1. What is Operations Research?

It is an interdisciplinary branch of applied mathematics, engineering and sciences

that uses scientific research based principles, strategies,and analytical methods to
improve an organization's ability to enact rational and meaningful decisions. It is focused
on the effective use of technology by organizations to achieve optimal or near-optimal
solutions to complex decision making problems.

2. Why is it important to study Operations Research?

 Gives you the ability to solve real world problems

 It allows you to make use of your creative skills along with an analytical structure
 It broadens the range of your career opportunities
 It allows one to bridge technology and organizational departments in companies
 Helps one make better personal and professional decision
 Helps organizations leverage on the huge amount of data concerned with their day to
day operations.

3. Trace the history of Operations research.

History of Operation Research 

 Operations research origins in World War II used for military services 
 There was an urgent need to allocate resources at efficient manner to have an
advantage . 
 Allied forces called large number of scientists and professionals from varying
disciplines and they were asked to do research on military operations. 
 They were able to develop an effective system to locate the presence, direction,
distance, and speed of aircraft, ships, and other objects, by sending out pulses of
high-frequency electromagnetic waves that are reflected off the object back to the
source which we know today as radar. Developed a better method to manage convoy
and antisubmarine operation in the North Atlantic. Developed a method to utilize
resources efficiently( resource cost reduced one half).
 Success of OR in the war spurred interest in outside the military (business, industry
and government)