For managers, the analytical tools of operations research can be invaluable in tackling complex problems and making sound choices. Operations research uses mathematical analysis to break down issues into manageable pieces and then solve those pieces one by one. In general terms, operations research entails the following steps:

• Finding an issue that requires fixing.
• We are developing a representation of the problem's context and relevant variables to test hypotheses.
• Methods for solving the issue at hand are derived from the model.
• They evaluate each proposed fix's efficacy by trying them out on the model.
• We are putting the remedy into practice for the genuine issue.

Statistics, management science, games, optimization theory, AI, and network analysis are just a few of the fields that share common ground with operations research. All these methods aim to facilitate better quantitative decisions and the resolution of difficult situations. It was during World War II that military planners first conceived of the field of operations research. After World War II, they employed the methods developed in operations research to solve issues in the industry, the government, and society.

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