Track - Practice and theory building for managing complex performance

This track of the EurOMA2011 conference will examine the myriad of issues that together form the basis of managing complex performance. We define complex performance as the need for coordinated, relationship-focused management made necessary by a high number of linked sub-elements across a lifecycle. At one extreme this could be the management of an urgent vaccine. At the other, the servicing, maintenance, repair and overhaul requirements of a platform (e.g. information system, aircraft) or facility (hospital, highway) at the beginning of the commissioning process and its potential impact in 30 years time as part of the increasingly end-to-end nature of performance. It is particularly in the complexity frame that we bring together the common themes of managing across time or ‘through-life management’ in complex performance involving mechanisms such as supplier incentives and outcome-driven supply chains as a means to achieving product/service delivery. Papers relating to complex product systems have increased significantly during the last decade as academics have sought to develop frameworks and concepts that underpin and describe the paradigm. Contributions to this track will present empirical examples and/or explore a variety of potential theoretical lenses. We are therefore seeking papers that will explore the following issues:

• Complex product/service bundles
• CoPS, complex product systems
• Large-scale construction/engineering/information system projects
• Emerging Business Models and responses e.g. modularity
• Innovation and learning in long term complex arrangements
• Managing and contracting in long term relationships
• Governance issues in complex projects/chains
• International perspectives on complex collaborations
• Performance mechanisms for managing complex, outcome-driven supply chains

We welcome conceptual as well as empirical papers and encourage multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary contributions across different units of analysis. All methodological approaches are equally welcome.

Contributors are invited to email extended abstracts (1000 words) via the website, www.EurOMA2011.org, by January 17th, 2011. Instructions on how to submit your abstract can be found on the website. Please ensure you specify the correct track name - Practice and theory building for managing complex performance. Please indicate the corresponding author. Abstracts will be blindly reviewed and evaluated based on the following criteria: Relevance, Clarity, Significance, Originality, Quality, and Impact.

Decisions regarding acceptance will be made by February 17th, 2011. Papers are accepted on the assumption that the manuscript is an original work and has not been copyrighted, published or accepted for presentation at other conferences. At least one author must register, attend the conference, and present the paper. Full papers must be received by May 16th, 2011. Accepted papers will be published in the Conference Proceedings.

Track organizers:

Nigel Caldwell (University of Bath, School of Management, UK), Jens Roehrich (Imperial College London, Imperial College Business School, UK) and Mickey Howard (University of Exeter, Business School, UK), The track convenors would be happy to discuss ideas for papers and can be contacted by email: n.d.caldwell@bath.ac.uk or j.roehrich@imperial.ac.uk or M.B.Howard@exeter.ac.uk