16 Apr 2026
International Business School Suzhou (IBSS) welcomed Professor Hugo Lam from the University of Liverpool Management School on 13 April for a research seminar titled Publishing in IJOPM: An Editor’s Perspective. It was especially fitting to welcome Professor Lam from the University of Liverpool, as one of the founding partners of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University.
Professor Hugo Lam addresses academic staff and PhD students during the seminar
The seminar brought together colleagues and PhD students for an engaging session on academic publishing in the field of Operations and Supply Chain Management. Professor Lam, who serves as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Operations & Production Management (IJOPM), offered attendees valuable insight into the journal’s mission, editorial priorities and review process.
During the seminar, Professor Lam explained that IJOPM seeks to publish innovative and impactful research that advances the field both theoretically and practically. He highlighted the journal’s broad scope, noting that it welcomes work on topics ranging from sustainable operations and supply chain management to service management, healthcare, innovation and emerging technologies. He also stressed that the journal is open to a wide range of empirically grounded research methods, provided submissions offer a clear contribution to the field. As Professor Lam explained:
“IJOPM is a highly selective, top-tier journal committed to publishing innovative research that advances both theory and practice in operations and supply chain management. We place strong emphasis on rigorous empirical analysis, strong theoretical grounding, and clearly articulated contributions. We particularly value research that addresses timely and impactful topics, such as sustainability, emerging technologies, and geopolitical challenges, and that offers clear implications for both academics and practitioners.”
A particularly useful aspect of the session was Professor Lam’s practical discussion of the publication and revision process. He shared perspectives on submission volumes, review timelines and common reasons why papers may be filtered out at an early stage. He also encouraged researchers to think carefully about the strength of their contribution to operations and supply chain management, especially when working across disciplinary boundaries. These reflections gave attendees a clearer understanding of what journal editors look for and how scholars can position their work more effectively.
Professor Lam also spoke about current and future journal activities, including workshops, conferences and special issues, and encouraged participants to see publishing not only as an end goal, but as part of a wider scholarly conversation. He noted the growing diversity of submissions, including increasing interest in topics linked to new technologies and broader organisational decision-making.
The seminar was especially valuable for early career researchers and doctoral students, offering both strategic advice and reassurance about the realities of academic publishing. Professor Lam’s openness in answering questions and sharing observations from his editorial experience helped make the session both informative and accessible.
By Thomas Durham
16 Apr 2026