JOURNAL ARTICLE

OM Forum–Working with Practitioners in Operations Management.

  • Published In: Manufacturing & Service Operations Management (M&SOM) (INFORMS), 2025, v. 27, n. 5. P. 1333 1 of 3

  • Database: Business Source Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Si, Haijian; Li, Meng; Loch, Christoph H. 3 of 3

Abstract

This article focuses on managing collaborations between academic researchers and practitioners in operations management (OM) to bridge the gap between theory and practice. It presents a five-phase framework—relationship building, stakeholder management, study design, study implementation, and poststudy management—that guides researchers in establishing trust, aligning goals, and conducting rigorous yet practically relevant research. The paper discusses challenges such as differing incentives, organizational dynamics, and ethical considerations, while emphasizing the importance of clear communication, stakeholder engagement, and methodological rigor across various research methods. It also highlights the increasing prevalence of practitioner coauthorship in leading OM journals and offers practical advice to support especially early-career scholars in developing impactful academic-practitioner partnerships.

Additional Information

  • Source:Manufacturing & Service Operations Management (M&SOM) (INFORMS). 2025/09, Vol. 27, Issue 5, p1333
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Business and Management
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:1523-4614
  • DOI:10.1287/msom.2025.0147
  • Accession Number:188158227
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Manufacturing & Service Operations Management (M&SOM) (INFORMS) is the property of INFORMS: Institute for Operations Research & the Management Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Looking to go deeper into this topic? Look for more articles on EBSCOhost.