Operations Research

The objective of operations research (or management science) is to solve the decision-makingproblems that confront and confound managers in both the public and the private sector bydeveloping mathematical models of those problems. The objective of operations research (or management science) is to solve the decision-making
problems that confront and confound managers in both the public and the private sector by
developing mathematical models of those problems. These models have traditionally been solved
with various mathematical techniques, all of which lend themselves to specific types of problems. Although, in the last decades the emphasis in management science has shifted away from strictly
mathematical to mostly computer solutions, the mathematics of the techniques remain fundamental. Operations research can seem abstract and students sometimes have trouble
perceiving the usefulness of quantitative courses in general. Unfortunately, examples must be made simple to
facilitate the learning process, larger and more complex examples reflecting actual applications
would be too complex to help the student learn the modeling technique. The modeling techniques
presented are, in fact, used extensively in the business world and their use is increasing rapidly
because of computer and information technology. Therefore, the chances of students using the
modeling techniques taught in this course in a future job are very great indeed. Even if these
techniques are not used on the job, the logical approach to problem solving embodied in operations
research is valuable for all types of jobs in all types of organizations. Operations research consists
of more than just a collection of mathematical modeling techniques, it embodies a philosophy of
approaching a problem in a logical manner, as does science.