Journal of Operations Management invites papers for a special issue on Operations Management in Not-For-Profit, Public and Government Sectors. Public and nonprofit organizations such as government agencies, social service organizations, cultural, educational and health-care institutions, membership and professional associations, advocacy organizations, religious, charitable and other not-for-profit organizations play important and significant role in societies around the globe. Yet the unique issues related to effective administration in such organizations has traditionally not been explored in the operations management literature.
Not-for-profit organizations can be broadly characterized as entities that attempt to fulfill some charitable purpose and operate without distributing profits to its shareholders. Government and public agencies are in many ways similar to not-for-profit organizations, but with the often-added complexity of being responsible for imposing/ enforcing regulatory measures.
Partly because of shrinking funding levels and partly because of growth in the sector, both the not-for-profit and public organizations have been experiencing increased competition for scarce resources. Therefore research in effective and ''professional'' management of operational issues unique to such organizations is of critical importance.
We invite scholars and practitioners whose research is applicable to various operational issues in not-for-profit, public or government sectors to submit manuscripts for the special issue. Within this context, the topics of interest include but not limited to the following: Similarities and differences between operations management practices in not-for-profit organizations, public sector/government agencies and for-profit corporations. Strategic consensus among/between multiple stake-holders (e.g. donors, employees, volunteers, users, clients, policy makers, community) in not-for-profit organizations and government agencies. Measurement of operational performance and relationship between operations strategy and performance. What issues govern product, service and process design/innovation in not-for-profit and public organizations? Unique issues related to quality management in not-for-profit and public organizations.