Business Analytics in Service Operations

Abstract

We present an expanded framework for the use of business analytics in projects. To the commonly used descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics, we add comparative analytics, wherein we compare the performance of systems under different interventions. This framework provides a conceptual roadmap for the implementation of business analytics projects. We then demonstrate this framework using recent operations research literature on analytics in healthcare, summarizing papers focusing on one of these aspects. Next, we discuss queue mining as an example of theory and practice illustrative of these aspects. We conclude there is room for further work by operations researchers and management scientists within business analytics projects generally and the healthcare industry more specifically. We argue future work should consider both theory and practice, especially within prescriptive analytics projects, where analysis through the lens of operations research and management science is imperative. We provide some thoughts on the current and future state of operations research and management science in business analytics.