Dr. Binyamin Oz , a faculty member in the operations research specialization at Hebrew University Business School, went to donate blood following the October 7th events. He waited in line, along with hundreds of other donors, which made him realize that there was a dire need for assisting and advising organizations on their operational efficiency. “Witnessing so many people standing in lines for hours to this noble cause was heartwarming, but I couldn't overlook the inefficiencies in the process,” he shared. The ORSIS Operations Research Society of Israel (ORSIS) hotline, aimed at aiding organizations’ operational efficiency, was inspired by this personal encounter.
Dr. Oz has been a central figure in spearheading the hotline as the organization’s wartime response in these unprecedented times where non-profit and governmental organizations are overwhelmed and unable to run according to their previous day-to-day operational framework. The hotline, which focuses on linking volunteer operations research specialists to organizations, has been promoted across various platforms to ensure that organizations are aware of the services available. Most of the volunteers are drawn from the approximately 150 members of ORSIS, generally faculty members from Israeli universities and colleges with research interests in one or more branches of Operations Research.
ORSIS (orsis.org.il) is a non-profit organization founded in 1966 with the primary objective of advancing research and practical applications of Operations Research in Israel. Dr. Oz is an ORSIS member since 2011 and a council member since 2021.
After his experience, Dr. Oz contacted Magen David Adom (MDA) and The Association of Volunteer Blood Donor (ארגון תורמי דם). Since then, MDA has implemented many of ORSIS’ recommendations, significantly improving the blood donation process. ORSIS is also in final stages of developing a new app for ארגון תורמי דם to help manage this valuable resource. ORSIS volunteers are further closely collaborating with the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) to create essential policy papers on food security and employment.
Reflecting on the situation, Dr. Oz shared: “Witnessing the incredible energy and enthusiasm of volunteers all over our beloved country is truly inspiring. Efficiently harnessing these energies can make a significant difference.”