Operations Management Research and Teaching in Sustainability: Three Styles

Based on the ‘intended use’ of the research output, OM research can be divided into three ‘styles’ as follows: (1) use the model and its solution as is, (2) gain insights from models, empirical findings and practice, and (3) develop general concepts, principles and theory. In this article we illustrate three cases of different styles involving the ‘People” dimension of PPP (Planet, People and Profit). The first case is related to the Late Night Bus Program in Seoul, Korea. The Program is to develop a set of bus routes intended for the low-income workers who need to go back home after mid-night. The second case is economic analysis of a nonprofit program Samsui Kitchen of Singapore that offers better diets to the elderly in nursing homes. In the last case, we see how the general concept of ‘gemba’ and QC is applied to a Japanese cleaning company named Tessei. Tessei offers 3D (dirty, dangerous and demeaning) jobs—characterized by repetitive boring work, unskilled workers, poor job reputation, and low income. But the lean principle transforms it to an excellent service company.