Worked at the Engineering Office of Ministry of Metallurgy and Machinery in 1967–1968, then became Assistant Professor at Karl Marx University where he defended his doctoral dissertation in 1969.

He has a number of decorations for professional and public activity, including the Garner Themoin Award of the International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management (IFPSM), the Life Time Achievement Award of the International Purchasing and Supply Education and Research Association (IPSERA) and The Middle Cross of the Order of Merits of the Hungarian Republic.

Chikán A., Kovács E., Matyusz Zs., Sass M., Vakhal P.: Long-term trends in inventory investment in traditional market and post-socialist economies INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRODUCTION ECONOMICS 181: pp. 14–23.

(2011) Chikán A., Gelei A.: New Insight into the Competitiveness of Supplier Firms: Aligning Competences and Customer Expectations SUPPLY CHAIN FORUM: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL 11:(2) pp. 30–44.

(2008) Chikán A.: The New Role of Inventories in Business: Real World Changes and Research Consequences INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRODUCTION ECONOMICS 108:(1-2) pp. 54–62.

(2007) Chikán A.: The role of "Economics of Shortage" in the intellectual preparations for transition in Hungary ACTA OECONOMICA 56:(2) pp. 195–207.