Karen Donohue's research focuses on methods for coordinating inventory and distribution decisions across supply chains, particularly in fast clock speed industries. Recently, she has investigated the impact of competition in outsourcing decisions, and behavioral issues in supply chain management.
Donohue received B.A. degrees in Mathematics and Economics from St. Olaf College, followed by an M.S. in Industrial Engineering and Management Science and a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering, both from Northwestern University. Donohue has been teaching and researching in the area of supply chain management for over ten years, including six years on the faculty of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Her articles have appeared in such journals as Management Science, Operations Research, Interfaces, and Production and Operations Management (POMS). She currently serves as an Associate Editor for Management Science and POMS. Donohue is the recipient of an NSF Career Award and the Operations Research Meritorious Service Award.
Journal Articles
"An Empirical Study of Service Differentiation for Weapon System Service Parts," V. Deshpande, M. Cohen, and K. Donohue, Operations Research (2003).
"A Threshold Inventory Rationing Policy for Service Differentiated Demand Classes," V. Deshpande, M. Cohen, and K. Donohue, Management Science (2003).
"Impact of POS Data Sharing on Supply Chain Management: An Experimental Study," R. Croson and K. Donohue, Production and Operations Management (2003).
"Optimal Computing Budget Allocation for Monte Carlo Simulation with Application to Product Design," C. H. Chen, K. Donohue, E. Yucesan, and J. Lin, Simulation Practice and Theory (2003).
"Efficient Supply Contracts for Fashion Goods with Forecast Updating and Two Production Modes," K. Donohue, Management Science (2000).
"Experimental Economics and Supply Chain Management," R. Croson and K. Donohue, Interfaces (2002).
"Outsourcing via Service Competition", S. Benjaafar, E. Elahi, and K. Donohue (2007), to appear in Management Science.
"Behavioral Causes of the Bullwhip Effect and the Observed Value of Inventory Information", R. Croson and K. Donohue, Management Science (2006), 52, 3, 323-336.
"Behavioral Operations Management: Assessing Recent Findings and Revisiting Old Assumptions", E. Bendoly, K. Donohue, and K. Schultz (2006), Journal of Operations Management.
"Upstream versus Downstream Information and its Impact on the Bullwhip Effect", R. Croson and K. Donohue (2006), Systems Dynamics Review.
Scholarly and Professional Service
Associate Editor, Management Science; Department Editor, Production and Operations Management (POMS) Journal
NSF Research Grant (2005-2008) "Promoting Service Quality via Supplier Competition and Incentive Contracts" (with Saif Benjaarfar)
Current Research
Service-based supplier competitions and behavioral issues in supply chain management
Carlson School Annual Faculty Service Award (2006)
National Science Foundation Career Award (1996-2002)
Operations Research Meritorious Service Award, 1998, 1999, and 2004
