Program & Semester: MBA (2nd semester)

Subject name: Operations Research

Subject Code: MB0048
Unit no: 1
Important Question and Answer
MB0048 -U1: Question- What is the scope of Operational Research?
MB0048 -U1: Answer- Any problem, either simple or complicated, can use OR techniques to find the
best possible solution. This section will explain the scope of OR by analysing its application in various
fields of everyday life.

In industry The application of OR techniques helps in overcoming this difficulty by integrating the
diversified activities of various components to efficiently serve the interest of the organisation as a
whole. OR methods in industry can be applied in the fields of production, inventory controls and
marketing, purchasing, transportation, and competitive strategies.

Planning In modern times, it has become necessary for every government to carefully plan, for the
economic development of the country. OR techniques can be fruitfully applied to maximise the per
capita income, with minimum sacrifice and time. A government can thus use OR for framing future
economic and social policies.

Agriculture With increase in population, there is a need to increase agriculture output. However,
this cannot be done arbitrarily. There are several restrictions. Hence, the need to determine a
course of action that serves the best under the given restrictions. You can solve this problem by
applying OR techniques.

In hospitals OR methods can solve waiting problems in outpatient department of big hospitals and
administrative problems of the hospital organisations.

In transport Different OR methods can be applied to regulate the arrival of trains and processing
times, to minimise the passengers waiting time and reduce congestion, and to formulate suitable
transportation policy, thereby reducing the costs and time of trans-shipment.

Research and development OR methodologies can be applied in the field of R&D for several
purposes, such as to control and plan product introductions.

In defence operations In modern warfare, the three major military components namely, Air
Force, Army, and Navy carry out the defence operations. The activities in each of these
components can be further divided in four sub-components - administration, intelligence,
operations, training and supply. A team of scientists from various disciplines gets together to
study the strategies of different components. After appropriate analysis of the various courses
of actions, the team selects the best course of action, known as the optimum strategy.