Publications

Selected Publications and Working Papers

Academic Journal Publications

J1. Carlsson, J., Lim, S.F.W.T., Liu, S. and Yu, H. 2026. Data-driven delivery zoning for last-mile logistics. Manufacturing & Service Operations Management.

J2. Zhao, Y., Luo, Z., Lim, S.F.W.T., Chen, C. and Sim, M. 2025. Service oriented considerate routing: Data, predictions and robust decisions. Management Science, forthcoming.

J3. Lim, S.F.W.T. and Choo, A.S. 2026. Plural governance of last-mile delivery networks in e-commerce retailing. Journal of Business Logistics, 47(1): e70051.

J4. Carlsson, J., Lim, S.F.W.T., Liu, S., Yu, H., Witsanu A. and Tan, E.H. 2025. Redesigning zoning systems for equitable and efficient last-mile delivery at Ninja Van. INFORMS Journal on Applied Analytics, 55(5): 412-423.

J5. Lim, S.F.W.T., Rabinovich, E., Lee, S. and Park, S. 2025. Estimating stockout costs and optimal stockout rates: A case on the management of ugly produce inventory. Management Science, 71(4): 3106–3126.

  • Accepted for presentation at 2022 MSOM Sustainable Operations SIG Conference
  • Featured in W.P. Carey News at Arizona State University

J6. Lim, S.F.W.T., Gao, F. and Tan, T.F. 2024. Channel changes choice: An empirical study about omnichannel demand sensitivity to fulfillment lead time. Management Science, 70(5): 2954-2975.

J7. Lim, S.F.W.T., Wang, Q. and Webster, S. 2023. Do it right the first time: Vehicle routing with home delivery attempt predictors. Production and Operations Management, 32(4): 1262–1284.

  • Runner-Up for Transportation Science & Logistics Society Best Paper Award at 2024 INFORMS Annual Meeting
  • Featured in INFORMS Analytics Collection: Innovation in Retail

J8. Lim, S.F.W.T., Richards, T.J., Rabinovich, E. and Choi, M. 2022. Scan based trading and bargaining equilibrium: A structural estimation of supply chain profit. Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, 24(4): 2328–2348.

  • Finalist for Service Science Section Best Cluster Paper Award at 2019 Institute for Operations Research & Management Sciences (INFORMS) Annual Meeting

J9. Lim, S.F.W.T., Rabinovich, E., Park, S. and Hwang, M. 2021. Shopping activity at warehouse club stores and its competitive and network density implications. Production and Operations Management, 30(1): 28–46.

  • Best Applications-oriented Paper Award at 2019 Annual European Decision Sciences Institute (EDSI) Conference
  • Chris Voss Best Paper Award at 2018 EurOMA Conference
  • Featured in INFORMS Analytics Collection: Innovation in Retail

J10. Lim, S.F.W.T. and Srai, J.S. 2018. Examining the anatomy of last-mile distribution configuration in e-commerce omnichannel retailing: A supply network configuration approach. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 38(9): 1735–1764.

  • Runner-Up [Highly Commended Paper] for 2018 Emerald Awards Literati Outstanding Paper of the Year
  • Harry Boer Best Student Paper Award at 2016 EurOMA Conference 
  • Editor’s cut (from 00:25:30): soundcloud.com

J11. Lim, S.F.W.T., Jin, X. and Srai, J.S. 2018. Consumer driven e-commerce: A literature review, design framework, and research agenda on last-mile logistics models. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 48(3): 308–322.

  • Highly Commended Paper Award at 2015 International Symposium on Logistics
  • Second most downloaded article in IJPDLM for 2018
  • Featured in Operations, Logistics & Quality eJournal Collection 2021 by Emerald Publishing as “Highly Downloaded”
  • More than 60,000 downloads since March 2018

Practitioner Journal and Consortium-Effort Publications

P1. Lim, S.F.W.T. 2025. Food distribution. Under review at MIT Sloan Management Review.

P2. Lim, S.F.W.T. 2025. How grocery retail innovations change customer behavior. MIT Sloan Management Review, 67(2): 23-25.

P3. Petropoulos, F., Akkermans, H., …, Lim, S.F.W.T., et al. 2025. Operations & supply chain management: Principles and practice. International Journal of Production Research, 8: 1-184.

  • A consortium of 93 co-authors

P4. Lim, S.F.W.T. 2024. Cutting last-mile delivery costs: New tactics can boost profitability and satisfaction with subscription services. MIT Sloan Management Review, 66(2): 15-17. Available at https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/cutting-last-mile-delivery-costs and Winter 2025 Print issue.

P5. Fišar, M., Greiner, B., Huber, C., Katok, E., Ozkes, A. and the Management Science Reproducibility Collaboration. 2024. Reproducibility in Management Science. Management Science, 70(3): 1343-2022.

  • Member of the Management Science Reproducibility Collaboration

P6. Lim, S.F.W.T. 2023. Research: Why so many packages don’t get delivered. Harvard Business Review. Available at https://hbr.org/2023/11/research-why-so-many-packages-dont-get-delivered.

P7. Lim, S.F.W.T. and Pyke, D. 2023. The fourth channel: Automatic home replenishments and its implications for supply chain cost and customer convenience. Management and Business Review, 3(4): 48-61.

P8. Lim, S.F.W.T. and Winkenbach, M. 2019. Configuring the last-mile in business-to-consumer e-retailing. California Management Review, 61(2): 132–154.

  • 2018 Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport Meritorious Paper Award (Industrial Logistics Category)

P9. Lim, S.F.W.T., Wang, L. and Srai, J.S. 2017. Wal-Mart’s omni-channel synergy. Supply Chain Management Review, September/October: 30–37.

Book and Monograph Publications

B1. Lim, S.F.W.T. 2026. The little handbook of logistics haikus. Cognella, first edition (revised preliminary edition in 2024, preliminary edition in 2023).

B2. Lim, S.F.W.T., Rabinovich, E., Rogers, D.S. and Laseter, T.M. 2016. Last-mile supply network distribution in omnichannel retailing: A configuration-based typology. Foundations and Trends® in Technology, Information and Operations Management,10(1): 1–87. Prof. Charles Corbett (former Editor-in-chief) [Invited Monograph].

Pedagogical Cases

T1. Liu, R. and Lim, S.F.W.T. 2024. Algorithmic-based versus human-route planning in last-mile delivery operations. Under revision (major revision decision) at INFORMS Transaction on Education.

T2. Lim, S.F.W.T. 2025. Carbon-neutral delivery: ShipX speeds electric vehicle adoption effort. Under revision at Ivey Publishing.

T3. Lim, S.F.W.T. 2025. Advancing sustainable mobility: A network design case for GrazEV Ltd. Ivey Publishing. (Case reference: W36899; Teaching note reference: W36900)

T4. Lim, S.F.W.T., Kalra, J. and Vainas, A. 2024. Lifely Wellness Ltd: Micro business operations strategy and supplier management. Ivey Publishing. (Case reference: W26108; Teaching note reference: W26109)

  • Nominated by Ivey Publishing for Case Centre 2024/25 Case Competition in the Outstanding Case Writer category
  • Nominated by Ivey Publishing for EFMD 2024 Case Writing Competition in the Women in Business category
  • Supported by the 2020 Paul R. Lawrence Fellowship, competitively awarded by the Case Research Foundation and North American Case Research Association
  • Available at Harvard Business Review Store

T5. Lim, S.F.W.T. and Van-Fossen, K. 2022. Run like clockwork: A balancing act between onboarding demand and capacity. The Case Centre. (Case reference: 622–0011–1; Teaching note reference: 622–0011–8)

  • Supported by the 2020 Case Writing Scholarship, competitively awarded by The Case Centre
  • Case spotlight feature in The Case Centre‘s June 2022 Issue of Connect

Selected In-Review and Working Papers

W1. Lim, S.F.W.T. 2024. Multichannel return behavior. Under review (after major revision decision) at Production and Operations Management.

W2. Huang, J., Lim, S.F.W.T. and Akturk, S. 2023. Examining the value of third-party grocery delivery. Under revision (major revision decision) at Management Science.

W3. Wang, L., Lim, S.F.W.T. and Rabinovich, E. 2024. Stem distance and impact on courier choices. Under revision (major revision decision) at Manufacturing & Service Operations Management.

  • Accepted for presentation at 2024 MSOM Service Management SIG Conference
  • Finalist (Honorable Mention) for Behavioral Operations Management Section Best Working Paper Award at 2024 INFORMS Annual Meeting

W4. Akturk, S., Chintapalli, P. and Lim, S.F.W.T. 2024. Return window and opportunistic consumers in retail. Under second-round review (after major revision decision) at Production and Operations Management.

W5. Lim, S.F.W.T. and Su, X. 2025. Temporal bracketing of performance incentives. Under revision (reject-and-resubmit decision) at Management Science.

W6. Mirzaeian, N., Lim, S.F.W.T. and Wang, S. 2025. Boxless shipping: Balancing Sustainability and Security in Package Delivery. Under review at Management Science.