Is there any academic paper documenting the importance of the Operating Cycle?

Question

Content from a website that :

The Operating Cycle offers an insight into a company’s operating efficiency. A shorter cycle is preferred and indicates a more efficient and successful business. A shorter cycle indicates that a company is able to recover its inventory investment quickly and possesses enough cash to meet obligations.

I am wondering if there is any academic paper that documented the same thing for citation purposes and I am also looking for academic papers talking about the operating cycle in a quite comprehensive context.

Answer 1

I typed "Operating Cycle" into Google Scholar, and got some hits like

The Operating Cycle: Risk, Return and Opportunities by John C. Groth

Abstract:

Highlights the operating cycle, its importance, and reviews basic relationships related to the cycle. In particular, it focuses on capital “flow through”, invested capital, capital at risk, and economic returns generated relative to capital employed. Reveals an amplification effect that results from improvements in the management of the cycle, that benefit traceable to a reduction in operating risk allowing incremental benefits from financial leverage. Suggests specific actions to take with respect to the cycle that will improve the value of your firm. Shows that small improvements in operating factors within the cycle yield amplified benefits to the firm. The discussion ignores taxes except in instances when tax effects are important. This does not detract from the discourse or conclusions. Reveals that increases in firm value that result from improved management of the operating cycle stem from several sources: greater levels of economic returns from operations; a reduction in operating risk; less capital invested and at lower risk; lower cost of capital; and increased tax benefit.