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Date: Wed, 11 Oct 2006 09:43:57 -0700
From: Decision Sciences Journal <DecisionSciencesJournal@MAINEX1.ASU.EDU>

Call for Papers
Decision Sciences Special Topic Forum

New Perspectives on Sourcing Decisions:
Theory, Practice, and Future Research

Associate Editor Team

Soon Ang, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
G. Tomas M. Hult, Michigan State University

Since the seminal work on the “make-versus-buy” decision, academics and industry practitioners continue to be challenged by the complexity and strategic importance of sourcing decisions.  In almost every industry, new forms of sourcing arrangements are emerging, including off-shoring, back-sourcing, and co-sourcing, to name a few.  These new forms are particularly evident in the information technology and service industries, where the availability of world-class suppliers continues to expand and companies learn of successful outsourcing relationships leading to reduced costs and improved quality. 

Managers frequently make decisions about whether to pursue a new type of sourcing arrangement, how to manage and strengthen their existing sourcing arrangements, and if and when to change their sourcing decisions to take advantage of new opportunities.  Other managers engage in less-structured sourcing arrangements involving experimentation and learning about different types of relationships and decision making processes across the extended enterprises.

This Special Topic Forum (STF) focuses on advancing decision making research on sourcing with a focus on developing theory, understanding practice, and identifying future research directions. The STF encourages research examining different types of decision problems ranging from strategic to operational that occur in various forms including network, dyad, and the organization.  Given the interdisciplinary nature of Decision Sciences, the Associate Editor Team has leading expertise in both information technology and manufacturing.  It is the goal of this STF to foster interdisciplinary knowledge, as past research has tended to draw from similar theoretical lenses.

Building on the refocused editorial mission of Decision Sciences, this STF seeks manuscripts utilizing diverse research approaches such as theoretical, empirical, and analytical research methods.  Articles published in this STF must meet Decision Sciences’ high standards of research rigor and originality, while embracing managerial relevance, not only in the research problem studied, but also in their impact on enhanced decision making.  STFs consist of a collection of three to five articles that are published in a regular issue along with other peer-reviewed articles.

Topics of Interest include, but are not limited to:

• The interplay between environmental forces, industry forces, strategy factors, and organizational factors to shape strategic and tactical sourcing decisions.
• The application of organization theory to the study of sourcing. What unique aspects of a particular theory or theories explain issues within the domain of sourcing?
• What are the implications of the “knowledge economy” on decision-making in sourcing and the practice of strategic sourcing?
• Decision-making regarding domestic sourcing, international sourcing, and global sourcing (e.g., outsourcing, off-shoring, offshore outsourcing, back-sourcing, and co-sourcing, among others).
• Decision-making related to component sourcing (i.e., management of a large number of component parts and suppliers) and system sourcing (i.e., management of a smaller number of critical suppliers in strategic relationships).
• Organizational consequences of sourcing decisions:  a balanced view that incorporates both short- and long-term, positive and negative firm performance and effectiveness.
• Decision-making regarding sourcing changes and exit decisions (e.g., major contract renegotiation / restructuring, early termination, re-insourcing, change of vendors, etc.).
• Sourcing from the vendor perspective:  strategic positioning, capabilities required, value propositions of different services, management of service deliveries.
• Sourcing from offshore: challenges in new and global forms of sourcing arrangements (e.g., international technology partnerships, joint ventures, alliances, and equity deals).

All submissions must adhere to the format and style guidelines of the Decision Sciences Journal. Manuscripts will be evaluated on the same criteria as regular manuscripts.  The evaluation process will be similar to regular paper submissions, except the Associate Editors assigned to the manuscript will be part of the STF Editorial Team.   Manuscript preparation and submission instructions can be found on journal’s web site at
 
https://wpcarey.asu.edu/dsjOnline/index.cfm. 
 
In the cover letter, please indicate that your submission is for the Sourcing Special Topic Forum.

Deadline for Submissions: December 1, 2006.

Best regards,

Jeanne Elliott

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