Introduction
In 2006, it was argued that contemporary operations management (OM) research was beginning to address long‐standing criticisms, including notably a lack of empirical validation (Pilkington and Fitzgerald, 2006). Valuable work was beginning to be conducted in the field, which examined operations in practice. The credibility of such empirical research depended critically on the application of rigorous and appropriate research methods. In this regard, a series of papers on OM research methods that was published in a Special Issue of the International Journal of Operations & Production Management – IJOPM – (Volume 22, Issue 2) in 2002 became an influential and much‐used resource.
This book, Researching Operations Management, builds on the original series of four research methods papers covering surveys, case studies, action research and quantitative modelling, all of which have consistently and regularly been used to inform and justify the approaches taken by OM scholars to their research. Updated versions of these much‐cited and invaluable resources, written in the most part by the same authors, form the core of the book. The addition of a new chapter on longitudinal field studies serves to extend the coverage and demonstrates the increasing repertoire of methods available to, and used by, OM researchers. The book thus reflects contemporary thinking, developed as our field has moved on. In our view, there is no doubt that it will become the new invaluable resource for OM researchers.
Overview
Following a general introductory chapter, the first part of the book includes an introduction to research in OM (Chapter 2: Karlsson) and to research methods (Chapter 3: Croom). This part of the book adopts a pragmatic style through which the reader can understand what OM research is, the issues that need to be considered before and during an OM research undertaking, and how to plan, including the selection of an appropriate research method. In doing so, it gives consideration to issues of ethics, quality, the research process, contribution, positioning, presentation and getting published.
The evolution of research methods in our field has shown an increasing tendency for the adoption of “interpretive analyses based on natural observations of reality” and a reduced focus on “heavily rationalistic, axiomatic analyses based on artificial reconstructions of reality” (Craighead and Meredith, 2008, p. 710). It is argued that this trend away from modelling and simulation approaches (popular in the USA in the 1980s) towards more empirical methods yields findings which have more relevance for operations managers in practice (Craighead and Meredith, 2008, p. 710). In this book, the sequence of presentation of the individual research methods that may be adopted within OM reflects the increasing popularity of what Christer Karlsson describes as the “European OM research style” (p. 10). Thus, the second part of the book takes a comprehensive and structured look at possible approaches, comprising surveys (Chapter 4: Forza), case research (Chapter 5: Voss), longitudinal field studies (Chapter 6:Åhlström and Karlsson), action research (Chapter 7: Coughlan and Coghlan) and finally, modelling and simulation (Chapter 8: Bertrand and Fransoo).
Each chapter begins with an overview, and concludes with a summary and its own comprehensive reference list incorporating seminal/influential sources in addition to some more recent cites. We found the reference list for Chapter 4 particularly helpful as it separates the sources relating to methods from those that provide research examples of application of the method. It is always helpful to be able to find examples of good practice. If we were to make any suggestions for improvement it would be for the inclusion of more recent exemplars which demonstrate the application of each of the research methods in this chapter and the others too, (if, and where, they exist).
Each chapter is written to an equally high standard and each is a valuable resource in its own right. However, we use the example of Chapter 7 on action research to illustrate the benefits of this book. In our experience, action research particularly, is an approach that is widely mis‐applied and misunderstood. Being frequently confused with the less interventionist methods that are typical of case study and longitudinal field study research, it is common for authors to label their work under the badge of action research and thereby miss its essential characteristics of intervention, problem solving by taking and analysing action, and change. Chapter 7 will help researchers to distil its core features and to distinguish it from other, perhaps related, approaches.
Conclusions
The stated objective of this book is to be used as a textbook and a reference source for OM researchers. It is aimed particularly at PhD/masters candidates and young researchers. Nevertheless, it has much to recommend it to the more experienced scholar. In our view, the strength of the book is the comprehensive overview that it provides of possible approaches that are applicable to research in the field of OM. Thus, it covers not only methods used in OM, but also those in related management areas such as R&D, innovation, supply chain management and logistics. Further, it considers the ethical and cultural issues in researching OM, an aspect which is particularly helpful at a time when such matters are increasing in relevance and importance. Its style is accessible and straightforward. Each chapter presents relevant information and clear guidance and is further supported by an impressive bibliography.
We are sure our readers will agree that the list of authors contributing to the writing of this book represents a meritorious line‐up of eminent scholars from our field. Managing academics is a notoriously difficult task. That Christer Karlsson, as editor of this book, has managed to co‐ordinate the work of these highly respected contributors is an impressive achievement. The result is an invaluable aid to research in our field: a comprehensive guide to researchers at all stages in their careers from PhD/masters students, through early‐career academics to more experienced researchers.
We were delighted and honoured to be asked to review this book, and we recommend it wholeheartedly to OM researchers everywhere.
