Introduction: Productivity as a Strategic Variable

We have taken a lot of time to prepare this special issue of Interfaces, which treats productivity as a strategic variable. By strategic, rather than tactical, we mean the whole picture instead of piece by piece. We mean a dynamic evaluation in which the evolution of technology, shifts in competitive capabilities, and managerial learning take place.

Another goal was to obtain articles from experts whose work is at the cutting edge and whose contributions can be implemented. We hope that management science and OR practitioners will factor the ideas presented in this special issue into the models they build and use. We hope that academic programs will integrate the concepts into the existing body of knowledge, assumptions, and teaching. We hope that all research will be affected and redirected.