Submission details to this SI: Call for papers

Socio-Economic Planning Sciences: Special issue on Frontier Technologies, Business Analytics, and Supply Chain Resilience Guest Editors Professor Ali Emrouznejad, Dr Abdellatef Majed Anouze, Professor Lanouar Charfeddine, Dr Abdolreza Roshani,

Call for papers

In an era of increasing global uncertainties, frontier technologies, business analytics, and optimization are vital for enhancing decision-making, operational efficiency, and resilience across public and private sectors. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), digital twins, and optimization techniques are transforming how organizations and governments anticipate disruptions, optimize resources, and ensure sustainable supply chains. This special issue seeks interdisciplinary research integrating quantitative models, advanced analytics, optimization, and emerging technologies to tackle critical decision-making challenges in service industries and public sector operations. Given the mission of Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, we particularly encourage contributions focusing on applications in developing countries and economically emerging regions.

As part of 8^th International Conference on Entrepreneurship for Sustainability & Impact (ESI2025), this special issue invites high-quality papers presented at the conference, while submissions are also open to others.

Scope and Topics:

We welcome research that applies quantitative modelling, operations research, and management science to public sector challenges, service industries, and socio-economic development.

Optimisation, Business Analytics, and Decision-Making

• AI-driven predictive and prescriptive analytics for public sector and business applications
• Mathematical programming, simulation, and exact and heuristic optimisation for supply chain and public policy decisions
• Machine learning and hybrid AI-optimisation models for logistics and infrastructure planning
• Blockchain for secure, transparent, and optimised supply chain management
• Digital twins and IoT-enabled decision support and real-time optimisation

Supply Chain Resilience and Risk Management

• Data-driven models for supply chain disruptions, risk assessment, stress testing, and adaptive recovery
• Robust and stochastic optimisation for sustainable, resilient, viable, and reconfigurable supply chains
• Cybersecurity risks, resilience, and stress testing in digitally connected supply chains
• Circular economy and sustainability-driven supply chain design
• Impact of economic and geopolitical uncertainty on supply chain optimisation and policymaking

Socio-Economic Impacts and Policy Implications

• Digital transformation in public sector logistics, and infrastructure planning
• AI and data-driven policies for resource allocation and urban planning
• Optimisation models for public-private partnerships and sustainable development
• Ethical considerations and governance of AI and automation in service industries
• Socio-economic trade-offs in adopting frontier technologies for resilient supply chains.

Instructions for Authors can be found at:

Authors should submit a cover letter and manuscript via the journal’s online submission site. Manuscripts submitted after the deadline may not be considered for the special issue and, if accepted, may be transferred to a regular issue.

Please see the Author instructions on the website, when submitting, please select the special issue’s title “Frontier Technologies”, to ensure that it will be reviewed for this special issue (https://www.editorialmanager.com/seps/default2.aspx).   

Submitted papers must be original and should not have been previously published or currently under consideration for publication elsewhere. All papers will undergo a rigorous peer review process managed by the Guest Editors. Accepted papers will be published online individually before the print publication.

Important Dates

Guest Editors

Details: https://dataenvelopment.com/course/

DATA ENVELOPMENT ANALYSIS COURSE:
October, 2025

STOCHASTIC FRONTIER ANALYSIS COURSE:
October, 2024

Early registration fee: 
August 31, 2025

Join our Performance Measurement courses on Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA), led by renowned experts Prof. Emmanuel Thanassoulis,  Prof. Ali Emrouznejad and Dr. Dimitris Giraleas

• Website: https://dataenvelopment.com/course/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/events/courses-performancemeasurementu7306081166137221120/
• Contact us: course@dataenvelopment.com

• Limited Places – Allocated on a First-Come, First-Served Basis
• Mode of Teaching: Online
• Early Registration Discount – Register before August 31, 2025

DEA Course:

• Thursday, October 9, 2025 – 13:00 to 17:30 (UK time)
• Friday, October 10, 2025 – 13:00 to 17:30 (UK time)
• Saturday, October 11, 2025 – 13:00 to 17:30 (UK time)
• Presenters: Prof. Emmanuel Thanassoulis,  Prof. Ali Emrouznejad

SFA Course:

• Monday, October 13, 2025 – 13:00 to 17:30 (UK time)
• Tuesday, October 14, 2025 – 13:00 to 17:30 (UK time)
• Wednesday, October 15, 2025 – 13:00 to 17:30 (UK time)
• Presenters: Prof. Emmanuel Thanassoulis & Dr. Dimitris Giraleas

 Secure your spot today and enhance your expertise in performance measurement!

Details: https://dataenvelopment.com/course/

https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-61589-4

Details: https://iseapa.org/event/view/42

Call for Papers
North American Productivity Workshop (NAPW XII)
June 9 – 12, 2025
Virginia Tech Research Center/Arlington, Virginia

Dear Colleagues,

The abstract submission portal is open and contributed papers are being accepted beginning January 10, 2025 for the North American Productivity Workshop (NAPW XII), June 9-12, 2025, at the Virginia Tech Research Center/Arlington, Virginia. The NAPW has long been established as a major biennial conference on the topics of productivity, efficiency and performance analysis. Following the successful NAPW XI in 2023 at the University of Miami Herbert Business School we are pleased to host NAPW XII at the Virginia Tech Research Center in Arlington, Virginia, continuing the legacy of Ali Dogramaci’s Conference on Current Issues in Productivity, which first convened in North America in 1980 at Columbia University. We expect a large and diverse body of participants to attend. Submissions on the theory and application of economics, econometrics, statistics, management science and operational research related to problems in all areas of productivity and efficiency measurement more broadly are highly encouraged. Our aim is to have a conference program that features all popular techniques and methodologies within the field, including structural modeling, stochastic frontier analysis and data envelopment analysis. We also welcome papers on broader issues related to measuring, understanding, incentivizing and improving the productivity and performance of firms, public services, and industries.

The Greater Washington DC area is a destination that is easily accessible from across the globe and provides myriad tourist attractions for both individuals and families. The city of Washington DC offers a full range of living arrangements, and the Virginia Tech Research Center is easily accessible from the city center through the city’s Metro. The conference venue is located in the vibrant Ballston district of Arlington, VA, a short distance from many of the federal government’s leading science and research agencies and many high-technology companies.

We will announce the Plenary Speakers in future communications who will complement the Plenary Session of Leopold Simar (Professor Emeritus at Catholic University of Louvain), the recipient of the 2025 Life-time Achievement Award given yearly by the European Workshop on Productivity and Efficiency (EWEPA) and the International Society for Efficiency and Productivity Analysis (ISEaPA) We look forward to welcoming all participants of NAPW XII to the Virginia Tech Research Center/Arlington, Virginia this upcoming June.

Best regards

Konstantinos (Kostas) Triantis, Local Organizer
(John Lawrence Professor of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research/VPI Innovation Campus)
Sun-ling Wang, Local Organizer (Economic Research Service, US Department of Agriculture)
Robin C. Sickles, President, International Society for Efficiency and Productivity Analysis (ISEaPA.ORG) (Reginald Henry Hargrove Professor of Economics Emeritus, Professor of Statistics Emeritus, Rice University)

Submissions are open and abstracts can be submitted via Oxford Abstracts HERE.
You’ll need an Oxford Abstracts account if you don’t already have one (they are free).

Local Organizers:
Konstantinos (Kostas) Triantis, John Lawrence Professor of Industrial Engineering & Operations
Research (VPI Innovation Campus)
Sun-ling Wang, Senior Research Economist (Economic Research Service, US Department of Agriculture)
Roberto Mosheim, Research Economist (Economic Research Service, US Department of Agriculture)

Scientific Committee:
Samuele Centorrino (IMF)
Robert Chambers (U of Maryland)
Christopher Parmeter (U of Miami)
Victor Podinovsky (U of Loughborough)
Eric Njuki-(Economic Research Service, US Department of Agriculture)
Robin C. Sickles (Rice U)
Konstantinos (Kostas) Triantis (VPI)
Valentine Zelanyuk (U of Queensland)

Important dates and links:
Abstract submission portal OPEN: January 10, 2025
Submission deadline: March 7, 2025
Registration will open mid-January and will be available at ISEAPA.
Early registration deadline & registration deadline for presenters: April 1, 2025
Notification of acceptance: On a rolling basis as abstracts are submitted
Any questions or concerns regarding the conference may be addressed to the local organizing committee at
napw2025@gmail.com

Details: https://deazone.com/en/dea-euro2025

Dear Colleagues,

I am thrilled to share that I will be chairing the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and its Applications stream at the 34th European Conference on Operational Research (EURO 2025), taking place in Leeds, United Kingdom, from June 22 to June 25, 2025.

This stream will focus on advancing DEA methodologies and exploring their diverse applications across industries, including operations, logistics, healthcare, sustainability, and public policy.

? Call for Contributions
I invite researchers and practitioners to:
? Submit your latest research work to this stream.
? Propose and organise specialised sessions to foster dynamic discussions and collaborations on topics such as:

• Emerging DEA methodologies and models.
• DEA applications in sustainability, energy, and climate change.
• Integrating DEA with machine learning and AI techniques.
• Industry-specific case studies in public services, healthcare, or supply chain management.

For those interested in submitting their work or organising a session, please contact me at a.arabmaldar@herts.ac.uk or through LinkedIn.

The EURO 2025 conference is a great opportunity to share insights, network with peers, and advance the field of operations research and analytics. Let’s make this stream a highlight of the event!

Looking forward to seeing you in Leeds!

Best regards,
Navid

=====================================================

Aliasghar Arabmaldar

Lecturer at Department of Business Analytics and Systems (BAS)

Hertfordshire Business School

University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Room M129, M Block. De Havilland Campus, AL10 9UF, UK

Email: a.arabmaldar@herts.ac.uk 

Email: a.arabmaldar@herts.ac.uk 

Profile pages: LinkedIn – Google Scholar – ORCID – Research profile

Dear Colleague,

We are pleased to invite you to submit a paper for presentation in our dedicated session, “Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA): Mathematical Foundations and Managerial Applications,” at the upcoming 5th IMA and OR Society Conference on the Mathematics of Operational Research. This event will take place from April 30 to May 2, 2025, at Aston University, UK.

Session Organizers:

• Professor Ali Emrouznejad, University of Surrey, UK
• Dr. Akram Dehnokhalaji, Aston University, UK
• Dr. Majid Azadi, Aston University, UK

Session Description:

This session aims to bring together experts and researchers to discuss recent advances in Data Envelopment Analysis. We invite theoretical papers and innovative applications that explore DEA’s mathematical foundations and its relevance to managerial practices. Papers that address mathematical modeling for insights into benchmarking, resource allocation, operational performance, or DEA’s role in public policy are highly encouraged. Selected submissions will be considered for recommendation to the IMA Journal of Management Mathematics.

Submission Guidelines:

To submit, please email your paper title and abstract to:

• Dr. Akram Dehnokhalaji: a.dehnokhalaji@aston.ac.uk
• Dr Majid Azadi: m.azadi@aston.ac.uk

Submission Deadline: January 31, 2025

For detailed submission guidelines and further information, please visit the official website of the 5th IMA and OR Society Conference on the Mathematics of Operational Research.

We look forward to receiving your contributions and to welcoming you to an engaging and productive session on DEA.

Best regards,
Professor Ali Emrouznejad
Dr. Akram Dehnokhalaji
Dr Majid Azadi

Please see Book of DEA45 at: https://link.springer.com/book/9783031615962

The following papers might be of your interest:

• Emrouznejad, A., M. Marra, G. L. Yang, M. Michali (2023) Eco-efficiency considering NetZero and Data Envelopment Analysis: A critical literature review, IMA Journal of Management Mathematics (doi).
• Azadi, M., R, Kazemi Matin, A. Emrouznejad, and W. Ho(2023) Evaluating Sustainably Resilient Supply Chains: A Stochastic Double Frontier Analytic Model Considering NetZero. Annals of Operations Research (doi).
• Taleb, M., , R. Khalid, A. Emrouznejad, R. Ramli (2023). Environmental efficiency under weak disposability: an improved super efficiency data envelopment analysis model with application for assessment of port operations considering NetZero. Environment, Development and Sustainability (doi).
• Emrouznejad A., G. L. Yang and G. R. Amin (2019) A novel inverse DEA model with application to allocate the CO2 emissions quota to different regions in Chinese manufacturing industries, Journal of the Operational Research Society, 70 (7): 1079-1090. (doi). Production, 223 (20): 641-650. (doi).
• Emrouznejad, A., G. L. Yang (2016) CO2 emissions reduction of Chinese light manufacturing industries: A novel RAM-based global Malmquist–Luenberger productivity index, Energy Policy 96: 397–410. (doi).
• Emrouznejad, A., ­G. L. Yang (2016) A framework for measuring global Malmquist–Luenberger productivity index with CO2 emissions on Chinese manufacturing industries, Energy 115 (1): 840-856. (doi)

We are pleased to announce the organization of a Performance Analytics Workshop focusing on the intersection of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Sustainability. This workshop is organized by the Centre for Business Analytics in Practice at the University of Surrey and aims to provide a platform for researchers, practitioners, and enthusiasts to exchange ideas, share insights, and discuss recent advancements in DEA methodologies (as well as parametric models such as SFA) and their applications in the context of sustainability and AI.

Theme: DEA, AI, and Sustainability

Topics of Interest Include, but are not Limited to:

Integration of AI techniques with DEA

• Machine learning and deep learning approaches in DEA
• Predictive analytics and forecasting in DEA applications
• Big data analytics for DEA
• Explainable AI techniques for interpreting DEA results
• Optimization algorithms for enhancing DEA efficiency
• Integration of clustering and classifications in DEA applications

Sustainability assessment using DEA

• Modelig undesirable outputs in DEA
• Applications of DEA in renewable energy, environmental management, and sustainable development
• Challenges and opportunities in applying DEA to sustainable practices
• Hybrid DEA-AI models for sustainability analysis
• Case studies and best practices in integrating AI with DEA for sustainable outcomes

Submission Guidelines: Authors are invited to submit original research papers or presentations related to the workshop theme. Submissions should adhere to the following guidelines:

• Abstracts should be no more than 300 words.
• Please include a title, list of authors, affiliations, and contact information with your submission.
• All submissions will undergo a peer-review process.
• Please CLICK HERE to submit an abstract

Important Dates:

• Abstract Submission Deadline: March 31, 2024 (Please CLICK HERE to submit an abstract)
• Notification of Acceptance: April 15, 2024
• Workshop Date: May 30-31, 2024

Registration

• Once your paper has been accepted, the registration link will be emailed to you.
• Registration Deadline: May 1, 2024 (Registration Fee: £50).
• Early registration is encouraged as we have a limited number of availability. Registration will close after we receive 30 registrations.
• If you have any questions about registration, please contact cbap@surrey.ac.uk

Program:

Submission Process: Please CLICK HERE to submit an abstract.

Workshop Format: The workshop will consist of keynote presentations, paper presentations, panel discussions, and interactive sessions. We encourage active participation from all attendees to foster engaging discussions and collaborations.

Venue: Surrey Business School, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK

Workshop Chair: Ali Emrouznejad, Director of the Centre for Business Analytics in Practice, Surrey Business School, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK

Workshop Organizing Committee: Ali Emrouznejad, Mehdi Toloo, Dimitris Giraleas, Xun Zhou, Emma Clear

Contact: Email | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | WhatsApp | Website

We look forward to your contributions and participation in the DEA Workshop on “Performance Analytics, AI, and Sustainability.” Together, let’s explore the transformative potential of DEA methodologies in advancing sustainability goals through the integration of AI techniques.

Sincerely,

Ali Emrouznejad, Mehdi Toloo, Dimitris Giraleas, Xun Zhou