This document discusses operational definitions. An operational definition establishes clear criteria for evaluating a concept, includes a specific test for measuring it, and determines whether the test results meet the criteria. It provides examples of operationally defining terms like "50% wool" and "clean table" by specifying criteria, a measuring test, and a decision rule. The document also gives an example of operationally defining the term "fast" in the context of a medical clinic pharmacy's prescription service time. An operational definition aims to precisely communicate meaning and allow unambiguous measurement of a phenomenon.

1. Operational
Definitions
Sai Dinesh Koppuravuri
ISYE650 Class Presentation
Spring 2014

2. Introduction
Operational Definition
•
It is one that people can do business with… It must be communicable,
with the same meaning to vendor as to purchaser, same meaning
yesterday and today…
(Deming, 1986)
Purpose
• First step towards effective management
• Helps to build a clear understanding of a concept or a phenomenon so
that it can be unambiguously measured
2

3. Elements of an
Operational Definition
• Criterion: The standard against which to evaluate the results of the test
• Test: A specific procedure for measuring a characteristic
• Decision: Determination whether the test results show that the
characteristic meets the criterion
3

4. Example 1
• A blanket label says “50% wool ”?
What does that mean?
All
Cotton
All
Wool
• Or do you mean the wool should be
mixed homogeneously throughout
the cotton
4

5. Example 1 (contd..)
What do you think is missing ?
Operational Definition
• Criteria:
Wool fibers evenly distributed and comprise half the
blanket’s weight
• Test:
Analysis of samples measures distribution and proportion
of fibers
• Decision:
Wool fibers evenly distributed and comprise half the
weight. Blanket is 50% wool
5

6. Example 1 (contd..)
Why should anyone go through this rigorous process?
• Each person in the team may have a different idea about what constitutes
a defect
• When a criteria is established for what is acceptable and test procedure
for separating what is acceptable from what is defective, all team
members can determine what is and is not a defect
6

7. Example 2
What is a clean table?
• If it is a workbench, it means that it is to be free of clutter
• If it is a lunch table, cleanliness should be achieved by using a mild
detergent
• If it is an operating room, it would have to be antiseptically clean to
prevent spread of infection
• So not only having an operational definition is important, but also the
context
7

8. Exercise
A quality improvement team at a medical clinic pharmacy was
attempting to improve its process by making prescription
service as fast as possible. Operationally define the term fast in
this context
• Criterion:
Medication is dispensed at the customer service
window no more than 10 minutes after the
prescription is turned in at the pharmacy
• Test:
The time to fill a prescription is determined using a
calibrated stopwatch
• Decision:
If the medication is dispensed no more than 10
minutes after receipt of the prescription, the criterion
is met. Pharmacy service is fast
8

9. References
• Deming, W.E. (1986). Out of the Crisis, pp. 287289. Cambridge, MA: Massachusetts Institute
of Technology, Center for Advanced
Engineering Study.
• Balanced Scorecard Institute (2014). Basic
Tools for process improvement, Operational
Definitions. Retrieved from
http://balancedscorecard.org/Portals/0/PDF/o
pdef.pdf
9

10. 10