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Evolution of Operations Management Research: from Managing Flows to Building Capabilities

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Listed:
  • Fuqiang Zhang
  • Xiaole Wu
  • Christopher S. Tang
  • Tianjun Feng
  • Yue Dai

Abstract

This forum study examines the past and the future of Operations Management (OM) research. First, we investigate the evolution of OM research from 1997 to 2018 by using machine learning tools to analyze all OM papers published in five journals (JOM, MS, M&SOM, POM, and OR), and find that the number of information/financial flow‐focused OM research papers has increased steadily over the years. Second, we present three research topics motivated by the US‐China trade war and the Covid‐19 pandemic, and postulate that future OM research is likely to involve all three flows: material, information, and financial flows. Finally, we argue that, to achieve operational efficiency, resilience, and sustainability in the Industry 4.0 era, firms should build (or strengthen) three new capabilities: Connectivity, Clarity, and Continuity. As firms develop new ways to build these new capabilities, more innovative OM research ideas will ensue.

Suggested Citation

  • Fuqiang Zhang & Xiaole Wu & Christopher S. Tang & Tianjun Feng & Yue Dai, 2020. "Evolution of Operations Management Research: from Managing Flows to Building Capabilities," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 29(10), pages 2219-2229, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:popmgt:v:29:y:2020:i:10:p:2219-2229
    DOI: 10.1111/poms.13231
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Christopher S. Tang & S. Alex Yang & Jing Wu, 2018. "Sourcing from Suppliers with Financial Constraints and Performance Risk," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 20(1), pages 70-84, February.
    2. Joshua Angrist & Pierre Azoulay & Glenn Ellison & Ryan Hill & Susan Feng Lu, 2017. "Economic Research Evolves: Fields and Styles," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 107(5), pages 293-297, May.
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    5. Hau L. Lee & V. Padmanabhan & Seungjin Whang, 1997. "Information Distortion in a Supply Chain: The Bullwhip Effect," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 43(4), pages 546-558, April.
    6. Yue Dai & Tianjun Feng & Christopher S. Tang & Xiaole Wu & Fuqiang Zhang, 2020. "Twenty Years in the Making: The Evolution of the Journal of Manufacturing & Service Operations Management," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 22(1), pages 1-10, January.
    7. Volodymyr Babich & Panos Kouvelis, 2018. "Introduction to the Special Issue on Research at the Interface of Finance, Operations, and Risk Management (iFORM): Recent Contributions and Future Directions," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 20(1), pages 1-18, February.
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