Opportunities for developing the science of operations and supply‐chain management

Abstract

Abstract In a separate paper ( Singhal and Singhal, 2011b ), we identified two sets of opportunities for radical innovations in operations and supply‐chain management (O&SCM): pursuing all phases of science and pursuing multiple perspectives. In this paper, we propose and analyze ways to accomplish this task. A network of research teams can be effective in obtaining multiple perspectives and discovering radical innovation if it conducts intensive research over an extended period. Outliers are a source of multiple perspectives and innovative ideas and can help in identifying and addressing risks. Similarly, meta‐analyses and syntheses of published works can provide multiple perspectives and lead to radical innovations.