The role of the operations research analyst varies according to the structure and management philosophy of the firm. The degree of supervision varies by organizational structure and experience. Operations research analysts work closely with senior managers, who have a wide variety of support needs. Analysts must adapt their work to reflect these requirements. Regardless of the industry or structure of the organization, operations research entails a similar set of procedures.
Managers begin the process by describing the symptoms of a problem to the analyst.
The analyst then defines the problem, which sometimes is general in nature and at other times specific. For example, an operations research analyst for an auto manufacturer may be asked to determine the best inventory level for each of the materials for a new production line or, more specifically, to determine how many windshields should be kept in inventory. After analysts define the problem, they learn everything they can about it. They study the problem, then break it into its component parts. Then they gather information about each of these parts.