David Sirmon

Education

• PhD Arizona State University (2004)
• MBA University of Montana (1997)
• BS University of Montana (1996)

Academic Expertise

• blue ocean strategy
• board of directors
• competitive strategy
• family business

• mergers and acquisitions

• resource orchestration

• turnaround strategies

Positions Held

• At the University of Washington since 2012
• Associate Professor at Texas A&M University, 2011-2012
• Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University, 2006-2011
• Assistant Professor at Clemson University, 2004-2006
• Commercial Lending, 1997-2000

Honors and Awards

• Professor of the Year – Core Evening MBA, UW, 2013, 2016
• Professor of the Quarter (Winter) – Core Day MBA, UW, 2013
• Excellence Awards
• Highly Cited Researcher, 2014
• Robert Herbold Professorship in Entrepreneurship, UW, 2012
• Ricky W. Griffin Research Excellence Award, TAMU, 2012
• Emerging Scholar Award, SMS (distinguished early career award), 2011
• Mays Research Performance Award, TAMU, 2011
• Summer Research Performance Grant, TAMU, 2010
• Pamela M. and Barent W. Cater ’77 Faculty Research Fellowship, TAMU, 2009
• Dean’s Performance Recognition Grant, TAMU, 2009
• Center for Human Resource Management Research Grant, TAMU, 2008
• Outstanding Reviewer, BPS Division, AoM, 2008
• Dean’s Performance Recognition Grant, TAMU, 2008
• Mays Research Mini-Grant, TAMU, 2008
• Center for Human Resource Management Research Grant, TAMU, 2007
• Emerging Scholar Research Excellence Award, Clemson University, 2005
• Outstanding Reviewer, Entrepreneurship Division, AoM, 2005
• Best Paper Proceedings, AoM, 2013
• Best Paper Finalist, Academy of Management Learning & Education, 2011
• Best Conference Paper Award Nominee, SMS, 2011
• Best Paper Proceedings, AoM, 2011
• Best Paper Finalist, Academy of Management Review, 2010
• Showcase Symposium Award, AoM, 2010
• Best Symposium Award, AoM, 2010
• Best Conference Paper Award Nominee, SMS, 2009
• Best Paper Proceedings, AoM, 2009
• Best Paper Nominee, Journal of Management Studies, 2008
• Best Paper Proceedings, AoM, 2008
• Best Conference Paper - Honorable Mention, SMS, 2005
• Best Paper Proceedings, AoM, 2003

Academic Service

• Editorial Review Board, Academy of Management Journal
• Editorial Review Board, Strategic Management Journal
• Editorial Review Board, Journal of Business Venturing
• Editorial Review Board, Family Business Review

Courses Taught

• I deliver award-winning courses on Strategic Management to several audiences, including Ph.D., MBA, and professionals. Strategic Management focuses on the multi-faceted concept of “firm strategy” with the intent to help students understand how managers conceive and realize competitive advantage(s) to win in the marketplace. I emphasize that the heart of effective strategy is ensuring that “Uniqueness, Fit and Tradeoffs” exist among the firm’s activities. This is important because evidence regularly demonstrates that these choices differentiate thriving and failing firms. In order to address important strategic concepts, such as, Blue Oceans, network-based platforms, critical areas of differentiation, mergers and acquisition, and firm governance among others, I rely heavily on case-based discussions of exemplar firms (and compare those to firms that are failing). In total, students develop analytical, diagnostic, and rhetorical skills while adding precision to their “strategic toolbox.”