OR can be describe as "The Art of optimization finding the minimum or maximum of an objective function.

-Objective: is to "Attain at best or near best solutions to complex problem."

-History: 1930's=OR existed as science.
​1952=OR is studied in a health care set-up.
​
KEY POINTS IN HISTORY OF OR:
​-WORLD WAR 2 IN UK
​-SCIENTISTS; Patrick Blackett, Owen Wansbrough-Jones, C.H. Waddington, Frank Yates, Cecil Gordon, with George Dantzig in US.
​-TRAINING SCHEDULES AND LOGISTICS
​-ACTIVE FOR INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH AND ACADEMICS.

KEY POINTS IN METHODOLOGY OF OR:
​-FORMULATING THE PROBLEMS
​-CONSTRUCTING A MODEL TO REPRESENT THE SYSTEM UNDER STUDY.

​-DERIVING  SOLUTIONS FROM THE MODEL

​-TESTINGTHE MODEL AND THE SOLUTIONS DERIVED FROM IT.

​-ESTABLISHING CONTROLS OVER THE SOLUTION.

​-IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SOLUTION.

KEY POINTS APPLICATION OF OR:

​1.ALLOCATION AND DISTRIBUTION IN PROJECTS.

​2.PRODUCTION AND FACILITIES PLANNING.

​3.PROGRAM DECISION.

​4.MARKETING.

​5.ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR.

​6.FINANCE

​7.RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.