Operations Ideas at Work Articles
August 22, 2008

The nursing shift

A queuing model for nurse staffing can cut costs and improve patient care.

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April 25, 2006

Designing for price

Especially in high-tech industries, the ability to charge different customers different prices has to be part of product design.

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November 15, 2006

A Return to the banker's honor code

Jonathan Knee wants to bring back the traditional values of investment banking's early days -- before junk bonds, LBO funds and the Internet bubble changed everything.

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January 18, 2007

A just-in-time approach to medical care

A mathematical model helps doctors offer every patient a same-day appointment.

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February 27, 2006

Embrace your mess: Q&A with Eric Abrahamson

In his new book, Eric Abrahamson lambastes our profit-devouring, time-wasting obsession with order and revels in having achieved an optimal state of messiness.

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August 30, 2007

Can congestion pricing be fair and efficient?

Congestion pricing aims to cut urban traffic congestion and pollution by charging drivers entering downtown cores an access fee. Nicolas Stier, Nachum Sicherman and Eric Johnson weigh in on the process.

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June 15, 2005

The value of fair process

We both get fired. We had similar jobs, but I sue the company and you do not. What explains the difference? New research shows that companies can avoid a lot of hassle and expense by paying attention to process fairness.

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June 15, 2005

Managing supply chain risk

Traditional supply chain models emphasize the benefits of consolidating production. But as Awi Federgruen explains, the recent flu vaccine crisis illustrates the risks of relying too heavily on a single supplier.

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June 15, 2005

To wait, or not to wait

Many call centers will now call you back if you choose not to wait for a customer service agent. As call centers offer more options, how can firms use information about customer preferences to improve their service?

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