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Subfield · Decision Sciences

Management Science and Operations Research research

Management Science and Operations Research is a subfield of Decision Sciences. Science Explorer counts 507k research works in it since 1950. 19.2% of them reached the world's top 10% most cited for their field and year.

In short: study of problem-solving in human organizations.

Research works
507k
fractional, since 1950
In the world top 10%
97k
per year above
Top-10% rate
19.2%
share of its works in the world top 10%
Topics
34
Growth, 2013–17 → 2018–22
+24%
the tick is no change

What is Management Science and Operations Research research about, and what is growing?

By the world's output in 2019–23, its most used keywords are Fuzzy Sets, Supply Chain Management, Neural Networks, Risk Management, Forecasting Models, Analytic Hierarchy Process. Gaining share since 2009–13: Big Data Analytics, Internet of Things, Stock Market Prediction, Time Series Forecasting, Neural Networks. Losing share: Game Theory, Network Formation, Auction Theory, Mechanism Design.

▲ gaining share of this field◆ holding its share▼ losing share

Size is the world's fractional works in 2019–23 in the topics tagged with each word; colour compares the word's share of this field with 2009–13. Each links to the topic it comes from most.

All 40 words, with their numbers
  1. Fuzzy Sets17k▲ 1.17×2 topics
  2. Supply Chain Management16k▲ 1.76×3 topics
  3. Neural Networks16k▲ 1.85×2 topics
  4. Risk Management15k▲ 1.23×4 topics
  5. Forecasting Models14k▲ 1.44×2 topics
  6. Analytic Hierarchy Process13k▲ 1.18×1 topic
  7. TOPSIS13k▲ 1.18×1 topic
  8. Decision Making12k◆ 0.94×3 topics
  9. Stock Market Prediction10k▲ 2.0×1 topic
  10. Time Series Forecasting10k▲ 2.0×1 topic
  11. Construction Projects9,985▲ 1.29×1 topic
  12. Project Success9,985▲ 1.29×1 topic
  13. Complex Systems8,227◆ 0.87×2 topics
  14. Machine Learning8,209▲ 1.61×4 topics
  15. Big Data7,399▲ 1.19×2 topics
  16. Data Cleaning7,207▲ 1.21×1 topic
  17. Record Linkage7,207▲ 1.21×1 topic
  18. Agent-Based Modeling7,206▼ 0.67×2 topics
  19. Soft Systems Methodology6,546▼ 0.75×1 topic
  20. System Dynamics6,546▼ 0.75×1 topic
  21. Forecasting5,522▲ 1.63×1 topic
  22. Time Series5,522▲ 1.63×1 topic
  23. Auction Theory5,506▼ 0.66×1 topic
  24. Mechanism Design5,506▼ 0.66×1 topic
  25. Convex Optimization5,493▲ 1.21×2 topics
  26. Artificial Intelligence5,334▲ 1.50×4 topics
  27. Optimization5,130▼ 0.71×3 topics
  28. Energy Efficiency4,899◆ 0.93×2 topics
  29. Data Envelopment Analysis4,733◆ 1.00×1 topic
  30. Efficiency Measurement4,733◆ 1.00×1 topic
  31. Concept Mapping4,484▼ 0.84×1 topic
  32. Theory-Based Evaluation4,484▼ 0.84×1 topic
  33. Big Data Analytics4,041▲ 8.4×1 topic
  34. Internet of Things4,041▲ 8.4×1 topic
  35. Innovation Diffusion3,902▼ 0.83×1 topic
  36. New Product Growth3,902▼ 0.83×1 topic
  37. Rough Sets3,654◆ 1.12×1 topic
  38. Soft Set Theory3,654◆ 1.12×1 topic
  39. Game Theory3,471▼ 0.60×1 topic
  40. Network Formation3,471▼ 0.60×1 topic

Which countries lead Management Science and Operations Research research?

On research quality in 2022–2025, China, the United States and India rank highest in Management Science and Operations Research. By volume, China and the United States publish the most (18k and 14k works in 2022–2025).

By research quality, 2022–2025

  1. 1 China · #2 all time 21.8% top 10% · 18k works
  2. 2 United States · #1 all time 15.7% top 10% · 14k works
  3. 3 India · #4 all time 14.1% top 10% · 10k works
  4. 4 United Kingdom · #3 all time 20.3% top 10% · 4.1k works
  5. 5 Germany · #5 all time 18.5% top 10% · 3.2k works
  6. 6 Türkiye · #12 all time 18.6% top 10% · 3.1k works
  7. 7 Australia · #7 all time 22.6% top 10% · 2k works
  8. 8 Canada · #6 all time 18.3% top 10% · 2k works
  9. 9 Italy · #11 all time 21.9% top 10% · 2k works
  10. 10 Saudi Arabia · #30 all time 27.7% top 10% · 970 works

The track on each row is that row’s top-10% rate. The ranking itself is the composite score, which the rate is only one part of.

Of 65 countries ranked in Management Science and Operations Research. Composite of field-normalised excellence (50%), output (30%) and citations (20%); the bracket is the all-time rank.

All countries ranked in Management Science and Operations Research

By volume, 2022–2025

  1. 1 China 18k works
  2. 2 United States 14k works
  3. 3 India 10k works
  4. 4 Indonesia 5k works
  5. 5 United Kingdom 4.1k works
  6. 6 Germany 3.2k works
  7. 7 Türkiye 3.1k works
  8. 8 Russia 2.6k works
  9. 9 Brazil 2.2k works
  10. 10 Canada 2k works

How concentrated that is

The same countries as shares of everything the list above accounts for. A node where two countries do two thirds of the work and one spread evenly across twelve read alike as a ranking and not at all alike here.

China: 27.7%United States: 22.3%India: 15.6%Indonesia: 7.8%6 others listed: 26.6%28%largest
China18k · 27.7%United States14k · 22.3%India10k · 15.6%Indonesia5,046 · 7.8%6 others listed17k · 26.6%

Shares of the rows listed above, not of the whole node.

Which institutions lead Management Science and Operations Research research?

North Carolina State University (United States) ranks first in Management Science and Operations Research on research quality in 2022–2025, followed by Mangalore University and Tsinghua University.

By research quality, 2022–2025

  1. 1 North Carolina State University United States · Raleigh · #24 all time 38.4% top 10% · 93 works
  2. 2 Mangalore University India · Mangaluru 31.3% top 10% · 113 works
  3. 3 Tsinghua University China · Beijing · #18 all time 22.6% top 10% · 243 works
  4. 4 Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hong Kong · Hong Kong · #35 all time 32.6% top 10% · 169 works
  5. 5 University of Johannesburg South Africa · Johannesburg 21.9% top 10% · 228 works
  6. 6 University College London United Kingdom · London · #31 all time 29.4% top 10% · 193 works
  7. 7 Nanyang Technological University Singapore · Singapore · #50 all time 33.2% top 10% · 115 works
  8. 8 Sichuan University China · Chengdu · #36 all time 21.9% top 10% · 209 works
  9. 9 Shanghai Jiao Tong University China · Shanghai · #77 all time 25.0% top 10% · 194 works
  10. 10 Columbia University United States · New York · #6 all time 19.4% top 10% · 179 works

The track on each row is that row’s top-10% rate. The ranking itself is the composite score, which the rate is only one part of.

Of 259 institutions above the floor of 40 fractional works in Management Science and Operations Research.

Top 100 Management Science and Operations Research institutions

By volume, 2022–2025

  1. 1 Tsinghua University China 243 works
  2. 2 Binus University Indonesia 242 works
  3. 3 University of Johannesburg South Africa 228 works
  4. 4 Sichuan University China 209 works
  5. 5 Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia 195 works
  6. 6 Shanghai Jiao Tong University China 194 works
  7. 7 University College London United Kingdom 193 works
  8. 8 SRM Institute of Science and Technology India 191 works
  9. 9 Vellore Institute of Technology University India 188 works
  10. 10 University of Toronto Canada 182 works

Who are the leading researchers in Management Science and Operations Research?

Among the most productive authors in Management Science and Operations Research, Kenneth J. Arrow, James Thomas and Robert Tibshirani rank highest on the composite score.

  1. 1 Kenneth J. Arrow United States · #26 worldwide 5.4k citations · 176 works
  2. 2 James Thomas United Kingdom · #27 worldwide 13k citations · 154 works
  3. 3 Robert Tibshirani United States · #38 worldwide 13k citations · 155 works
  4. 4 M. Hashem Pesaran United States · #64 worldwide 9.1k citations · 161 works
  5. 5 Herbert A. Simon United States · #65 worldwide 4.2k citations · 188 works
  6. 6 Daron Acemoğlu United States · #106 worldwide 5.7k citations · 213 works
  7. 7 Jean Tirole France · #189 worldwide 4.4k citations · 118 works
  8. 8 Peter M. Bentler United States · #237 worldwide 16k citations · 107 works
  9. 9 Clive W. J. Granger United States · #256 worldwide 4.5k citations · 117 works
  10. 10 Kalyanmoy Deb United States · #287 worldwide 6.7k citations · 218 works

Re-ranked on the composite score from the 5,427 highest-output authors in Management Science and Operations Research. Identities come from OpenAlex author disambiguation, which occasionally merges or splits people.

Top 100 Management Science and Operations Research researchers

Where is Management Science and Operations Research research done?

The largest centres of Management Science and Operations Research research in 2022–2025 are Beijing (China), Shanghai (China), Moscow (Russia) and Nanjing (China). Among places with at least 20 works in it, it is an unusually large share of all research in Thika and Fort Walton Beach.

Largest cities, 2022–2025

  1. 1 Beijing China 3k works
  2. 2 Shanghai China 1.4k works
  3. 3 Moscow Russia 1.2k works
  4. 4 Nanjing China 1.1k works
  5. 5 London United Kingdom 1k works
  6. 6 Jakarta Indonesia 864 works
  7. 7 Chennai India 806 works
  8. 8 Istanbul Türkiye 794 works
  9. 9 Tehran Iran 784 works
  10. 10 Chengdu China 779 works

Where it is the local speciality

  1. ThikaKE · 63.6 works10×
  2. Fort Walton BeachUS · 27.9 works9.0×
← less than its size predicts1×more →

Location quotient: how much more of its research is in Management Science and Operations Research than the world average.

See Management Science and Operations Research on the map

Management Science and Operations Research research by country

The best places for Management Science and Operations Research research inside each country, with that country's researchers and world standing.

Where is the best place to study Management Science and Operations Research?

Among universities, judged by research, Mangalore University, Shandong University of Finance and Economics and Riphah International University score highest, combining excellence, specialisation, size, growth and international reach. Research strength is one signal when choosing where to study; it does not measure teaching.

0%20%40%60%mean 32.24%fractional works in this node (log) →share in the world top 10% →Mangalore University: 113, 31.3%Shandong University of Finance and Economics: 95, 34.7%Riphah International University: 58, 50.9%University of the Punjab: 82, 41.4%International Islamic University, Islamabad: 53, 38.8%University of Management and Technology: 60, 25.3%Southwestern University of Finance and Economics: 122, 24.1%King Abdulaziz University: 105, 33.6%University of Johannesburg: 228, 21.9%Symbiosis International University: 142, 20.4%Riphah International…University of the Pu…Shandong University …Mangalore University
above the meannear itbelow it

One dot per university in the table below. The upper left is the interesting corner: small places doing unusually strong work.

#UniversityScoreTop 10%SpecialisationWorksGrowth
1Mangalore University India 67.631.3%8.9×113 +490.3%
2Shandong University of Finance and Economics China 63.334.7%11.6×95 +74.0%
3Riphah International University Pakistan 62.850.9%4.1×58 +672.5%
4University of the Punjab Pakistan 57.041.4%2.8×82 +771.6%
5International Islamic University, Islamabad Pakistan 54.938.8%4.5×53 +228.9%
6University of Management and Technology Pakistan 54.325.3%6.2×60 +994.2%
7Southwestern University of Finance and Economics China 54.124.1%8.4×122 +28.6%
8King Abdulaziz University Saudi Arabia 53.933.6%1.9×105 +180.9%
9University of Johannesburg South Africa 53.521.9%3.6×228 +94.6%
10Symbiosis International University India 52.120.4%4.2×142 +200.7%

Universities only. Score blends excellence (30%), specialisation (25%), size (20%), growth (15%) and international reach (10%), 2015–2022; growth compares 2010–14 with 2015–19.

Is Management Science and Operations Research research growing?

Output in 2018–2022 was 24% higher than in 2013–2017, peaking in 2025. The fastest-growing topics are Economic, Social, and Public Health Issues in Russia and Globally, Impact of AI and Big Data on Business and Society and Advanced Bandit Algorithms Research.

19801990200020102020
grewheldshrank

The same series as a ribbon — one cell per year, darker for more. The line above answers how much; this answers when.

Which topics inside it are moving

Growth and decline on one axis around a shared zero. Two lists side by side hide the thing that matters: whether the growth dwarfs the decline, or the other way round.

  1. Economic, Social, and Public Health Issues in Russia and Globally+1782%
  2. Impact of AI and Big Data on Business and Society+490%
  3. Advanced Bandit Algorithms Research+246%
  4. Data Quality and Management+166%
  5. Construction Project Management and Performance+131%
  6. Stock Market Forecasting Methods+121%
  7. Simulation Techniques and Applications-1%
  8. Grey System Theory Applications-22%
← shrinkingno changegrowing →

Growth in output from 2005–09 to 2015–19. Every topic is a page of its own.

What does Management Science and Operations Research include?

Multi-Criteria Decision …49kMulti-Criteria Decision Making: 49k fractional worksComplex Systems and Deci…39kComplex Systems and Decision Making: 39k fractional worksConstruction Project Management and Performance: 35k fractional worksStock Market Forecasting Methods: 31k fractional worksAuction Theory and Applications: 28k fractional worksSimulation Techniques and Applications: 28k fractional worksEvaluation and Performance Assessment: 26k fractional worksData Quality and Managem…26kData Quality and Management: 26k fractional worksForecasting Techniques and Applications: 21k fractional worksGame Theory and Applications: 21k fractional worksEfficiency Analysis Using DEA: 19k fractional worksOptimal Experimental Design Methods: 18k fractional works

Area is fractional works in that topic. Every name below is a page of its own.