Introduction

Operations Management at Chicago Booth

By John R. Birge

Chicago Booth faculty members have a long history of making contributions to the analysis, design, and improvement of business operations.

Optimal Mix

Managing a Portfolio of Supply Contracts

Research by Dan Adelman and Shanshan Wang

The right mix of long- and short-term contracts can lead to a bigger profit.

Gaining Focus

Managing Hospital Beds

Research by Thomas Best, Donald D. Eisenstein, David O. Meltzer and Burhaneddin Sandıkçı

Using dedicated wings allows a hospital to achieve institutional objectives under strained bed capacity.

Cap Constraint

The Unintended Consequences of the Hospice Medicare Benefit

Research by Rodney P. Parker

To avoid bankruptcy, hospice managers have an incentive to choose patients who are unlikely to live very long.

Price of Privacy

The Value of Revealing Waiting List Information

Research by Burhaneddin Sandıkçı

Using the information contained in a waiting list can help patients in need of a donor liver make better decisions and live longer.

Finding the Right Balance

Managing Production with Random Yields

Research by John R. Birge

When the quantity and quality of manufacturing output are highly uncertain, managers can satisfy customer demand while minimizing the cost of too much or too little inventory if they choose the right level of production.