Operational researchers make use of analytical and creative skills to assist organizations to develop better systems and operational procedures. They examine an organization’s operations and use mathematical or computer models or other analytical approaches to find more effective ways of doing them and to provide managers with the information they need to develop a strategic policy.
Operational research (OR), sometimes also known as management science, developed in Britain during the second world war, when it was used to apply mathematical and scientific techniques to the planning of military operations. Today OR is used throughout industry, commerce and government services.
Most of the problems tackled by operational researchers are complex, usually entailing considerable uncertainty. They use qualitative problem-structuring techniques and simulation and advanced quantitative methods for the purpose of: examining assumptions, deciding on practical action, supporting the management of change, reviewing progress.
Work activities typically involve: defining the problem and the results sought, collecting and analyzing data and developing models, often using spreadsheets and databases, using linear and mathematical programming techniques, using statistical methods, using analytical methods, such as simulation, network analysis, decision analysis, multicriteria analysis, scenario analysis, soft systems modeling, optimization, game theory and queuing theory.
Testing hypotheses, identifying innovative and pragmatic solutions to clients' management problems and testing these solutions, feeding in results and helping to implement chosen options, compiling a report of findings and making presentations to clients, often requiring clear and persuasive explanation of complex processes to a non-technical audience.
During the life cycle of a project communicating clearly with clients is vitally important in order to explain the progress and results of the work to them in non-technical language and to persuade them of the benefits of the changes being recommended.
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