NCJ Number
47580
Date Published
1977
Length
214 pages
Annotation
OPERATIONAL RESEARCH -- THE APPLICATION OF SCIENTIFIC REASONING IN THE MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF SYSTEMS AND ORGANIZATIONS -- IS EXAMINED.
Abstract
THE INTENT OF OPERATIONAL RESEARCH IS THE ANALYSIS OF AVAILABLE INFORMATION, NOT JUST FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE ECONOMIST, PHYSICIST, MANAGEMENT SCIENTIST, OR THE PRODUCTION ENGINEER BUT, WITH TRUE SCIENTIFIC OBJECTIVITY, TO SORT OUT WHICH INFORMATION IS RELEVANT, TO SORT OUT WHICH INFORMATION FROM PAST EXPERIENCE HAS A CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SITUATION BEING EXAMINED, TO IDENTIFY WHERE INFORMATION DOES NOT EXIST SO THAT AT LEAST ITS ABSENCE CAN BE NOTED IF IT CANNOT BE RECTIFIED, AND THEN TO ATTEMPT TO ILLUSTRATE THE LIKELY OUTCOMES OF CERTAIN COURSES OF ACTION BASED ON THE INFORMATION UNDER ANALYSIS. THE RESEARCH ITSELF CONSISTS OF THE APPLICATION OF THE METHODS OF SCIENCE TO COMPLEX PROBLEMS ARISING IN THE DIRECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF LARGE SYSTEMS OF PERSONNEL, MACHINES, MATERIALS, AND MONEY IN INDUSTRY. BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT, AND DEFENSE. THE OBJECT IS TO DEVELOP A SCIENTIFIC MODEL OF THE SYSTEM, INCORPORATING MEASUREMENTS OF FACTORS SUCH AS CHANCE AND RISK, WITH WHICH TO PREDICT AND COMPARE THE OUTCOMES OF ALTERNATIVE DECISIONS, STRATEGIES, OR CONTROLS. CHAPTERS ARE PROVIDED CONCERNING MEASURING UNCERTAINTY, QUEUING PROBLEMS, BUSINESS FORECASTING, SIMULATION AND MONTE CARLO METHODS, STOCK AND PRODUCTION CONTROL MODELS, RESOURCE ALLOCATION, PROJECT PLANNING, DECISION ANALYSIS OPERATIONAL GAMING, AND ASSORTED OPERATIONAL RESEARCH TECHNIQUES. SELECTED REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED AT THE CLOSE OF EACH CHAPTER. RELEVANT GRAPHS, MATHEMATICAL MODELS, AND TABULAR DATA ARE INTERSPERSED THROUGHOUT. NAME AND GENERAL INDEXES ARE INCLUDED. (KBL)