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  • On-Campus

    • On-Campus Programs »

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      • An illustration of a white target with an arrow at the center, alongside a dollar symbol. It represents financial goals or business success.Essentials of Finance
      • A briefcase with jet streams underneath, symbolizing career growth or taking business to new heights.Essentials of Entrepreneurship
      • Icon of a group of people next to a globe, representing global community or international collaboration.Leadership in the Business World
      • An outline of a computer monitor with a gear symbol, representing computer settings or system configuration, on a purple background.Management & Technology Summer Institute
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      • A white outline of a baseball with stitching is shown, alongside a line graph icon, on a blue background. It represents baseball analytics.Moneyball Academy
      • An illustration of a classical building with columns, likely representing an institution, next to an icon with bar charts and a gear, symbolizing data analytics or business operations.Data Science Academy
      • A light bulb on top of a gear partially inside an open box, symbolizing innovation and ideas emerging from a mechanical or structured process.Product Design Academy
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      • A stylized globe with continents, featuring a bar chart and upward arrow, symbolizing global growth or economic progress.Future of the Business World
      • A white globe with continents next to three abstract people icons on a blue background, symbolizing global community or teamwork.Essentials of Leadership
      • Illustration of a football combined with a data graph on a turquoise background with a dotted pattern, representing sports analytics.Sports Business Academy
      • A light bulb with a dollar sign inside and three arrows pointing outwards, symbolizing ideas or innovations leading to financial growth.Financial Decision Making
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      • A stylized illustration of an arrow hitting the center of a target with a dollar symbol nearby, representing financial goals or success.Understanding Your Money
      • Illustration of a football with an analytics graph on a blue dotted background, representing sports analytics.Moneyball: Training Camp
      • A stylized icon of a computer screen displaying code, representing software development or programming.Moneyball FLEX
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      • An illustration of a globe with circular arrows, a gear, and a dollar sign, symbolizing global financial exchange and process automation.Cambridge, UK: Public Finance and Society
      • Icon of a globe, person, and briefcase in white line art on a purple background, representing global business or international professional opportunities.Cambridge, UK: Strategy and International Management
      • A circuit board design with the letters "AI" in the center, symbolizing artificial intelligence on a blue background.San Francisco, CA: AI Leadership
      • A simple white line drawing of a light bulb on a teal textured background, symbolizing an idea or innovation.San Francisco, CA: Innovation and Startup Culture
      • Outline of various sports balls, including a soccer ball, basketball, football, baseball, and tennis ball, against a blue background.San Francisco, CA: Moneyball Experience
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  • Global Competitions

    • Global Competitions »

      • Investment Competition
        • Rules & RolesThree silhouette figures next to a stack of checklists with checkmarks and crosses.
        • TradingIcon of a government building with a bar graph and upward arrow, representing economic growth or financial policy.
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      • Data Science Competition
        • The Wharton High School Data Science Competition is a free, experiential sports analytics competition from the Wharton Sports Analytics and Business Initiative, supported by the Wharton Global Youth Program. It delivers valuable data, analytics and team-building experience.

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      • Comment & Win Competition
        • The Wharton Global Youth Program Comment & Win is an annual contest that runs from June to August and is designed to encourage high school-age students to discover Global Youth stories, podcasts and videos, and to develop stronger reflective and persuasive writing skills. Four biweekly rounds of competition include a new theme introduced each round.

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  • News & Articles

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      • Business Journal Articles
        • A person is sitting on outdoor steps, wearing a brown sweater and black pants. They appear to be in a thoughtful pose, with their hand near their face, against a background of gray steps and railings.Brainpower and Business: How Neuroscience Gets Inside Your HeadDecember 2, 2024
        • A festive meal featuring a roast turkey on a platter with greens, mashed potatoes, stuffing, rolls, and a small decorative pumpkin.Thanksgiving Leftovers? One Student’s Solution to Food WasteDecember 1, 2024
        • Wooden blocks with the letters E, S, and G, representing Environmental, Social, and Governance criteria. Above are icons depicting nature and buildings, community figures, and hands holding a building.3 Questions for Sarah Light of Wharton’s Climate CenterNovember 26, 2024
        • A person using a calculator on a wooden table, surrounded by digital icons related to business and finance, with the word "RETAIL" prominently displayed.Simulation Edge: An Online Future of the Business World Student Learns How to ‘Pivot or Perish’November 14, 2024
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      • Global Youth News
        • A person giving a lecture in a classroom setting with a presentation slide displaying a headshot and the name "Erika H. James, Dean, the Wharton School." Students are seated, listening attentively.The Wharton School Helps High School Students Appreciate Finance and Future GrowthNovember 26, 2024
        • A small group of students attentively participating in a classroom setting. One person is gesturing with their hand raised, indicating engagement in discussion. Bottles of water are placed on the table in front of them.Philadelphia High School Students Excel in Wharton’s Pre-baccalaureate ProgramOctober 21, 2024
        • A group of young adults standing together, some holding certificates, possibly celebrating their participation and achievement in a program related to entrepreneurship. They appear happy and are in a classroom setting with a projector screen in the background.Essentials of Entrepreneurship: Collaborating on a Cooling SunscreenOctober 14, 2024
        • A person standing with arms outstretched in a misty field, conveying a sense of freedom and connection with nature.Wharton’s 2024 Comment and Win Contest Ends with Innovation and InspirationAugust 28, 2024
        • View All News
      • Glossary
        • The Wharton Global Youth Program has created a comprehensive video glossary of hundreds of business-related terms. Puzzled by the concept of "operating income" or need some help with your "competitive advantage?" Click on the linked word in the text in any article!
          • 401K 401K Glossary Item
          • Accounts Receivable Accounts Receivable Glossary Item
          • Acquisition Acquisition Glossary Item

        • Full Glossary »

      • Future of the Business World Podcast
        • Listen to inspiring youth voices! Each month Wharton Global Youth interviews a high school student innovator from around the world, discussing strategies and concepts that touch on every area of business and finance and explore the world economy. Each podcast episode runs around 20 minutes, ends with a fun lightning round, and is accompanied by a written transcript and conversation starters.
      • Commenting Policy
        • The Wharton Global Youth Program online community encourages open dialogue from our followers, readers and learners, through commenting on our Global Youth website articles and podcast transcripts and on our various social media platforms, including LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

          While we value all opinions and viewpoints, we also reserve the right to monitor, censor and unpublish posted comments throughout the Global Youth online community if they do not align with the purpose of our platform as a safe, educational space for pre-college learners, or they violate our code of ethics and conduct.

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      • AI Policy
        • The Wharton Global Youth Program embraces generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology and sees it as an important tool for students. However, we recognize that the material generated by these tools may produce inaccurate, incomplete, or otherwise problematic content.

          High school students applying to and participating in Wharton Global Youth programs, courses and competitions are strongly encouraged to review the Wharton Global Youth Program Statement of AI Use, application integrity statement and accompanying AI policies before submitting any written essays and/or assignments.

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  • For Educators

    • For Educators »

      • Teaching With Our Content
        • Here are some ways we encourage educators to use our content to inform students about the latest business and finance trends, and to spark curiosity, conversation and innovative thinking.

          Learn How

      • Explore Business
        • Our Explore Business mini-sites are gateways to conversations, readings and activities that inspire high school students to think more deeply about issues affecting business and society. Dig into these Wharton-powered learning opportunities wherever and whenever you want to explore timely and compelling topics.
        • Environmental, Social & GovernanceWooden blocks with the letters E, S, and G, representing Environmental, Social, and Governance, on a grass background.
        • The Business of RaceA person smiling while using a laptop with a sticker that reads "I eat data for breakfast" in a classroom setting.
        • AnalyticsBusiness Analytics Icon
        • Brand IdentityA row of various shades of blue denim jeans hanging vertically.
      • Essential Educator Blog
        • The Essential Educator is a monthly blog written for high school educators by high school educators. It shares best practices for supporting and engaging students through business education.

          Read Our Blog

      • Educator Toolkit
        • The Educator's Toolkit is a collection of articles, lesson plans, video glossary terms, hands-on learning exercises and other resources to provide ideas and materials to use with your students, while at the same time helping you discover the various ways the Wharotn Global Youth Program is creating relevant content for your classroom.
        • The Future of WorkAn engineer wearing a yellow hard hat operates a tablet while overseeing robotic arms welding metal, representing automation in manufacturing.
        • Sustainability and RecommerceA person drawing green outlines of houses, trees, wind turbines, and clouds, symbolizing sustainable energy and environmental conservation.
        • Technology and PrivacyA group of teenagers sitting together outdoors, using digital tablets and smartphones. They appear engaged and cheerful, representing social interaction and technology use.
        • View All Toolkit Articles
      • Lesson Plans

        • Browse the lesson plans, organized by National Business Education Association standard subject areas.

          • Accounting
          • Career Development
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          • Economics
          • Entrepreneurship
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          • International Business
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  • About

Operations Research

/wp-content/uploads/glossary_videos/Operations_Research.mp4

Operations research, also known as OR, or systems engineering, is the use of mathematical analyses to solve organizational problems. Firms specializing in logistics, such as UPS, tend to have large operations research departments.

October 10, 2013

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