Much of the literature on team learning views experience as a unidimensional concept captured by cumulative production volume of, or number projects completed by, team. Implicit in this approach is assumption that teams are stable their membership and internal organization. In practice, however, such stability rare, because composition structure often change over time (e.g., between projects). paper, we use detailed data from an Indian software services firm to examine how changes may affect...

Abstract In this paper, we examine the applicability of lean production to knowledge work by investigating implementation a system at an Indian software services firm. We first discuss specific aspects work—task uncertainty, process invisibility, and architectural ambiguity—that call into question relevance in setting. Then, combining detailed case study empirical analysis, find that projects perform better than non‐lean company for most performance outcomes. document influence initiative on...

In knowledge-based environments, teams must develop a systematic approach to integrating knowledge resources throughout the course of projects in order perform effectively. Yet many fail do so. Drawing on resource-based view firm, we examine how can knowledge-integration capability dynamically integrate members' into higher performance. We distinguish among three sets resources—relational, experiential, and structural—and propose that they differentially influence team's integration...

Socialization theory has focused on enculturating new employees such that they develop pride in their organization and internalize its values. We draw authenticity research to theorize the initial stage of socialization leads more effective employment relationships when it instead primarily encourages newcomers express personal identities. In a field experiment carried out large business process outsourcing company India, we found identity (emphasizing newcomers’ authentic best selves) led...

Sustaining operational productivity in the completion of repetitive tasks is critical to many organizations' success. Yet research points two different work-design–related strategies for accomplishing this goal: specialization capture benefits repetition and variety (i.e., working on tasks) keep workers motivated provide them opportunities learn. In paper, we investigate how these may bring over time. For our empirical analyses, use a half years transaction data from Japanese bank's home...

In this paper, we consider how the structures of tasks and teams interact to affect team performance. We study effects diversity in experience on a team's ability respond task changes by separately examining interpersonal (i.e., differences across entire team) intrapersonal whether individuals are more or less specialized). also examine familiarity—team members' prior working with one another—helps better manage challenges created greater diversity. Using detailed project- individual-level...

Learning from past experience is central to an organization's adaptation and survival. A key dimension of prior whether outcome was successful or unsuccessful. Although empirical studies have investigated the effects success failure in organizational learning, date, phenomenon has received little attention at individual level. Drawing on attribution theory psychology, we investigate how individuals learn their own experiences with both others. For our analyses, use 10 years data 71...

To deliver high-quality, reliable, and consistent services safely, organizations develop professional standards. Despite the communication reinforcement of these standards, they are often not followed consistently. Although previous research suggests that high job demands associated with declines in compliance over lengthy intervals, we hypothesized-drawing on theoretical arguments focused fatigue depletion-that impact routine standards might accumulate much more quickly. test this...

The design and use of standard processes are foundational recommendations in many operations practices. Yet, given the demonstrated performance benefits standardized processes, it is surprising that they often not followed consistently. One way to ensure greater compliance by electronically monitoring activities individuals, although such aggressive poses risk inducing backlash. In setting hand hygiene healthcare, a context where with frequently less than 50% this lack can result negative...

Work scheduling research typically prescribes task sequences implemented by managers. Yet employees often have discretion to deviate from their prescribed sequence. Using data 2.4 million radiological diagnoses, we find that doctors prioritize similar tasks (batching) and those they expect complete faster (shortest expected processing time). Moreover, exercise more as accumulate experience. Exploiting random assignment of doctors’ queues, instrumental variable models reveal these deviations...

Organizations can create volume flexibility—the ability to increase capacity up or down meet demand for a single service—through the use of flexible labor resources (e.g., part-time and temporary workers, as compared full-time workers). Although organizations are increasingly using these resources, relationship between financial performance has not been examined empirically in service setting. We two years archival data from 445 stores large retailer study this relationship. hypothesize find...

One key driver of improvement in surgical outcomes is a surgeon's prior experience. However, research notes that not all experience provides equal value for performance. How, then, should surgeons accumulate to improve quality outcomes? In this paper, we investigate the differential effects focal and related (i.e., tasks similar to, but identical task) We open up black box volume-outcome relationship by going beyond just dividing into categories, also considering how subtasks context...

Examination of team productivity finds that familiarity, i.e., individuals' prior shared work experience, can positively impact the efficiency and quality output. Despite attention given to familiarity its contingencies, has focused on whether members have worked together, not which under what conditions. In this paper, I parse overall consider effects geographic location hierarchical roles members. Using data all software‐development projects completed over 3 years at a large Indian firm in...

People believe that weather conditions influence their everyday work life, but to date, little is known about how affects individual productivity. Contrary conventional wisdom, we predict and find bad increases productivity it does so by eliminating potential cognitive distractions resulting from good weather. When the bad, individuals appear focus more on than alternate outdoor activities. We investigate proposed relationship between worse higher through 4 studies: (a) field data employees'...

In this paper, we build on research the microfoundations of strategy and learning processes to study individual underpinnings organizational learning. We argue that once an has accumulated a certain amount experience with task, benefit accumulating additional is inferior deliberately articulating codifying in past. explain superior performance outcomes associated such deliberate efforts using both cognitive (improved task understanding) emotional (increased self-efficacy) mechanism. proposed...

Many models in operations management involve dynamic decision making that assumes optimal updating response to information revelation. However, behavioral theory suggests rather than their beliefs, individuals may persevere prior beliefs. In particular, we examine how individuals’ experiences and the of those around them alter belief perseverance operational decisions after revelation negative news. We draw on an exogenous announcement news by Food Drug Administration explore it affects...

How individuals manage, organize, and complete their tasks is central to operations management. Recent research in focuses on how under conditions of increasing workload can decrease service time, up a point, work more quickly. As the number increases, however, workers may also manage by different process—task selection. Drawing workload, individual discretion, behavioral decision making, we theorize then test that increased choose easier load. We label this behavior task completion...

Across the globe, every workday people commute an average of 38 minutes each way, yet surprisingly little research has examined implications this daily routine for work-related outcomes. Integrating theories boundary work, self-control, and work-family conflict, we propose that to work serves as a liminal role transition between home roles, prompting employees engage in management strategies. three field studies (n = 1,736), including four-week-long intervention study, find lengthy morning...

The ongoing fragmentation of work has resulted in a narrowing tasks into smaller pieces that can be sent outside the organization and, many instances, around world. This trend is shifting boundaries organizations and leading to increased outsourcing. Though consolidation volume may lead productivity improvement, little known about how this shift toward outsourcing influences learning by providers outsourced services. When producing output, content knowledge gained vary from one unit next....

Hospital emergency departments (EDs) provide around-the-clock medical care, and as such are generally modeled nonterminating queues. However, from the care provider's point of view, ED is not a never-ending process, but rather occurs in discrete work shifts may require passing unfinished to next provider at end shift. We use data large, academic center show that patients' rate service completion varies over course physician Further, patients have experienced handoff higher than non-handed...

We develop a database of all empirical research related to operations management in the journals Management Science, Manufacturing and Service Operations (M&SOM), Production (POM) from beginning 1999 end 2016. This includes 236 papers. analyze set papers look for longitudinal trends other bibliometric patterns. In particular, we show that (a) as whole is gaining popularity measured by publication rates these three journals, (b) M&SOM are more likely get citations than nonempirical...

As the nature of work has become more service oriented, knowledge intensive, and rapidly changing, people—be they workers or customers—have central to operational processes have impacted outcomes in novel perhaps fundamental ways. Research people-centric operations (PCO) studies how people affect performance processes. In this OM Forum, we define PCO as an area study, offer a categorization scheme take stock where field allocated its attention date, our thoughts on promising directions for...