Operation (operations research)
Operation — in the context of operations research (OR), this is a purposeful, managed activity (a set of interrelated actions), unified by a single concept and aimed at achieving a set of goals using specific resources and within given constraints.
An operation is the central object of study and modeling in operations research. OR methods are applied for the quantitative justification of optimal decisions in planning and managing operations.
Key Characteristics of an Operation in OR
An operation in operations research has the following key features:
- Activity-based nature: An operation is always an active process that includes:
- Systemic nature: An operation is viewed as a system of interconnected actions, not a random collection of them. It has a design, which implies the existence of a plan and coordination.
- Controllability: The execution of an operation depends on decisions made by a decision-maker (DM). There are controllable parameters that the DM can choose.
- Presence of alternatives: There are usually several alternative ways (strategies) to conduct the operation.
- Resource scarcity: Operations are performed under conditions of limited available resources.
- Presence of constraints: There are conditions (technological, economic, temporal, etc.) that must be adhered to.
Components of an Operation as a Modeling Object
When modeling an operation in OR for analysis and optimization, the following structural components are typically identified:
- Decision-maker (DM): The subject responsible for choosing the strategy and parameters of the operation.
- Goal(s) of the operation: A clearly formulated desired result, often expressed through efficiency criteria.
- Alternatives (Strategies): The set of possible plans or sets of actions for conducting the operation.
- Resources: The aggregate of means necessary and available for performing the operation.
- Constraints: Factors limiting the choice of alternatives or the use of resources.
- Efficiency criterion/criteria: An indicator or indicators for evaluating and comparing alternatives (e.g., profit, cost, time). In mathematical models, it is often represented by an objective function.
- Outcome (Result): The final result of the operation, which depends on the chosen strategy and, possibly, on external conditions (uncertainty, risk).
Operation and Decision-Making
An operation is always managed by a DM, who is responsible for:
- Formulating the operation's goals.
- Defining and selecting controllable parameters.
- Evaluating alternatives and choosing the best strategy.
Operations research provides the DM with methods and models for:
- Formalizing the operation.
- Analyzing possible outcomes.
- Qualitatively and quantitatively justifying the choice of an optimal or rational decision.
Operations in Complex Systems
Often, the operations studied in OR are part of larger, complex systems and can be organized hierarchically. Managing such operations requires the application of a systems approach. Operations research works closely with systems theory and decision theory to analyze and optimize operations in complex organizational, technical, and economic systems.
Literature
- Venttsel, E. S. Issledovanie operatsiy: zadachi, printsipy, metodologiya [Operations Research: Tasks, Principles, Methodology]. — Moscow: Nauka, 1988. (Or a later edition)
- Taha, Hamdy A. Operations Research: An Introduction. — Pearson. (Specify edition, e.g., 10th ed., 2017)
- Hillier, Frederick S.; Lieberman, Gerald J. Introduction to Operations Research. — McGraw-Hill Education.
See Also
- Operations_research
- Systems_analysis
- Decision-making
- Optimization
- Modeling
- Mathematical_model
- Objective_function
- Criterion
- Constraints
- Goal
- Activity
- Process