Calls for papers

 

International Journal of Services and Operations Management

 

Special Issue on: "Global Operations"

Guest Editor: Dr. Hokey Min, Bowling Green State University, USA

Globalisation has continued to re-shape the today’s business landscape by presenting countless operational challenges and opportunities. These challenges include the increased complexity and uncertainty created by varying organisational culture, socio-economic conditions, national policies, currency fluctuations, communication protocols, quality standards, technical ethical/legal practices, and business customs. For example, quality circles that worked well in Japan may not work at all in the UK due to differences in management styles and labour rules. Also, imposing high quality standards on the organisational setting in developing countries such as China can be the far more daunting task than doing so in developed countries such as Germany and France.

On the other hand, globalisation poses numerous business opportunities by expanding the multinational firm’s customer and supplier bases. For example, many U.S. firms have actively sought to source their materials, parts and components from overseas suppliers who have a better access to cheap labour, stronger government supports, and less stringent environmental standards. Also, a company’s increasing presence in the world-wide market would help it enhance its brand recognition and subsequently solidify its customer bases.

In recognition of these challenges and opportunities, this special issue aims to bring together the recent advances in research tools and their applications to various aspects of international operations and supply activities including global outsourcing, contract manufacturing, foreign supplier evaluation, international technology transfer, international plant location, strategic alliances with foreign firms, and overseas supplier development. Papers centered on building theory or based on actual case studies will be especially welcomed. Also, papers that synthesize the past evolution of international operations management and provide future research directions are strongly encouraged.

Subject Coverage
The topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following areas:

• International sourcing strategy
• Strategic alliances among overseas buyers and suppliers
• International manufacturing plant/warehouse location
• International supplier development
• International technology transfers
• International call center operations
• The application of six sigma principles to world-wide supply chain operations
• Supply risk assessment and management
• Bullwhip effects in the global supply chain
• Contract manufacturing in global business environments
• Change management from the global supply chain perspective
• Forecasting foreign exchange rates
• Supply chain talent development across the country
• Global quality standards including ISO9000/14000 guidelines
• Global supply chain leadership
• Comparisons of operations and supply management in different countries.

Notes for Prospective Authors

Submitted papers should not have been previously published nor be currently under consideration for publication elsewhere

All papers are refereed through a peer review process. A guide for authors, sample copies and other relevant information for submitting papers are available on the Author Guidelines page

Important Dates

Full paper due: 15 May, 2008

Notification of acceptance: 31 July, 2008

Final version of the paper due: 30 September, 2008