Title: Applying the operations management - approach to reduce process delays in justice courts

Authors: Pauliina Seppälä; Annastiina Kerkkänen; Petra Pekkanen; Timo Pirttilä

Addresses: Department of Industrial Management, Lappeenranta University of Technology, P.O. Box 20, FI-53851 Lappeenranta, Finland ' Department of Industrial Management, Lappeenranta University of Technology, P.O. Box 20, FI-53851 Lappeenranta, Finland ' Department of Industrial Management, Lappeenranta University of Technology, P.O. Box 20, FI-53851 Lappeenranta, Finland ' Department of Industrial Management, Lappeenranta University of Technology, P.O. Box 20, FI-53851 Lappeenranta, Finland

Abstract: The paper focuses on finding the special characteristics of court processes that need to be considered when applying operations management (OM) concepts in courts. The evidence presented in this paper is based on six action research projects implemented in the Finnish courts where the researchers had a double role, the role of a researcher and the role of a process consultant. The findings of the research indicate that the factors causing delay problems can be divided into two parts: delays can be caused by the unique nature and characteristics of court processes, or the way of working in the court houses. The study also introduces OM-applications implemented in the courts and the achieved results in two case organisations.

Keywords: operations management; professional organisations; public organisations; court organisation; delay reduction; process delays; justice courts; court processes; action research; Finland.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBEX.2013.052476

International Journal of Business Excellence, 2013 Vol.6 No.2, pp.131 - 147

Published online: 30 Oct 2013 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article