The document discusses the significance of operations research (OR) in structural engineering, outlining its concepts, methodologies, and the decision-making process involved. It emphasizes the application of analytical methods to aid decision makers in complex situations, advocating for a structured approach to problem analysis and solution development. The document also details the phases of decision making, from identifying the problem to implementing solutions, while addressing the challenges that arise in this process.

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Structural Engineering

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6. Operations Research
Session Objectives:
1) To describe the need and importance of
Operations Research for rationale decision
making in Structural Engineering
2) To discuss the basic Operations Research
concepts and techniques for solving particular
problem and identification of appropriate
solution in Structural Engineering
3) To develop a research proposal using the
general approach forOperations Research

7. What is OR?
• It is a Process
• It assists Decision Makers
• It has a set of Tools
• It is applicable in many Situations

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MS / ORMS / OR
Definition: Management Science (MS) or Operations Research
(OR) is the scientific discipline devoted to the analysis and
solution of complex decision making.
• MS/OR uses a wide variety of skills: math, statistics,
probability theory, economics, business, computers,
engineering, and physical and behavioral sciences.
•
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Operations Research is the application of
analytical methods designed to help the
decision makers choose between various
courses of action available to accomplish
specified objectives
Operations Research is the application of
analytical methods designed to help the
decision makers choose between various
courses of action available to accomplish
specified objectives

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OR/MS Professionals aim to provide rational bases for
decision making by seeking to understand and structure
complex situations and to use this understanding to predict
system behavior and improve system performance. Much of
this work is done using analytical and numerical techniques
to develop and manipulate mathematical and computer
models of organizational systems composed of people,
machines, and procedures.

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Objective of OR

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Difficulty in Decision MakingDifficulty in Decision Making
A decision can be difficult to make because
:
1) it is Complex
2) it deals with Uncertainty
3) it concerns Multiple Objectives
4) there are Multiple Decision Makers

18. ImplementationImplementation
selecting a course of
action from those
available
ChoiceChoice
Decision Making PhasesDecision Making Phases
Decision Making: a Process of choosing among
alternative courses of action for the purpose of
attaining a goal or goals (Simon [1977])
inventing, developing, and analyzing
possible courses of action
DesignDesign
searching for conditions that call for
decisionsIntelligenceIntelligence
Feedback

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• Intelligence phase
– Reality is examined
– The problem is identified and defined
• Design phase
– Representative model is constructed
– Alternatives are generated
– The model is validated and evaluation criteria
are set
• Choice phase
– Includes a proposed solution to the
model/problem
– If reasonable, move on to the Implementation
phase
Failure: Return to the modeling process
Often Backtrack / Cycle Throughout the
Decision Making PhasesDecision Making Phases (cont.)(cont.)

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The Management Science Process

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Classification of Management
Science Techniques

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28. Operations Research - Methodology
Operations
Research
Problem
Analysis
Solution
Development
Solution
Validation
Evaluation Implementation

29. Operations Research Approach
• Phase -I PROBLEM ANALYSIS
– Define the Operations Research Approach
– Analyze the problem and divide into
smaller units
– Establish research priorities

30. Operations Research Approach
• Phase-II SOLUTION DEVELOPMENT
– Specify solution objectives
– Specify decision variables and stipulate constraints
on the solution
– Construct an appropriate model for solution
development
– Determine and obtain required data
– Develop solutions using analytical model

31. Operations Research Approach
• Phase-III SOLUTION VALIDATION
– Design field test
– Implement field test
– Evaluate the propose solution
– modify if necessary
– Integrate the solution with the larger
system

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