By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 20: The 26th Society of Operations Management (SOM) 2023 Conference, which was hosted by IIM Shillong, reached its conclusion, capping three days of insightful deliberations on the theme ‘Sustainability and Resilience in Operations Management.’
Supported by partners such as 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 a total of 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 Business Schools in the country, 89 authors from University, 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, IIM Shillong, reflected on the institution’s remarkable 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.
Prof 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.
Prof Goyal also highlighted the rich diversity of this year’s student cohort, where 52% are female.
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.
Additionally, a session on Digital Horizons was conducted by the conference’s technology partner on their vision.
At the conclusion of SOM 2023 Conference, participants were urged to carry the acquired knowledge while emphasising that these shared learnings cultivate enriched experiences that reverberate far beyond the confines of these three days, becoming enduring sources of inspiration in their professional and personal endeavours.