The Role of National Culture: An Updated Framework for Cross-Cultural Research in Operations Management

National culture plays a vital role in shaping operations management (OM) practices, yet its impact remains largely underexplored. This paper builds on the Gupta and Gupta's cross-cultural OM research framework that consists of three categories: operational decisions, supply chain management, and interdisciplinary topics. It highlights how national culture influences key areas such as product return policies, dynamic operations complexity, and buyer-supplier conflict management in cross-cultural relationships. Additionally, it examines national culture's role in determining post-acquisition performance in cross-border mergers and acquisitions, the adoption of digital piracy prevention strategies, and the relationship between language and operational performance in supply chains. To address emerging challenges, the paper extends the framework by introducing new research themes. It concludes with recommendations for future research, offering valuable guidance for scholars and practitioners navigating the complexities of managing culturally diverse and globally interconnected operations.