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Robert D. Klassen

Robert D. Klassen

Professor, Operations Management

  • Magna International Inc. Chair in Business Administration

Education

  • BASc, Chem Eng - University of Waterloo
  • MBA, University of Western Ontario
  • PhD, University of North Carolina

Contact Information

Profile

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.

Teaching

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

Selected Publications

  • Simpson, D., D. Power, R.D. Klassen, forthcoming, "When One Size Does Not Fit All: A Problem of Fit Rather than Failure for Voluntary Management Standards," Journal of Business Ethics.
  • Klassen, R.D. and A. Vereecke, forthcoming, "Social Issues in Supply Chains: Capabilities Link Responsibility, Risk (Opportunity) and Performance," International Journal of Production Economics.
  • Parmigiani, A., Klassen, R.D., Russo, M.V., 2011, "Efficiency meets accountability: Performance implications of supply chain configuration, control, and capabilities", Journal of Operations Management, 29(6), forthcoming.
  • Awaysheh, A. and R.D. Klassen, 2010, "Supply Chain Structure and Its Impact on Supplier Socially Responsible Practices", International Journal of Production and Operations Management, vol. 30, no. 12, pp. 1246-1268.
  • Krause, D.R., Vachon, S., Klassen, R.D., 2009, "Special Topic Forum on Sustainable Supply Chain Management: Introduction and Reflections on the Role of Purchasing Management", Journal of Supply Chain Management, October, 45(4): 18 - 25.
  • Lee, S.Y., Klassen, R.D., 2008, "Drivers and Enablers that Foster Environmental Management Capabilities in Small- and Medium-Sized Suppliers in Supply Chains", Production and Operations Management, November/December, 17(6): 573 - 586.
  • Vachon, S., Klassen, R.D., 2008, "Environmental Management and Manufacturing Performance: The Role of Collaboration in the Supply Chain", International Journal of Production Economics, February, 111(2): 299 - 315.
  • Johnson, P.F., Klassen, R.D., Leenders, M.R., Awaysheh, A., 2007, "Utilizing E-Business Technologies in Supply Chains: The Impact of Firm Characteristics and Teams", Journal of Operations Management, November, 25(6): 1255 - 1274.
  • Klassen, R.D., Menor, L.J., 2007, "The Process Management Triangle: An Empirical Investigation of Process Trade-offs", Journal of Operations Management, 25(5): 1015 - 1034.
  • Kocabasoglu, C., Prahinski, C.A., Klassen, R.D., 2007, "Linking Forward and Reverse Supply Chain Investments: The Role of Business Uncertainty", Journal of Operations Management, November, 25(6): 1141 - 1160.
  • Linton, J.D., Klassen, R.D., Jayaraman, V., 2007, "Sustainable Supply Chains: An Introduction", Journal of Operations Management, November, 25(6): 1075 - 1082.
  • 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.

Research/Course Development

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

Honours & Awards

  • Journal of Operations Management, "Top Cited Article 2007-2011" for Linton, J.D., R.D. Klassen and V. Jayaraman, 2007, "Sustainable Supply Chains: An Introduction," 25(6), 1075-1082.

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
 

Research Links

 

Faculty Focus

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The EMBA Experience In India | Faculty Focus with Jean-Louis Schaan - Jan. 2013

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