This article was first published on bicorner.com.
- Data Mining and Machine Learning
- Artificial Intelligence and Expert Systems
- Financial Engineering
- Games, Decision, and Strategic Planning
- Marketing Research
- Investment Science
- Experimental and Engineering Design
- Manufacturing and Production
- Logistics and Transportation
- Supply Chain Management
- Enterprise Resource Planning
What do Operations Research Analysts do?
The Operations Research Analyst is a jack-of-all-trades (one guy's opinion), or at least that has been my experience. Some tend to specialize in a particular area, like mathematical optimization, but I think this is a mistake. One can find people who specialize in a particular methodology or discipline, but they would be challenged to find a good Operations Research analyst without a holistic view of the problem space.An OR’s view of the problem space is really what defines them and describes what they do. The list above displayed some of the activities that ORs engage in, but not without a holistic view of the problem space. Figure 1 depicts the entire problem space. Mathematically, we could look at it like this:
({(Analysis Space)⊂Research Space}⊂Operations Space)⊂Problem Space
Figure 1. The OR Problem Space (I made this up yesterday)
Operations research analysts provide this holistic view, which then allows for the definition of the right problem within any domain, and application of the most appropriate research methodology, using the most appropriate analyses. You cannot build a house with just a screwdriver, unless you are MacGyver[1].
If we look at the historical context of OR, as we discussed earlier, we should be able to ascertain that anything short of a holistic point of view may have resulted in operational chaos much worse than missed dropped zones. Operation Overlord—the most complex operation ever executed—could have easily failed.
Where do you find them?
Operation Research Analysts work in many industries, including maritime, space operations, defense, airlines, train lines, financial service, entertainment and many more. Wherever operation occur, operations research analysts are usually there. The following lists several key functional areas for operations research analysts.- Communications
- Interfaces
- Networks
- Scheduling
- Routing
- Manpower
- Modeling
What are Their tools?
Underlying Tools is the level that is typically regarded as what uniquely defines Operations Research.- Mathematical Programming
- Computing Technology
- Probability and Statistics
- Stochastic Simulation
- Systems Analysis
- Organization Theory
- Accounting Principles
- Engineering Economics
- Decision Analysis
- Game Theory
- Heuristics
- Computer Programming
- Numeric Methods
- Stochastic Analysis
- Queuing Theory
- Evolutionary Algorithms
- Dynamic Programming
What are they built upon?
Foundations upon which OR are built include:- Mathematical Theory
- Statistical Theory
- Computing Theory
- Economic Theory
What is their history?
Operational Research was born during the early year of WWII and matured rapidly. One of its primary function was the planning of Operation Overlord or the Normandy Invasion. It has its foundations in mathematics, computing and economic theories, on which basic tools in optimization and simulation are built. Today OR’s are employed by airlines, train lines, logistic systems, delivery systems (e.g., FedEx), defense systems, military, oil companies, insurance companies, financial institutions, manufacturing, marketing and many more.Who Wrote This?
Jeffrey Strickland, Ph.D., is the Author of “Predictive Analytics Using R” and a Senior Analytics Scientist with Clarity Solution Group. He has performed predictive modeling, simulation and analysis for the Department of Defense, NASA, the Missile Defense Agency, and the Financial and Insurance Industries for over 20 years. Jeff is a Certified Modeling and Simulation professional (CMSP) and an Associate Systems Engineering Professional. He has published nearly 200 blogs on LinkedIn, is also a frequently invited guest speaker and the author of 20 books including:
- Operations Research using Open-Source Tools (new)
- Discrete Event simulation using ExtendSim
- Crime Analysis and Mapping
- Missile Flight Simulation
- Mathematical Modeling of Warfare and Combat Phenomenon
- Predictive Modeling and Analytics
- Using Math to Defeat the Enemy
- Verification and Validation for Modeling and Simulation
- Simulation Conceptual Modeling
- System Engineering Process and Practices
- Weird Scientist: the Creators of Quantum Physics
- Albert Einstein: No one expected me to lay a golden eggs
- The Men of Manhattan: the Creators of the Nuclear Era
- Fundamentals of Combat Modeling
- LinkedIn Memoirs
- Quantum Phaith
- Dear Mister President
- Handbook of Handguns
- Knights of the Cross: The True Story of the Knights Templar
#PredictiveAnalytics
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