Public policy and operations management
呼吁运营管理学者更积极参与公共政策对话，指出运营管理研究可从三方面贡献于公共政策：揭示政策对私营部门运营的影响、提出政策建议、评估公共机构运营。
Public policies are “deliberate decisions by governments or equivalent authorities to take action or nonaction toward specific objectives” (Weible & Carter, 2017, p. 24). Challenges in public policy are inherently “wicked” (Rittel & Webber, 1973), since they are complex, interconnected, difficult to define, involve many stakeholders, and can typically be addressed only through trial and error (Birkland, 2019; Dye, 2017; Weible & Sabatier, 2018). Furthermore, achieving public-policy goals (e.g., infrastructure, education, healthcare, social welfare) requires spanning many boundaries (Kettl, 2006). We urge operations management (OM) scholars to aid in addressing this wickedness by becoming more active contributors to the public-policy dialogue. OM is defined by Hill (2011) as the “management of the transformation process that converts labor, capital, materials, information, and other inputs into products and services for customers” (p. 242) or, more broadly by Browning (2020), as “managing work to produce valuable results” (p. 497), specifically including work across supply chains and networks. In this editorial, we argue that the OM discipline is particularly well placed to make significant managerial and theoretical contributions to public policy, as has been argued recently by others (Anderson et al., 2020; Joglekar et al., 2016; Kaplan, 2021; Tokar & Swink, 2019). In spite of these arguments, OM scholars rarely place public-policy considerations at the center of their work.11 Exemplifying the lack of focus of OM to public policy, the author guidelines of this journal have historically stated: “Focus on decisions pertinent to operations managers…” A concrete outcome of the creation of the Public Policy Department and the writing of this editorial was an update to these guidelines to explicitly include OM-related decisions pertinent to public-policy makers, as well. We see three main ways in which OM researchers can contribute to better public policy: (1) uncovering the impact of public policy on the operations and supply chains of organizations outside of the public sector, (2) using this understanding to make specific recommendations for public policy, and (3) evaluating the structure and management of the operations of agencies who make and implement public policy. The Public Policy Department at the Journal of Operations Management (JOM) encourages contributions on any of these. We believe that an increased focus on public policy and its implications will increase the impact of OM research on society. In Section 2, we provide a brief review of the public-policy literature, including a discussion of the complexities of public policy as well as some common misconceptions. In Section 3, we review the historical relationship between OM and public policy. In Section 4, we discuss some already-significant contributions that OM research has made to public policy and in Section 5 highlight some challenges and provide specific recommendations to authors. In Section 6, we conclude. In addition to spurring more and better OM work that influences public policy, we also hope that this editorial encourages public-policy scholars to publish their OM-related work in JOM. In this section, we briefly discuss public-policy scholars' analyses of how public policy22 Note that we have been careful to refer to the main subject of this editorial as “public policy” as opposed to just “policy,” except in cases where the term is repeated frequently. This is to avoid confusion with common OM uses of the term policy that refer to an entity's operations with no direct public-policy aspect, such as inventory or ordering policy, or company policies related to employee behavior or pay, or even the more general term “business policy.” We suggest authors follow our convention when stating relationships between their research and public policy. is made, in both the ideal and the real worlds. Our primary goal is to aid OM researchers wishing to contribute to public policy. Beyond this, we believe that exposure to the public-policy literature can be beneficial to OM scholars not studying policy. For example, theoretical frameworks related to the processes and power struggles involved in shaping policy may be useful to OM scholars studying the effects of powerful interests on shaping institutional, organizational, and inter-organizational processes. An exact definition of public policy has proven to be elusive (Birkland, 2019). In general terms, public policy refers to actions (and nonactions)33 The term “public policy” is often used to refer to both the process and the outcomes of government actions (and nonactions). For clarity, it is perhaps best to distinguish between public policy (outcomes) and the public-policy process. In this paper, we use “public-policy process” when explicitly focusing on the process of developing policy and “public policy” to refer to not only the outcomes of public policy but also when we are discussing public policy broadly. of governmental actors (Birkland, 2019; Dye, 2017; Weible & Sabatier, 2018). Below, we describe the abstract model or, as described by Weber (Weber et al., 1949), the ideal-typical44 “The ideal type is an abstract model created by Max Weber that, when used as a standard of comparison, enables us to see aspects of the real world in a clearer, more systematic way. It is a constructed ideal used to approximate reality by selecting and accentuating certain elements” https://www.thoughtco.com/ideal-type-definition-3026354 vision of the goals of public policy, then we introduce some real-world complications. In the ideal-typical vision, the key goal of public policy is to maximize social welfare (Brooks & Manza, 2006). In capitalist societies like the United States in recent decades, a means of achieving this goal is to address market failures (i.e., situations where the private sector fails to achieve something that society values). Examples of goals requiring public-policy intervention to maximize social welfare include a healthy natural environment, an educated society, property protection, safe and inclusive workplaces, business practices that align with society's priorities and ideals, and care for those unable to care for themselves. To attempt to remedy market failures and improve social welfare, government authorities create public policies, such as laws and regulations, intended to (dis)incentivize certain behaviors (Dye, 2017). The public-policy process is comprised of administrative, policy, and political dynamics (Shipman, 1959). In OM, a process is defined as “a set of steps designed to achieve a particular goal” (Hill, 2011, p. 270); at least in traditional OM research the term “process” typically refers to such things as documented steps in a manufacturing line or a standard operating procedure. OM has, however, increasingly used the term “process” to refer to much broader sets of activities such as product development, the management and definition of connections between the operations of different organizations (such as suppliers and customers), and strategy development and deployment. Still, the term usually refers to a formal, even if not yet documented, set of steps to be taken. In public policy, the term “process” has been long been understood including steps and are not defined in but the as often in the “public-policy The public-policy often also to as the public-policy is the common of the public-policy process. this has been for its lack of theoretical and of a and process it is a to the the public-policy process is constructed main (1) (2) The process of and evaluating policy is often to as policy (3) and this is by for political and (e.g., model can be and to & 2017). OM scholars may between this and the The is as with in & to process the a is by of the government or public-policy are social or who certain public policies by or significant to the is placed on the for public to In the are and how the will be and are made the In the the is at the (e.g., in the or of the policy by those with it In the the policy is for of This a to In the real are or are In the public-policy literature, an research with its theoretical and a the of public policy the of the actors (e.g., the dynamics (e.g., the outcomes (e.g., and the implications (e.g., social of the public-policy Weible & Sabatier, public-policy research can be as three (1) public-policy process (i.e., how public policy is (2) public-policy (i.e., public policy like and how it and (3) the power dynamics of the political influences (Birkland, 2019). In its ideal public policy be by considerations in which are on their impact on social In public policy this ideal Dye, 2017; Weible & Sabatier, 2018). The definition of social welfare of will by political and if on the definition of social welfare policies between goals (e.g., scholars the implications of these ideal processes in the of public This is to OM, a of OM which how and the behavior and of operations that or by has been in the development of this (e.g., et et A key is that public policy has if to decisions to a theoretical to Tokar for this An OM may for example, not to or policy It is often the that, for example, the goals of public policy may not be the used to public at (Dye, 2017; public policy may be in to with policy policy actors to or create a policy to a a of to public-policy example, some have argued that in the to the in that may not be & et al., & public policy and the public-policy process may be more a of and of (i.e., as an to maximize the welfare of a public & OM scholars evaluating policy be of these challenges when public policy may be in it was & the of the public-policy of laws and into some actions such as or by (i.e., with direct with the public such as social & a example, laws in the create on as an outcome of a public-policy but those who this typically the on the OM scholars are with in which with not (such as in et al., and have ways to improve (such as to with regulations, et al., 2017). OM scholars are to ways to improve with public scholars also that the of in the public-policy process a specific not be with a lack of a for public-policy powerful interests have not particular to be defined as and placed on the public-policy & lack of public-policy action is a public-policy in For example, in the is no specific the use of This not that the use of by is not an by the to place it on the and the laws by the and such as of it may that for powerful interests in it the public-policy an with no public policy, OM scholars be of the The public-policy literature also the that private government In are active and in the and the public policy in such as protection, and government & et al., include public policies at public education, public and are by private such as or as these can as to market & OM researchers be of these dynamics when or policy It is also a that government is and In government action can create for with effects on how for has not just but created To take just example, the government was in the creation of the the of a was the and the not take the the of the using it For other see of how the government (and other the are for OM scholars to OM scholars only the as by the Department at between such as and for and the ways that public policy can the to or the for and supply of OM scholars also that many of these of public policy well in the private that the public-policy literature can OM research for example, and For example, explicitly how a that has been by scholars in operations and supply include et al., & to the public-policy process not a in the private sector argued that management strategy often in a that means it rarely as For example, powerful may action if it their even if the action improve the some of these of public policy provide for scholars to OM to For example, OM scholars have process (e.g., to processes such as or supply be used to improve the public-policy process by explicitly at the steps a process the inputs to the where to this, in discussing how to with cases of in The a process to on and on their and 2021; with and of products and services can with the to the Examples the of government to the of the challenges created by public policy on a have to such as & and et al., et al., between the of the policy and the impact of the policy and between research has to be and is in et al., p. to which OM scholars can In we frameworks and the public-policy literature, with of these when to make a public-policy we also believe that is for OM scholars to these and frameworks to better the operations of private and their supply We that are that may between OM and public policy, such as and and to for this are of public policies that have and effects on OM The of such as and not only created but also the and practices of For example, and that to an strategy in which a specific is not to a strategy which a such as or on and argued that that the to in their management toward and operating or (p. they that the of was employee The of of and and of the and their and such as the and such as the to where and how they capital, including used to operations and supply The ways these public policies, and others many that are more recent and even for OM is and not Beyond public policies OM, many OM practices government “The of for example, was in significant at the The by the in et al., this A more recent is by the which for processes that are used in OM scholars be to studying the public OM in the private sector have also an on public policy and public many OM and scholars In an to make public more have a of OM of these policies, which through a toward and by management and business process We that, is in the OM literature, is a product of the broader management aspects OM in this are with other management such as and the Public Management of the to government & public toward processes. in the on the OM of and governments the world have the of public policy and & & 2019). public agencies have with OM such as in the process the management of and the by and an on as a to at the of to public policy, public-policy and public the are between governments and other of organizations that OM scholars typically In to of (e.g., or social both governments and are by management with a of of the processes in both in which management are including and and evaluating are between the public and private for an of some key to these may often be or when the public sector, to failures & For example, the of & In a private a will its and to maximize to be to In agencies such as to a by to those who for and of these as the to and this strategy the of the and on its which is to on their and to the not on their to the the on it to some (p. with a significant in & In this the best social welfare not by its operating which are a of its impact on society, but by property OM scholars are to with processes by and to or and This which be useful in the world of public policy, is not by researchers in For example, for its a focus on and which may be at with OM particularly those who research for JOM. For example, often that will toward in to the OM that dynamics can to or in the in inventory To how OM scholars have public-policy we a review of in between and We also the operations and in a and Operations Management and Operations Management the Journal of Management and the Journal of We particular to by the and Public Policy Department at we some in or such as Management and as we of We not this to be an except for the of JOM. we of in the as a relationship to public policy. It is that of these by the Public Policy as no been this by the of the Public Policy Department its & It is our hope that by this editorial, as well as their through the review process in the Public Policy will to many more in the a of the management impact on and between safe and of these the impact of public policy on For example, et that the of and and described how the of that on process management to improve but at the of this by focusing only on to in both also et is also et that government to with outcomes to both intended and not only addressed the of the intended but also by an increase in their An increase in that more or, that more This increase in the government A can be in the work et that public-policy to more an not to public Beyond of public policy on OM, some a to suggest specific implications for public policy. at supply and product development et al., 2017). The authors public in to or manufacturing not to focus on particular as is typically is where manufacturing has a with that manufacturing in will be more when such a The of to in was a key of et at the of where to the in the in to to lack of This of was by a of related in the and a in in the where that a of a of The authors that this to as a key in to manufacturing We also ways to improve the operations of public OM public policy. et editorial in this journal which the OM of and government the and across and government such as and A particular focus was the of and when to both managerial and political and that the of public the of by public The authors their to the Department of to of the (such as of across the and the the and that the of these to significant for the Department of We also see the of OM to an the in et the of in the sector to manufacturing in the where in to understanding was to the and it by the be We highlight that the between OM and public policy. et that the operations strategy a can on the in which it is include public et on policies and explicitly the that public policy is to manufacturing an made by and and Our et also the of the OM and such as to create operations in our review of these we the primary of public policy by OM scholars is to how public as laws and OM practices at private (e.g., et al., 2020; et al., public-policy in OM certain policy and the is and and manufacturing and have a significant impact on the environment, this is not on it is that was OM research related for example, policy, as can and be OM in many For of policy see Tokar and which refers to the 5 policy and The can be OM research may be to contribute to many of these. We authors to broadly ways in which public policy and OM we that OM researchers often not to provide public-policy recommendations their even when such recommendations to us by OM contributions to to our understanding of public policy. For and that the of an for their of work on their The authors the implications of their work for public policy. this been to the Public Policy we have to take an and public policies, such as or guidelines that may to address this We to the who to work in this and that public-policy are not as both and for can in a that the authors not recommendations was a that their have to be which be with a review the in policy to a policy discussion that to OM authors policy recommendations with the of the editorial which is also a of our Our hope is that will yet public-policy with the even if on research with public-policy For example, in and a the authors have since in is to and with a explicitly to a specific (e.g., such a be as public policy is not but may to An of an OM that explicitly a specific public policy was et of for in public they an and particularly and to the public policy to be more to the which their research will both and the In line with the of public-policy et work how a to an public-policy created yet we also authors to to on public-policy theoretical frameworks such as the public-policy in Section and in Examples of useful frameworks include & Sabatier, and & and policy & For example, and work how can the of their supply have the literature on policy and an of to an An of a that at least a public-policy is and who a of to in operations In this the of the of the and of and its outside and as a of the power and of different these and the company to to on an model of product A this is that are power and that OM scholars can the public-policy literature how to these power In much OM literature the of things to discussing how it is that some to have the power to implement those processes. the public-policy contributions of research in in of public policy often requires a for and Public policies are often specific to requiring research et al., In of the implications and the development of public-policy recommendations may OM researchers are typically more with studying In OM the of is a or at even in of supply are such as (e.g., & research in is also a and research on (e.g., et al., even then the focus is typically on how a is by its in the public policy may be a natural of its traditional focus on operations to the of supply chains and networks. is that the focus of OM at least is some of or (e.g., or aspects (e.g., and In recent it that broader like and employee welfare have more common in OM We not an to this which was by of our and which also is with our of the OM scholars often that such as and are defined and be the key In however, of and may be as an include outcomes for who to it may outside of OM into such as political and is for recommendations to public policy. Public policy and public in are with challenges with the of and goals (e.g., social In policy recommendations are inherently and OM researchers to explicitly in that may be outside of their We argue that this be a for the in as OM researchers have not the which their recommendations to that such as and increased are this is not is valuable in some of & in public policy as often The OM literature rarely the processes but on how decisions to are such as et al., and et al., The OM literature typically the as the of and the main of challenges are and may be a of OM researchers developing an increased for and theoretical as well as an and on public-policy implications and contributions and It may that our be to see that contributions to public policy can be at least as valuable as contributions to It may also for a more on the of to with scholars to in research on public policy with significant OM We provide a of which be when writing contributions to the Public Policy Department at can also this This is not and also and of and To specific we some for OM public-policy research in the In addition to this authors also be of an OM to public policy is it is not an we the to as in other the to policy OM not be We this to that, for example, focus on policies that a policy (such as general education, and then that to operations by that an in the will For in will operations to more or in will that focus on ways to improve the public outcome other are better to policy even if that public outcome may in operations it will in or have effects on OM, which may then be the focus of the It is also not to an OM to a public-policy and on how the public the private not typically publish of to in the private the be in the public sector the can be OM researchers also that their not in the of the powerful interests public policy, except as these have direct policy analyses that with effects of public policies, such as the impact of the of policy on the are to be more for policy and We that it is the of the authors to explicitly their to we are to publish more research that to public policy, this is the Journal of Operations OM scholars are well placed to increase their better public policy. OM scholars on research & and with of and is a and theoretical between OM research and public policy. OM research are particularly well to address and related OM scholars and focus on with information, where may be when supply chains and are key of OM research is its focus on processes and relationships and between OM researchers the which processes or work as understanding key to both the development and of public policy. OM researchers often et al., and such may provide particularly and that both management and public policy. We hope that this and enables OM researchers to in research explicitly intended to public policy, and also public-policy researchers studying OM-related to into the OM effects of policies, and to their work to JOM. We believe that OM research contributions to public however, its is has been Our hope is that will a for research that the We the of Browning and for us this and for their We also Swink, and Tokar for their on an The are the and not those of the