Reflections on the Evolution of Operations Management

In this paper, I provide some observations on how the academic field of Operations Management has changed over the past 40 years. For this purpose, I have identified and classified the Operations Management papers published in Management Science in 1976 and in 2016. Based on this review I comment on what’s changed, what’s new, and what we might see in the future. In reflecting on these changes, I also document and discuss how the OM editorial structure and mission have evolved at Management Science over this time.