Research in operations management teaching: Trends and challenges

Abstract

Purpose: The objective is to analyse research in Operations Management (OM) teaching published in high impact journals in the area in order to examine trends and set future challenges.

Design/methodology/approach: A bibliometric study was carried out of 45 of the main JCR OM and Management journals for the 1995-2010 period. The 129 articles identified on research in OM teaching were analysed.

Findings: There is a dearth of articles on teaching in the main OM and Management journals. Sixty-two point two percent of the journals analysed have not published any and the remainder (17) have devoted only 0.4% of all their publications to this subject area. Descriptive and theoretical/conceptual studies that address teaching innovations dominate. One of the challenges identified that should be highlighted is the need to develop quality empirical studies that enable the real impact of teaching methodologies on improving student performance (in all its different aspects) to be known.

Research limitations: The analysis was restricted to 45 of the most important OM and Management journals on the basis of prior studies. This sample can be considered to be representative given the objectives of the study.

Practical implications: Researchers in teaching in OM are provided with an analysis of published studies which will enable them to steer future research according to the results and challenges set. Teachers of OM are provided with a selection of articles that can help them to develop their teaching strategy. Companies will be affected to the extent that they properly train future managers.

Originality/value: Innovation in teaching is the basis for the improved training and skilling up of students and future company managers. No previous research has been done that examines publications in teaching in OM and Management journals and valorises this major field of study.