Innovation and Systems Thinking in Operations Management

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, entitled “Innovation and Systems Thinking in Operations Management”, aims to explore the complex world of innovation and operations through the perspective of systems thinking. Systems thinking is a way of analyzing complex systems by looking at how the parts interact and influence each other. This Special Issue aims to examine the intersections between systems thinking and innovation and operations management, highlighting aspects such as supply chain management, innovation ecosystems, technology development, policy and regulatory frameworks, education, sustainability, quality, and entrepreneurship. The intersection of innovation, systems thinking, and operations management is useful for academic exploration, policy development, and management practice. This Special Issue aims to contribute to practical applications in innovation and operations management as well as theory development. The outcome of product innovation in operations management is particularly underdeveloped; a systems perspective would offer the potential for illumination.

We welcome scholars and practitioners to contribute their research and insights to enrich our understanding of the complex, interconnected world of innovation and operations management. We invite submissions that focus on various dimensions of systems thinking in innovation and operations management, including, but not limited to, the following:

• Exploration of the origins and evolution of systems theory and its application in innovation and operations management.
• Analysis of how systems thinking aids managers in addressing contemporary challenges like product innovation, quality, regulatory compliance, and technological advancements.
• Innovation ecosystems: Understanding systemic interactions and interdependencies in innovation ecosystems.
• Insights into how technological advances influence and are influenced by broader systemic factors.
• Policy and regulatory frameworks: Examining the impact of policy and regulatory frameworks in terms of innovation.
• Interdisciplinary approaches and data utilization: Encouragement of interdisciplinary research that employs diverse data sources to deepen our understanding of innovation.
• Operations education: Insights into the influence of systems thinking on innovation education and policy, with a focus on global practices.
• Critical perspectives: Examination of the limitations and challenges of applying systems thinking in operations contexts.

Prof. Dr. Gregory Theyel
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Systems is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• systems
• innovation
• operations
• technology
• management
• ecosystems
• supply chains