Ayşe Çetinel

Ayşe Çetinel

Assistant Professor of Operations Management

Faculty of Business · Özyeğin University

I am an Assistant Professor of Operations Management at Özyeğin University. My research addresses challenges at the marketing-operations interface, with a focus on how retailers and online platforms transform through omnichannel strategies, digitalization, AI, and sustainability initiatives. I employ data-driven methods including big data analytics, econometrics, quasi-experimental and field experimental designs, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to generate insights that inform strategic decision-making.

Prior to academia, I spent over a decade in the U.S. retail and e-commerce sectors, holding key strategic roles at Fortune 500 companies including Williams-Sonoma and Shutterfly.com. I hold a B.Sc. in Finance from The Ohio State University, an M.Sc. in Big Data and Business Analytics from Istanbul Technical University, and a Ph.D. in Operations Management and Information Systems from Koc University. I have held a visiting position at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University.

Email: ayse.cetinel@ozyegin.edu.tr
Phone: +90 (216) 564 9361
Office: Özyeğin University, Faculty of Business
Nisantepe Mah. Orman Sok. 34794 Cekmekoy, Istanbul, Turkey

Research

Research Topics

Empirical Operations Management Marketing-Operations Interface Retail Operations Omnichannel Retail Digital Transformation Data-driven Decision Making Store Labor Staffing AI and Sustainability in Retail

Methods

Big Data Analytics Econometrics Quasi-experiments Field Experiments Staggered Difference-in-Differences Statistical Modeling Predictive Analytics Machine Learning Artificial Intelligence Constrained Optimization

Publications

Çetinel, A., A.G. Kok, R.P. Rooderkerk
Production and Operations Management
Published
Çetinel, A., A.G. Kok, R.P. Rooderkerk
Marketing Science Institute Working Paper Series · Report No. 23-144 (2023)
Published

Working Papers

Rightsizing Store Labor: A Field Experiment for Voluntary Real-time Schedule Adjustments
Çetinel, A., S. Kesavan, A.G. Kok, R.P. Rooderkerk
Target Journal: Management Science
Working Paper

Work in Progress

Grants and Awards

2025
Özyeğin University Seed Research Grant
$2,500
2025
Doctoral Dissertation Prize · EURO Working Group on Retail Operations, Association of European Operational Research Societies
2024
Graduate Studies Excellence Award · Koc University Graduate Faculty of Business
2023
International Research Fellowship · Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK)
EUR 20,400
2021
Research Grant · Marketing Science Institute
$9,000

Conference Presentations

  • Consortium for Operational Excellence in Retailing (COER)
    Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania · 2025
  • Nova Faculty of Business and Economics
    Lisbon · 2024
  • Bilkent University, Faculty of Business Administration
    Ankara · 2024
  • Özyeğin University, Faculty of Business
    Istanbul · 2024
  • European Technology and Operations Management Virtual Seminar Series
    2024
  • EURO Working Group on Retail Conference
    Istanbul · 2022
  • Manufacturing and Service Operations Management (MSOM) Conference
    Munich · 2022
  • Koc University, School of Administrative Sciences
    Istanbul · 2021

Projects

Omnichannel Retail Analytics

Examining how the presence of physical stores creates value in an increasingly digital retail landscape, through causal identification strategies and large-scale transactional data.

Store Labor Optimization

A field experiment investigating voluntary real-time schedule adjustments as a mechanism for rightsizing store labor, with implications for operational efficiency and worker welfare.

AI and Digital Transformation in Retail

Studying how artificial intelligence and digital technologies reshape operations, decision-making, and competitive dynamics for retailers and e-commerce platforms.

More project details coming soon.

Teaching

Özyeğin University

BUS 301 Business Analytics Undergraduate · 2024-26
OPER 202 Operations Management Undergraduate · Fall 2025
OPER 502 Operations Management MBA · Fall 2024

Koc University

OPSM 301 Operations and Supply Chain Management Undergraduate · Summer 2023

Corporate Training

I offer customized corporate training programs that bring academic rigor and practical insight together. Drawing on my research in operations management, data analytics, and AI, and over a decade of industry experience in retail and e-commerce, these sessions are designed to equip teams with actionable frameworks and skills.

Training Programs

Data-Driven Decision Making

An introduction to using data analytics and quantitative methods for strategic business decisions. Covers foundational concepts in descriptive analytics, experimentation, and interpreting results, tailored for managers and non-technical teams.

AI and Prompt Engineering for Business

Hands-on training in leveraging generative AI tools effectively. Participants learn how to write high-quality prompts, integrate AI into workflows, and critically evaluate AI outputs, applicable across functions including operations, marketing, and finance.

Omnichannel Retail Strategy

An in-depth look at how physical and digital retail channels interact, based on current academic research and industry practice. Suitable for retail managers, e-commerce teams, and strategy leaders navigating digital transformation.

Operations Management Fundamentals

A practical overview of core operations concepts including process design, capacity planning, supply chain basics, and performance measurement, designed for professionals looking to strengthen their operational toolkit.

Past Sessions

Format and Customization

Programs can be delivered as half-day workshops, full-day intensives, or multi-session series. All sessions are tailored to your organization's context, sector, and goals. Both in-person (Istanbul and select international locations) and online formats are available.

Get in Touch

To discuss training needs, availability, or a custom program for your organization, please reach out by email.

Contact Me

Downloadable Files

Code and Data Resources

Sample R code - placeholder
Add your code files here
Download

AI Prompts

Prompt library - placeholder
Ready-to-use prompts for research and teaching
Download

More resources coming soon. Check back for updates.