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 Economic support
Management -Tertiary care -Public sources of
finance
-Leadership Organized arrangement of -Employers
-Decision-making resources -Organized volun-
-National health authorities
-planning tary agencies
-Health insurance programmes
-implementation -Other governmental agencies -Local community
-monitoring and -Non-governmental agencies efforts
evaluation -Independent private sector -Foreign Aid
-information -Private households
Regulation Development of health resource -Other
-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 Solution
Analysis 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 stake-

holders
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?