2440. From Academia to Industry: The Case for Simplified Operations Research in Amazon Web Services
Invited abstract in session FC-1: Plenary Talk Ruiz & Closing Event, stream PC Stream.
Friday, 11:45-13:15Room: Audimax
Authors (first author is the speaker)
| 1. | Rubén Ruiz
|
| Departamento de Estadistica e Investigación Operativa Aplicadas y Calidad, Universitat Politècnica de València |
Abstract
This talk explores the critical divide between academic Operations Research and its application in complex industrial environments, with a focus on Amazon Web Services. In these settings, unprecedented scale and rapid delivery are not just desirable—they’re imperative. While academia often pursues algorithmic complexity and theoretical optimality, the industrial landscape demands a paradigm shift towards pragmatism and agility. Both aspects are neglected and often ignored in academia where complexity and problem-specific knowledge are sought for and valued over practical applications.
We confront the reality of multi-objective problems, soft constraints, and the ever-shifting sands of business requirements that characterize real-world scenarios. These factors necessitate a radical rethinking of traditional OR approaches.
Our proposition is bold yet practical: embrace heuristic solvers and simplified modeling techniques that prioritize speed, adaptability, and ease of implementation. This approach is particularly crucial when dealing with estimated input data, where the pursuit of mathematical optimality may be not just impractical, but potentially misleading.
Through a series of compelling case studies—ranging from classical routing and scheduling problems to large-scale virtual machine placement in Amazon EC2—we demonstrate the power of pragmatic methods in addressing real-world challenges. These examples illustrate how seemingly “suboptimal” solutions can yield robust, maintainable, and highly effective outcomes that balance performance with operational efficiency.
Ultimately, this presentation challenges the OR community to reconsider the true meaning of optimality in industrial contexts. We argue that a marginal optimality gap is a small price to pay for the immense benefits of enhanced flexibility, reduced operational complexity, and the ability to swiftly adapt to changing business requirements. This talk aims to spark a dialogue about aligning academic research with the pressing needs of industry, potentially reshaping the future of OR in practice.
Keywords
- Profession of OR
Status: accepted
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