Call for Papers
POM Special Issue on “Socially Responsible Operations”
Guest Editors: ManMohan S. Sodhi and Christopher S. Tang
Description: Socially responsible operations involve the consideration of a broad set of stakeholders that goes beyond shareholders. Many business leaders and entrepreneurs are committed to serving stakeholders that range from consumers to suppliers and from employees to external constituencies. Their motivation is primarily driven by the “triple bottom line” (profits, planet, and people) as follows:
(1) Profit Driven. Products/services provided by socially and environmental friendly companies are likely to be preferred by consumers (or regulators). Consequently, these companies may be able to earn a higher profit by selling more quantity at a higher price to offset any increase in costs;
(2) Planet Driven. Business leaders are committed to ensure sustainable resources for future generations especially because there is only ‘one planet’ with finite resources and the rapidly growing consumption in the developed countries as well as developing countries; and
(3) People Driven. Multi-national companies recognize that, to succeed in emerging markets, they need to alleviate poverty by creating new businesses or jobs, by educating the poor to increase productivity, and by developing new ways to use natural resources in a sustainable manner.
The POM special issue onSocially Responsible Operationsseeks to publish a set of research papers that examine what is different about socially responsible operations or how these meet the needs of diverse stakeholders as distinct from shareholders or owners. Appropriate topics include but arenotlimited to:
Operations of social business/social enterprise (e.g., Grameen Bank, Kiva, Vision Spring)
Operations of innovative business models (e.g., Nestlé’s Creating Shared Value, Wal-Mart’s Direct Farm) that seek to create shared value for the poor and the firm
Operations of new business models (e.g., shared car ownership program proposed by Peugeot that reduces the total number of cars on the road) that are environmentally friendly
Operations associated with the reduced resource use, i.e., with environmental sustainability (e.g., Toyota Europe’s efforts to reduce water and energy consumption)
Operations that seek to combine logistical efforts of otherwise competing companies
Operations to reuse resources through recycling parts and remanufacturing (closed-loop supply chains)
Operations to create longer-lasting products for ‘sustainable consumption’
Operations that overcome logistical challenges in emerging markets (e.g., Riders for health)
Operations redesigned for older workers in societies that are ageing.
Empirical and analytical papers based on empirical, analytical, or behavioral analysis are appropriate for this special issue. However, the article must be grounded in areal contextin a substantial way, showing how the operations in question are indeed ‘socially responsible’.
Review Process:Submitted articles will be reviewed by the guest editors, associate editors, and referees. Decisions will be made withintworeview cycles, where each review cycle will be within four months. The guest editors will help resolve conflicting referee reports if necessary.
Deadline for submission: Please submit your article tohttp://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/pomsthrough‘Special issue – socially responsible operations’ bySeptember 30, 2013anddirect it to (Department Editor) Christopher Tang. Questions on this special issue can be sent to any of the guest editors:
