Spectrum of Operational Research (SOR)

Spectrum of Operational Research (SOR) is an international, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to publishing high-quality research that advances the theory, methodology, and practice of operational research, management science, and business analytics. The journal serves as a platform for innovative studies that integrate analytical rigor with practical relevance, offering new insights into complex decision-making and optimization problems across diverse domains.

SOR welcomes original research papers, comprehensive reviews, and case studies that explore both theoretical developments and real-world applications of operational research methods. Interdisciplinary contributions connecting operational research with information technology, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics, soft computing, and electronic services are strongly encouraged.

Key Areas of Interest

1. Fuzzy Systems and Advanced Uncertainty Modeling

SOR emphasizes all forms of fuzzy sets and their modern extensions, including:

• Intuitionistic fuzzy sets;
• Pythagorean fuzzy sets;
• Fermatean fuzzy sets;
• q-rung orthopair fuzzy sets;
• Dual fuzzy sets;
• Connection number;
• D-numbers;
• Picture fuzzy sets;
• Spherical fuzzy sets;
• Hesitant fuzzy sets;
• m–polar fuzzy sets;
• Neutrosophic sets;
• Hypersoft sets;
• Other emerging uncertainty modeling frameworks.

These topics provide a platform to explore innovative directions in decision-making under uncertainty and interdisciplinary operational research applications.

2. Real-World Applications

SOR encourages studies demonstrating the application of operational research methods to practical problems in:

• Forecasting and predictive analytics;
• Inventory and supply chain management;
• Investment and financial decision-making;
• Location planning and logistics optimization;
• Maintenance, reliability, and quality management;
• Marketing analytics and customer behavior modeling;
• Production, packing, and purchasing strategies;
• Project scheduling and management;
• Healthcare operations and emergency management.

3. Application Environments

The journal targets diverse sectors where operational research can make a significant impact:

• Industry and manufacturing;
• Energy, mining, and natural resources;
• Finance and banking;
• Public policy, government, and community services;
• Healthcare and education;
• Sports analytics and transportation;
• Emerging smart environments and IoT-driven systems;

4. Methodologies and Technical Approaches

SOR publishes work using traditional and modern operational research techniques, including:

• Mathematical programming (linear, nonlinear, integer, stochastic);
• Multi-criteria decision-making and multi-objective optimization;
• Simulation, queuing theory, and network modeling;
• Heuristic, metaheuristic, and hybrid algorithms;
• Decision support and expert systems;
• Problem structuring methods and soft operational research approaches;
• Data-driven, AI-assisted, and machine learning methods for complex decisions.

5. Interdisciplinary and Innovative Research

The journal particularly encourages contributions that:

• Integrate OR with artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, and digital technologies;
• Explore hybrid approaches combining soft computing, fuzzy systems, and mathematical optimization;
• Provide evidence-based insights for decision-making in dynamic, uncertain, or complex environments;
• Offer comprehensive state-of-the-art reviews by eminent researchers to guide future research directions.

Spectrum of Operational Research seeks to bridge the gap between theory and practice, offering a unique venue for researchers to present cutting-edge methods and their applications to solve pressing operational and managerial challenges worldwide.