the practical implementation of the results of such studies.
However, these applied aspects of operations research involve not merely the straightforward application of knowledge obtained through the use of theory, but also require a creative element (orienting work in desired directions), as well as professional skill and practical design expertise (directed toward fulfilling required tasks or solving important problems). In addition, it is important to ensure the implementation of results.