Evolution and Historical Development of Operations Research: Origin and History

Introduction

Today, Operations Research is widely used in business, industry, transportation, healthcare, banking, and management. However, the discipline evolved gradually and gained recognition during World War II. Understanding the evolution and historical development of Operations Research helps us appreciate its importance in modern management science.

In order to understand ‘what Operation Research (OR) is today,’ we must know something about its history and evolution.

Origin of Operations Research

The main origin of Operation Research was during the Second World War, when there was a critical need to manage scarce resources. 

At that time, the military management in England called upon a team of scientists to study the strategic and tactical problems related to air and land defence of the country. Since they were having very limited military resources, it was necessary to decide upon the most effective utilization of them, e.g. efficient ocean transport, effective bombing, etc.

During World War-2nd, no individuals were able to give proper solutions so several inter-disciplinary teams were formed of different specialists such as mathematicians, economists, engineers, scientists etc. to deal with strategic & tactical problems of various military operations.

 

Their mission was to formulate specific proposals and plans for aiding the Military Commands to arrive at the decisions on optimal utilization of scarce military resources and efforts, and also to implement the decisions effectively.

 

Thus OR team were not actually engaged in military operations and in fighting the war. But they were only advisors and significantly instrumental in winning the war to the extent that the scientific and systematic approaches involved in OR provided a good intellectual support to the strategic initiatives of the military commands.

 

Hence, OR is associated with “an art of winning the war without actually fighting it”.

Hence, Operation research was apparently invented because the team was dealing with research on (military) operations. The work of this team was named as Operation research in UK.

Hence, the origin of Operations Research can be traced to the early twentieth century, but it emerged as a separate discipline during World War II. Military authorities in Great Britain faced many complex problems involving radar systems, air defense, convoy protection, and resource allocation. To solve these problems, teams of scientists, engineers, and mathematicians were formed to study military operations scientifically.

Their success led to the development of a new field called Operations Research, which focused on obtaining the best decisions through scientific analysis and optimal use of resources.

Operations Research During World War II

The real development of Operations Research began in Great Britain between 1937 and 1939. During World War II, scientific teams worked on improving radar systems and optimizing military operations. The successful application of scientific methods in warfare demonstrated the effectiveness of Operations Research.

Later, the United States adopted these techniques and formed similar research groups to solve problems related to logistics, transportation, and military planning. The remarkable achievements during the war established Operations Research as an independent discipline.

Historical Development of Operations Research

Following the end of the World War II, the success of this team attracted the attention of Industrial managers who were seeking solutions to their complex executive type problems.

 

The most common problem was “what method should be adopted so that the total cost is minimum or total profits maximum?” The first mathematical technique in this field was developed by G.B. Dantzig in 1947. He developed the concept of linear programming, the solution of which is formed by a method known as the simplex method.

After World War II, the methods developed for military applications were successfully applied to industrial and business problems. The availability of computers accelerated the growth of Operations Research and transformed it into an important branch of management science.

Today, in every organization such as banks, hospitals, airways, railways etc., operation research helps in improving efficiency.

Development in the United Kingdom

Operations Research originated in the United Kingdom. British scientists used scientific methods to improve military operations during World War II. In 1948, the Operations Research Club was established in England. It later became the Operational Research Society of the United Kingdom, which played a major role in promoting OR research and applications.

In 1948, OR club was formed in England, later becoming the Operation Research Society of UK.

Development in the United States

The United States adopted Operations Research during World War II after observing its success in Britain. Universities and industries contributed significantly to its expansion after the war. 

In 1952, the Operations Research Society of America (ORSA) was established to promote research and applications in the field.

The development of computers and mathematical programming during the 1950s and 1960s greatly accelerated the growth of Operations Research.

Development in India

The development of Operations Research in India began after independence. In 1953, Professor P. C. Mahalanobis established an Operations Research team at the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Calcutta. The team worked on problems related to national planning and surveys.

In 1953, Professor P.C. Mohalanobis, establish an OR team in Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Calcutta for solving problems related to national planning & survey.

Since then, OR techniques have been widely used in government organizations, industries, railways, defense services, and educational institutions. Today, Operations Research is taught in universities throughout India.

Major Contributors to Operations Research

Several scientists and mathematicians contributed significantly to the development of Operations Research.

Patrick M. S. Blackett

Patrick Blackett is regarded as one of the pioneers and is often called the father of Operations Research. He organized scientific teams during World War II to solve military problems systematically.

George B. Dantzig

In 1947, George B. Dantzig developed the concept of Linear Programming and introduced the Simplex Method, which became one of the most powerful optimization techniques in Operations Research.

John von Neumann

John von Neumann made important contributions to Game Theory, which later became an important branch of Operations Research.

Richard Bellman

Richard Bellman developed Dynamic Programming, which is widely used for solving multistage decision problems.

Formation of International Organizations

To encourage international cooperation and research, the International Federation of Operational Research Societies (IFORS) was established. Different countries participated in this federation to promote the exchange of ideas and research in Operations Research.

Growth of Operations Research in Modern Management

In recent decades, Operations Research has had a tremendous impact on the management of organizations. Scientific decision-making and optimization techniques have become essential tools for improving efficiency and productivity.

Today, Operations Research is used extensively in:

- Banks

- Hospitals

- Airlines

- Railways

- Manufacturing industries

- Government organizations

- Supply chain and logistics systems

Managers use OR techniques to allocate resources efficiently, minimize costs, maximize profits, and improve overall performance.

Applications of Operations Research in Different Industries

Operations Research is widely used in various industries, including:

- Aircraft and missile industries

- Automobile industries

- Communication systems

- Computer and electronics industries

- Mining industries

- Paper industries

- Petroleum industries

- Transportation and logistics sectors

OR techniques help managers make tactical and strategic decisions more scientifically and effectively.

Importance of Mathematical Models

Operations Research relies heavily on mathematical models. If a model is carefully formulated and tested, the resulting solution provides a close approximation to the ideal course of action for solving real-world problems.

Although Operations Research may not always guarantee the absolute best solution, it helps avoid poor decisions and significantly reduces the chances of unfavorable outcomes. Thus, OR techniques protect organizations from costly mistakes and contribute to better planning and management.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is the origin of Operations Research?

Operations Research originated in Great Britain during World War II when scientists used mathematical and scientific methods to solve military problems.

Q2. Why did Operations Research develop during World War II?

Military operations required efficient utilization of limited resources. Scientific analysis helped achieve better decisions and led to the development of Operations Research.

Q3. Who is considered the father of Operations Research?

Patrick M. S. Blackett is generally regarded as the father and pioneer of Operations Research.

Q4. Who developed Linear Programming?

George B. Dantzig developed Linear Programming and introduced the Simplex Method in 1947.

Summary in Short 

The evolution and historical development of Operations Research show how a discipline born out of military necessity during World War II transformed into a powerful tool for scientific decision-making. From its origins in Great Britain, Operations Research spread to the United States, India, and the rest of the world.

Today, OR plays an essential role in business, industry, healthcare, transportation, finance, and management. With the advancement of computers and optimization techniques, Operations Research continues to grow and remains one of the most important disciplines for solving complex real-world problems efficiently.

In recent years, operation research had an increasingly great impact on the management of organizations.

Many industries including aircraft and missiles, automobiles, communication, computer, electronics, mining paper, petroleum and transportation have made widespread use of OR in determining their tactical and strategical decisions more scientifically.

If the model is carefully formulated and tested, the resulting solution should reach to be a good approximation to the ideal course of action for the real problem. Although, we may not get the best answers, but definitely we are able to find the bad answers where worse exist. 

Thus operations research techniques are always able to save us from worse situations in practical life. 

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(Source - Various books of college library)

 

Tags: Historical development of operational research, History and Evolution of Operations Research

Origin, Evolution and Historical Development of Operations Research

History of Operations Research: Evolution and Development