The 26th Society of Operations Management (SOM) 2023 Conference, hosted by IIM Shillong, reached its conclusion, capping three days of deliberations on the theme ‘Sustainability and Resilience in Operations Management’.
Supported by the Indian Council of Social Science Research, Emerald Publishing, EBSCO and TLS Group, the conference attracted an array of participants, contributing to the Doctoral Colloquium and the main conference.
SOM 2023 received 258 papers authored by 513 individuals representing 89 institutions. The submissions encompass contributions from all 21 IIMs in the country, with approximately 137 authors, 88 authors from IITs, 21 authors from NITs, 113 authors from other leading B-schools in the country, 89 authors from universities, 28 authors from industry and 37 international authors who submitted their papers for the SOM 2023 conference.
In his welcome address, Prof DP Goyal, Director of IIM Shillong, reflected on the institution’s 15-year journey. Highlighting IIM Shillong’s global standing and unique responsibilities as the sole IIM in the North East, he mentioned the institution’s mission of creating and disseminating knowledge for sustainable development.
Goyal emphasised the alignment of SOM 2023’s theme with IIM Shillong’s core mission, focusing on practical values and sustainability. The Community Immersion Programme, an integral part of the curriculum, was hailed for connecting students with the real problems of North Eastern states, fostering resilience and compassion.
Highlighting the rich diversity of this year’s student cohort, where 52 percent are female, Goyal underscored IIM Shillong’s dedication to fostering an inclusive and enriching educational environment.
During the inaugural address, Atul Kulkarni, a member of the IIM Shillong board of governors, delved into sustainability in operations management. Reflecting on the post-Covid landscape, he introduced the ROAD framework (Resilient, Offshoring, Agility, Disruption) and highlighted India’s potential for exponential growth.
Kulkarni emphasised the need for India to become a sustainable and efficient supplier of quality goods to the world, addressing challenges in logistics and garnering support from operations management interventions. He called on institutions like IIM Shillong to bridge the gap, especially through initiatives like the Community Immersion Programme, aiding corporate India in understanding the region better.
The conference also featured keynote sessions by eminent speakers, including Prof Jose Arturo Garza Reyes from the University of Derby, Prof SG Deshmukh from IIT Delhi, Prof Britta Gammelgaard from Copenhagen Business School, Prof Devinder Banwet from the University of Engineering & Management, Prof Ravi Shankar from IIT Delhi, and Prof Vidyasagar Potdar from Curtin University.
