JURNAL STRATEGI OPERASI

The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at www.emeraldinsight.com/0144-3577.htm Conceptualizing operations strategy processes

Conceptualizing
OS processes

Niels Gorm Rytter
Department of Production, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark

1093

Harry Boer
Center for Industrial Production, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark, and

Christian Koch
Department of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Denmark,
Lyngby, Denmark
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present insights into operations strategy (OS) in practice. It outlines a conceptualization and model of OS processes and, based on findings from an in-depth and longitudinal case study, contributes to further development of extant OS models and methods which presently mainly focus on OS content, as distinct from process issues.
Design/methodology/approach – The methodology combines action research and a longitudinal single site case study of OS processes in practice.
Findings – The paper conceptualises an OS process as: events of dialogue and action; taking place in five dimensions of change – technical-rational, cultural, political, project management, and facilitation; and typically unfolding as a sequential and parallel, ordered and disordered, planned and emergent as well as top-down and bottom-up process. The proposed OS conceptualization provides a useful tool for describing and analyzing real-time OS processes unfolding in practice.
Research limitations/implications – The research is based on a single case, which limits the generalizability of the findings.
Practical implications – The findings suggest that, in order to obtain successful outcomes for an
OS process in practice, change agents may need to moderate their outcome ambitions, manage process dimensions and agendas in a situational manner, balance inherent process paradoxes, strive at bridging both language and reality, as well as mobilizing key stakeholders, especially middle managers, throughout

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