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Article analysis:

The article titled "A classification of the literature on the planning of substitutable products" provides a comprehensive taxonomy of the literature on product substitution in the context of assortment, inventory, capacity, and pricing decisions. The authors classify the literature based on four major criteria: modeling objective, substitution mechanism, direction of substitutability, and substitution decision maker. They also identify research gaps to guide future research.

Overall, the article is well-written and informative. However, there are some potential biases and limitations that need to be considered. Firstly, the authors only focus on studies published in major OM and marketing journals during the past thirty years (1974–2013). This may limit the scope of their analysis and exclude relevant studies published in other fields or more recently.

Secondly, while the authors provide a clear definition of choice and substitution, they do not fully explore how these concepts are related to each other. For instance, customers' probabilistic choice may lead to voluntary substitution even if their first preference is in stock. This aspect could have been explored further to provide a more nuanced understanding of product substitution.

Thirdly, while the authors identify research gaps for future studies, they do not discuss potential risks associated with product substitution. For instance, partial substitution may enhance overall service levels but may also lead to increased uncertainty in managing inventory and assortment decisions.

Finally, there is no evidence of promotional content or partiality in this article. The authors present both sides equally and provide a comprehensive overview of the literature on product substitution.

In conclusion, this article provides valuable insights into product substitution in the context of assortment planning, inventory decision-making, capacity planning, and pricing decisions. While there are some potential biases and limitations that need to be considered, overall this article is informative and well-written.