Operations Research
By
Dr. S.M. Israr
Aga Khan University
Karachi, Pakistan
Operations Research
Session Objectives:
 To describe the need and importance of
Operations Research for rationale decision making
in health care delivery
 To discuss the basic Operations Research
concepts and techniques for solving particular
problem and identification of appropriate solution
 To develop a research proposal using the
general approach for Operations Research
Delivery of health care
-Primary care
-Secondary care
-Tertiary care
Economic support
Management
-Public sources of
finance
Organized arrangement of -Employers
-Leadership
resources
-Decision-making
-Organized volun-National health authorities
-planning
tary agencies
-Health insurance programmes
-implementation
-Local community
-Other governmental agencies
-monitoring and
efforts
-Non-governmental agencies
-Independent private sector
evaluation
-Foreign Aid
-information
-Private households
Development of health resource -Other
Regulation
-Manpower
-Facilities
-Equipment and supplies
-Knowledge
Operations Research
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 - Methodology
Operations
Research
Problem
Analysis
Solution
Development
Solution
Validation
Evaluation
Implementation
Operations Research Approach
• Phase -I PROBLEM ANALYSIS
– Define the Operations Research
– Analyze the problem and divide into
smaller units
– Establish research priorities
Operations Research Approach
• Phase-II SOLUTION DEVELOPMENT
– Specify solution objectives
– Specify decision variables and stipulate
constraints on the solution
– Identify or construct an appropriate
model for solution development
– Determine and obtain required data
– Develop solutions using analytical model
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
Phase -I, Problem Analysis
1. Define the operational problem
Discussion of problem with all stakeholders
Identifying subsystems
Develop objectives for subsystems
obtaining consensus on objectives of the
subsystem
Phase -I, Problem Analysis
2. Analyze the problem and divide into smaller units
Operational problem is analyzed in
detail.
The problem is broken into smaller
units.
This is presented graphically.
The graph shows inputs, outputs
and the outside factors.
Phase -I, Problem Analysis
3. Establishing Research Priorities
First look at the system as a whole
and then as a cluster of major
subsystems.
Then ask where one should expect
modifications to produce the greatest
positive impact on outputs.
Phase -II, Solution Development
1. Specify solution objectives
Solution objectives are statements of the
desired solutions to the operational
problem.
These are usually stated in terms of
system efficiency that is conservation of
inputs and maximization of outputs.
Fixed inputs with maximum outputs.
Minimum inputs with maximum outputs.
Phase -II, Solution Development
2. Specify decision variables and stipulate
constraints on the solution
• Decision variables are factors that both play a role
in determining how a system functions and are also
within the control of the system manager.
• Amount of ORS packets
• Training methods
• Factors that limit the the practical range of one or
more decision variables are called constraints.
• Socio-economic, ethnicity, occupation,
educational level, weather, terrain
Phase -II, Solution Development
3. Identify or construct an appropriate
model for solution development
Model building is the essence of the
operations research
A model is the simplified representation
of the real world
Resource allocation
Networking
Cost-analysis
Phase-III SOLUTION VALIDATION
1. Design field test
How believable are the outcome of
the field test.
Experimental
Non-experimental
Quasi-experimental
Phase-III SOLUTION VALIDATION
2. Implementing the field test
•
•
•
•
Determination of requisite resources
Development of management scheme
Development of training material
Arrangements of obtaining human and
other resources needed
• Design of an information system
Phase-III SOLUTION VALIDATION
3. Evaluating,modifying and integrating the
solutions
• Continuous assessment to ensure
refinements of inputs
• Integrating the solution within the system
An Example………………...
 TB control Program.
 High defaulter rate among TB
patients.
 How to assess the situation?