--- title: "Optimization criterion" source: "https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Optimization_criterion" wiki: "systems-analysis.info/eng" article: "Optimization_criterion" language: "en" categories: - "Category:English" - "Category:Modeling" - "Category:Operations research" - "Category:Optimization" - "Category:Science" revision_id: 290 wiki_created_at: 2026-09-06T22:20:07Z wiki_modified_at: 2026-09-06T22:20:07Z downloaded_at: 2026-09-07T22:22:29Z --- # Optimization criterion **An optimization criterion** is a feature, rule, or quantitative indicator used to evaluate and compare different alternatives (solution variants, states of a [system](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System"), strategies) with the goal of selecting the best (optimal) one in tasks of [optimization](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Optimization "Optimization"), [operations research](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Operations_research "Operations research"), and [decision theory](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Decision_theory "Decision theory"). An optimization criterion formalizes the concept of "the best" in the context of a specific task and the [goals](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Goal "Goal") of the decision-maker (DM). ## Essence and Purpose The purpose of an optimization criterion is to: 1. **Establish a measure of preference:** It allows for a quantitative or qualitative determination of how much better one option is than another. 2. **Ensure comparability:** It provides a common basis for comparing diverse alternatives. 3. **Guide the search for a solution:** It indicates the direction of [optimization](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Optimization "Optimization")—what exactly needs to be maximized or minimized. 4. **Formalize a [goal](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Goal "Goal"):** It translates an often qualitative task [goal](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Goal "Goal") (e.g., "to increase efficiency") into a specific, measurable indicator. Without a clearly defined optimization criterion, it is impossible to objectively select an optimal solution from a set of feasible ones. ## Relationship with the Objective Function In [mathematical modeling](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Mathematical_modeling "Mathematical modeling") and [optimization](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Optimization "Optimization"), the optimization criterion is **formalized** as an **[objective function](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Objective_function "Objective function")**. - An **optimization criterion** is a conceptual notion, a rule for selection (e.g., "minimize costs," "maximize profit"). - An **[Objective function](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Objective_function "Objective function")** is a mathematical expression (a formula) that quantitatively represents this criterion and depends on the problem's decision variables. The [optimization](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Optimization "Optimization") of the [objective function](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Objective_function "Objective function") (finding its extremum) is equivalent to finding the solution that is best according to the given optimization criterion. ## Types of Optimization Criteria The primary classification of optimization criteria is based on the direction of [optimization](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Optimization "Optimization"): - **Maximization criteria:** The goal is to find a solution where the value of the indicator is at its maximum (e.g., profit, productivity, reliability, [utility](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Utility_theory "Utility theory")). - **Minimization criteria:** The goal is to find a solution where the value of the indicator is at its minimum (e.g., costs, time, [risk](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Risk "Risk"), losses, deviation from a norm). Criteria are also distinguished as: - **Single-criterion problems:** Only one optimization criterion is used. - **Multi-criteria problems:** Several, often conflicting, criteria are considered simultaneously. In this case, the search is for compromise or Pareto-optimal solutions. ## Choosing an Optimization Criterion Choosing an adequate optimization criterion is a **critically important** step in [problem](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Problem "Problem") formulation. An incorrectly chosen criterion can lead to an optimal solution for the [model](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Mathematical_model "Mathematical model"), but an ineffective or even harmful solution for the real [system](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") or problem situation. The choice of a criterion depends on: - The [goals](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Goal "Goal") of the [problem](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Problem "Problem") and the decision-maker. - The specifics of the [system](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") or [process](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Process "Process"). - The availability of data to calculate the indicator. - The [planning](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Planning "Planning") time horizon. Often, the choice of a criterion is subjective and requires careful justification. ## Role in Optimization and OR Problems In [operations research](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Operations_research "Operations research"), the optimization criterion (in the form of an [objective function](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Objective_function "Objective function")), along with [constraints](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Constraints "Constraints"), forms the basis of the [mathematical model](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Mathematical_model "Mathematical model") of the [problem](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Problem "Problem"). [Optimization](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Optimization "Optimization") algorithms use the [objective function](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Objective_function "Objective function") to evaluate and compare feasible solutions and to search for the optimal one. ## See also - [Optimization](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Optimization "Optimization") - [Objective function](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Objective_function "Objective function") - [Optimal solution](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Optimal_solution_(optimization) "Optimal solution (optimization)") - [Operations research](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Operations_research "Operations research") - [Decision theory](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Decision_theory "Decision theory") - [Criterion](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Criterion "Criterion") - [Goal](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Goal "Goal") - [Mathematical model](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Mathematical_model "Mathematical model") ## Literature - *Venttsel E. S.* Operations Research: Problems, Principles, Methodology. — Moscow: Nauka, 1988. - *Ackoff R. L., Sasieni M. W.* Fundamentals of Operations Research. — New York: Wiley, 1968. - *Peregudov F. I., Tarasenko F. P.* Introduction to Systems Analysis. — Moscow: Vysshaya Shkola, 1989.