Optimising a complex business with sequences of multiple operations and continuously changing operational conditions could be a daunting but essential task enabling maximum profitability and customer satisfaction. Examples of related business operation problems range from optimisation of a simple shop with multiple cashier outlets and varying customer flow to highly sophisticated operational systems like a modern airport or an emergency department in a large hospital or an extended and complex supply chain with multiple businesses involved. 

Optimisation of the available resources and facilities is particularly important under stressful operation including, for example, disruption of services (like airport closures as a result of bad weather or other events and circumstances), or an unexpected influx of patients into an emergency department caused by catastrophic or disaster events, or a peak demand in a supply chain (like a peak power demand during heat waves or cold snaps).

Any expansion of a complex business should be consistent with evidence-based simulation and optimisation of the expected expanded facilities and resources, as well as with their ability to function under stress.