Assessing Operations Management from a Strategic Perspective

Abstract

Manufacturing strategy research, together with service operations and strategy research, form the background for an examination of operations management. Although much of the assessment and critique is directed at operations strategy, traditional operations management issues such as technology, productivity, and quality also come under scrutiny as to their role in strategy. This review identifies three common themes and seven missing themes in the literature, contrasting the "'content" variables so frequently investigated within operations management-quality, cost, delivery, and flexibility-against strategic "process" variables. Conclusions include the partial indictment of operations management literature through the missing themes, an indictment that can be shored-up through increased empirical research in operations strategy that focuses on content, process, and performance.