Research interests

Online and Omnichannel Retailing; Sustainable Supply Chains; Closed-Loop Supply Chains and Circular Economy; Product Returns Management and Reverse Logistics

Publications in refereed journals:

Luzzini, D.; Longoni, A.; Difrancesco, R. M.; Savaget, P. (2024). Driving systemic change research within the PSM community. Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management, 30, 100923. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pursup.2024.100923.

Yates, D., Difrancesco R.M. (2024). ‘Accountability-With’ and ‘Research-With’? Ethics, accountability, and relatedness in the research act; assisting the homeless in a religious NGO. Book chapter in: Accountability Research - Ethnographic Methods in Organisation and Accounting, Edited By Hugo Letiche, Ivo De Loo, Carolyn Cordery, Jean-Luc Moriceau. Routledge Taylor & Francis Group. ISBN 9781032442891. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003371441.

Difrancesco, R.M., Meena, P., Kumar, G. (2023). How blockchain technology improves sustainable supply chain processes: A practical guide. Operations Management Research (published online). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12063-022-00343-y.

Difrancesco, R.M., Luzzini, D., Patrucco, A. (2022). Purchasing realized absorptive capacity as the gateway to sustainable supply chain management. International Journal of Operations & Production Management. 42(5). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPM-10-2021-0627.

Yates, D., Difrancesco R.M. (2022). The View from the Front Line: shifting beneficiary accountability and interrelatedness in the time of a global pandemic. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 35(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/AAAJ-08-2020-4811.

Difrancesco, R.M., van Schilt, I., Winkenbach, M. (2021). Optimal in-store fulfillment policies for online orders in an omni-channel retail environment. European Journal of Operational Research, 293(3). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2021.01.007.

Difrancesco, R.M., Meena, P., Tibrewala, R. (2021). Buyback and risk-sharing contracts to mitigate the supply and demand disruption risks. European Journal of Industrial Engineering, 15(4). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1504/EJIE.2021.116140.

Kumar, G., Meena, P., Difrancesco, R.M. (2021). How do collaborative culture and capability improve sustainability?. Journal of Cleaner Production, 291. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.125824.

Difrancesco, R.M., Huchzermeier, A. (2020). Multichannel retail competition with product returns: Effects of restocking fee legislation. Electronic Commerce Research and Application, 43. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.elerap.2020.100993.

Difrancesco, R.M., Huchzermeier, A., Schroeder, D. (2018). Optimizing the return window for online fashion retailers with closed-loop refurbishment. Omega - The International Journal of Management Science, 78. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.omega.2017.07.001.

Difrancesco, R.M., Huchzermeier, A. (2016). Closed-Loop Supply Chains: A Guide to Theory and Practice. International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications, 19(5). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13675567.2015.1116503.

Papers presented in conferences:

van Schilt, I., Difracesco, R.M., Winkenbach, M. (2024). Inventory optimization in an omni-channel environment (2024); EurOMA European Operations Management Association Conference; Spain.

van Schilt, I., Difracesco, R.M., Winkenbach, M. (2023). Inventory optimization in an omni-channel environment (2023); IPSERA 32^nd Conference of the International Purchasing and Supply Education and Research Association; Spain.

Picaud-Bello, K., Difrancesco, R.M., Rodriguez-Pelliere, L., Knoppen, D. (2023). Linking secondary plastics suppliers and consuming companies: The Role of Purchasing; IPSERA 32nd Conference of the International Purchasing and Supply Education and Research Association; Spain.

Difrancesco, R.M., Roman, D., Cohanier, B., Luzzini, D. (2021). Performance management in Omnichannel retail; International Marketing Trend Conference; Italy.

Difrancesco, R.M., van Schilt, I., Winkenbach, M. (2020). Optimal In-Store Fulfillment for Online Orders in an Omni-Channel Retail Environment; CERR 5^th Colloquium on European Research in Retailing; Spain.

Difrancesco, R.M., van Schilt, I., Winkenbach, M. (2019). Optimal In-Store Fulfillment of Online Orders in an Omni-Channel Environment; POMS 30^th Annual Conference; US.

Difrancesco, R.M., Meena, P., Tibrewala, R. (2019). Buyback and Risk Sharing Contracts to Mitigate the Supply and Demand Disruption Risk; POMS 30^th Annual Conference; US.

Kumar, G., Meena, P., Difrancesco, R.M. (2018). Exploring the role of dynamic capabilities in sustainable supply chain; POM 29^th Annual Conference; US.

Difrancesco, R.M., Huchzermeier, A., Schroeder, D. (2017). Optimizing the Return Window for Online Fashion Retailers With Closed-Loop Refurbishment; POMS 28^th Annual Conference; US.

Difrancesco, R.M., Huchzermeier, A. (2015). Multi Sales Channel Competition with Product Returns: The Impact of Restocking Fee Legislation; INFORMS Annual Meeting; US.

Difrancesco, R.M., Huchzermeier, A. (2015). Multichannel retail competition with product returns: The impact of restocking fee legislation; ECR Partnership Conference; Germany.

Difrancesco, R.M., Huchzermeier, A. (2014). Multi Sales Channel Competition with Product Returns: The Impact of Restocking Fee Legislation; INFORMS Annual Meeting; US.

Difrancesco, R.M., Huchzermeier, A. (2014). Trading Off Incentives and Refurbishment Costs for Online Fashion Retailers with Free and Late Return; POMS 25^th Annual Conference; US.

Difrancesco, R.M., Huchzermeier, A. (2013). Optimal returns management with secondary market; Euro-Informs 26^th European Conference on Operational Research; Italy.

Case studies

Difrancesco R.M. (2022). La Fageda: Achieving Triple Bottom Line by making Yogurts. Eada Business School Barcelona.

Reviewer service for: European Journal of Operational Research; International Journal of Production Research; Omega-The International Journal of Management Science; Operational Research; Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management; Operations Management Research; Electronic Commerce Research and Applications; Journal of Systems Science and Engineering; Journal of Cleaner Production.

Associate Editor for the Operations Management Research

Member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Vilakshan: XIMB Journal of Management (Emerald Publisher).