R.D. (Robert) Klassen
Professor of Operations Management
J.J. Wettlaufer Faculty Fellow

Robert is a Professor of Operations Management at Ivey.

Robert's research interests focus on exploring the linkages between operations and the natural environment, including international operations. This research has emphasized, first, characterizing the pattern of investment in environmental technologies, and second, understanding both the antecedents and performance outcomes of these investments. His research has been published in Management Science, Journal of Operations Management, Academy of Management Journal, and Decision Sciences, among others. He is currently serving on the Editorial Review Board for the Journal of Operations Management. Robert was the Chair of the Operations Management division of the Academy of Management in 2001, and previously served as the Program Chair in 1999.

In addition to teaching the first-year operations management course in the MBA and EMBA programs, Robert has recently introduced a new course in Managing for Sustainable Development. He has also taught electives in the Developing and Managing Technology, Management of Services and Operations Strategy. He continues to actively develop new teaching materials, including over 20 cases and exercises in the area of operations strategy, process analysis, quality management and environmental management.

PROGRAM TEACHING

Operations Management, MBA and Executive MBA programs
Managing for Sustainable Development, MBA and undergraduate programs
Management of Technology, MBA and undergraduate programs

RESEARCH/COURSE DEVELOPMENT

Environmental management in operations
Developing and Managing Technology
Management of Services
Ivey case writing: over 20 cases and notes

SELECTED REFEREED PUBLICATIONS

• Vachon, S. and R.D. Klassen, 2007, "Supply Chain Management and Environmental Technologies: The Role of Integration," International Journal of Production Research, 45(2), pp. 410-423.
• Corbett, C.J. and R.D. Klassen, 2006, "Extending the Horizons: Environmental Excellence as Key to Improving Operations," Manufacturing and Service Operations Management, 8(1), pp. 5-22.
• Vachon, S. and R.D. Klassen, 2006, "Extending Green Practices across the Supply Chain: The Impact of Upstream and Downstream Integration," International Journal of Operations and Production Management, 26(7), pp. 795-821.
• Johnson, P.F., and R.D. Klassen, 2005,
  “E-Procurement,” MIT Sloan Management Review, 46(2), pp. 7-10 (invited research brief).
• Klassen, R.D. and S. Vachon, 2003, "Collaboration and Evaluation in the Supply Chain: The Impact on Plant-Level Environmental Investment," Production & Operations Management, 12(3), pp. 336-352.
• Vachon, S., R.D. Klassen, P.F. Johnson, 2001, "Customers as Green Suppliers: Managing the Complexity of the Reverse Supply Chain," in Sarkis, J. (ed.), Greener Manufacturing and Operations: From Design to Delivery and Back, Sheffield, UK: Greenleaf Publishing, pp. 136-149.
• Klassen, R.D. and D.C. Whybark, 1999, "The Impact of Environmental Technologies on Manufacturing Performance," Academy of Management Journal, 42(6), pp. 599-615.
• Klassen, R.D. and D.C. Whybark, 1999, "Environmental Management in Operations: The Selection of Environmental Technologies," Decision Sciences, 30(3), pp. 601-631.
• Klassen, R.D. and C.P. McLaughlin, 1996, "The Impact of Environmental Management on Firm Performance," Management Science, 42(8), pp. 1199-1214.

EXPERIENCE

Dofasco Inc., environmental engineer
Imperial Oil Ltd., technical services
Procter & Gamble Inc., product development

EXPERTISE

Environmental management
Operations strategy and international operations
Process improvement