here is a ppt on operational research

1. Dr. Shailendra Pratap Singh
J.R. III
S.P.M.
S.N.M.C., Agra

2. Contents
• Introduction
• Definitions
• History
• Difference from Other Researches
• Aim of OR
• Uses of OR

3. Contents
• Flow chart of the OR Process
• A Case Study of Operations Research
• Societies and journals of OR
• Centre for Operations Research and Training (CORT)
• Conclusion
• References

4. Introduction
• The term operational research was coined during the
World War II in connection with the best use of a
new invention, the radar.
• Used mainly in industry, administration, education &
health services.

5. Definitions
• Operational research is defined as application
of scientific methods of investigation to the
study of complex human organizations and
services.

6. History
• Charles Babbage(1791-1871) – Father OF O.R
• Modern field of O.R arose during World War- II
• Pioneers were from U.K and U.S
• Application in industry – proper development of O.R
as a Management tool
• Use of O.R by Public Health Experts in 60s

7. Difference from other Researches
 specific problems within specific program
 problems that are under control of managers
 evidence supporting decision-making
 requires collaboration
 succeeds only if the study results are used to make
program decisions

8. Aim of OR
• To increase the efficiency, effectiveness and
quality of health services delivered by
providers
• To increase the accessibility, acceptability of
services desired by users

9. Uses of OR
• OR can accomplish the following:
– Identify and solve program problems
– To make evidence-based program decisions
– Using scientifically valid methods
– Understand how their programs work

10. Types of OR studies
1. Diagnostic Studies
2. Field Intervention Studies
3. Evaluative studies

11. Phases of OR
• OR can be defined as a continuous process with five
basic steps:
– 1) problem identification and diagnosis,
– 2) strategy selection,
– 3) strategy experimentation and evaluation,
– 4) information dissemination, and
– 5) information utilization.

12. Process of OR

13. Flow chart of the OR Process
I. PLANNING
II. IMPLEMENTATION
III. FOLLOW-THROUGH

14. Planning
1. Organize the research group and advisory committee
2. Determine issues or problems to study and frame
research questions around these
3. Develop a research proposal to answer OR questions
4. Obtain ethical clearance
5. Identify funding sources and obtain support for OR
6. Establish a budget and financial management
procedures
7. Plan for capacity building and technical support

15. Implementation
8. Monitor project implementation and maintain
quality
9. Pre-test all research procedures
10. Establish and maintain data management and
quality control
11. Explore together with stakeholders interpret. and
recommend. arising from the research findings

16. Follow-through
12. Develop a dissemination plan
13. Disseminate results and recommendations
14. Document changes in policy and/or guidelines that
resulted from the research
15. Monitor changes in the revised program
16. Consider ways of improving the program that can
be tested through further research

17. A comprehensive framework of
country-level OR support

18. A Case Study of Operations Research
Malawi : Linking Civil Society with Care for
Tuberculosis
• An OR study was conducted by the Research for
Equity and Community Health (REACH) Trust to
explore barriers experienced by the poor in one
squatter area in the capital city of Malawi, Lilongwe.
• Although TB services are free at the point of delivery,
it was found that the poor incur much higher
transport and opportunity costs than the non-poor.

19. • REACH Trust went back to the community to make
the findings known.
• Stakeholders at community level and local leaders
were briefed about the research findings.
• REACH Trust posed the question to the community in
order to include their views and opinions about how
to solve their problem.

20. • Based on the suggestions from the community,
REACH Trust then developed the intervention,
“Linking Civil Society with TB Care” to bring TB
services closer to the people.
• A main objective of this program was to reduce
transport and opportunity costs incurred by the poor
in the area in order to improve use of TB services.

21. Societies and journals
Societies
• The International Federation of Operational Research
Societies (IFORS) is an umbrella organization for
operational research societies worldwide,
representing approximately 50 national societies
including those in the US, UK, France,[Germany,
Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines,
India, Japan and South Africa.

22. Societies and journals
• The Operational Research Society of India (ORSI)was
founded in 1957, the Society is affiliated to the
International Federation of Operational Research
Societies (IFORS).
• The headquarter of the Society is located in Kolkata
at 39, Mahanirvan Road, Kolkata 700029, India.
• The Society publishes a quarterly journal OPSEARCH.

23. Societies and journals
• In 2004 the US-based organization- Institute
for Operations Research and the Management
Sciences (INFORMS) began an initiative to market
the OR profession better, including a website entitled
“The Science of Better” which provides an
introduction to OR and examples of successful
applications of OR to industrial problems. This
initiative has been adopted by the Operational
Research Society in the UK, including a website
entitled “Learn about OR”

24. Societies and journals
Journals
• INFORMS publishes twelve scholarly journals about
operations research, including the top two journals
in their class, according to 2005 Journal Citation
Reports. They are:
– Decision Analysis
– Information Systems Research
– INFORMS Journal on Computing
– INFORMS Transactions on Education (an open access journal)
– Interfaces: An International Journal of the Institute for Operations
Research and the Management Sciences
– Management Science: A Journal of the Institute for Operations
Research and the Management Sciences

25. Centre for Operations Research and
Training (CORT)

26. Centre for Operations Research and
Training (CORT)
• CORT established in 1991, is one of the leading
research and training organization in India.
• Its headquarter is in Vadodara, Gujarat
• Broadly its thrust areas are health, demography,
social and development issues, such as education,
rural development, non-conventional energy which
have immediate policy relevance.
• CORT is actively involved in building research
capacity of NGOs and other research organizations
by regularly organizing training workshops and
understanding collaborative research with NGOs.

27. Centre for Operations Research and
Training (CORT)
• CORT is responsible for running State Training and
Resource Center (STRC) to provide training and build
capacity of all NGO partners who are implementing
targeted intervention among high risk groups in the
state of Gujarat and Daman and Diu.
• Other areas in which CORT is pro-actively involved
are enhancing utilization of research findings by
promoting a culture of evidence based decision
making and strengthening advocacy activities.

28. Conclusion
• OR needs to be integrated as an essential part of
monitoring and evaluation (M&E) efforts.
• Thus, the concept of M’OR’E could become a new
paradigm enhancing the practice of integrating
monitoring, research and evaluation dimensions as
one common component into program management
systems.

29. References
 Framework for Operations and Implementation
Research in Health and Disease Control
Programs
 Fisher, Andrew A. et al. 1991. Handbook for
Family Planning Operations Research Design:
Second Edition. New York: Population Council
 Oxford Dictionary of the US Military
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operations_research#c
ite_note-hsor.org-3
 http://www.hsor.org/what_is_or.cfm
 http://www.orsi.in/