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

Evaluation

Solution
Development

Implementation

Solution
Validation

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?