Hau Lee

Thoma Professor of Operations, Information and Technology at Stanford Graduate School of Business

Schools

Stanford Graduate School of Business
Stanford University (ONLINE)
Aalto University School of Business
CKGSB

Expertise

Biography

Stanford Graduate School of Business

Hau L. Lee is the Thoma Professor of Operations, Information and Technology at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. His areas of specialization include global value chain innovations, supply chain management, global logistics, inventory modeling, and environmental and social responsibility. He is also the faculty advisor for the Stanford Institute for Innovations in Developing Economies, and is a co-director of the Stanford Value Chain Innovation Initiative.

Professor Lee has published widely in journals such as Management Science, Operations Research, Harvard Business Review, Sloan Management Review, Supply Chain Management Review, IIE Transactions, and Interfaces, etc. He has served on the editorial boards of many international journals, such as Operations Research, Manufacturing and Service Operations Management, IIE Transactions, Supply Chain Management Review, Sloan Management Review, and the Journal of Production and Operations Management. From 1997-2003, he was the Editor-in-Chief of Management Science.

Professor Lee was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2010. He received the Harold Lardner Prize for International Distinction in Operations Research, Canadian Operations Research Society, 2003. He was elected a Fellow of Manufacturing and Service Operations Management, INFORMS, 2001; Production and Operations Management Society, 2005; and INFORMS, 2005. In 2006, he was President of the Production and Operations Management Society. His article, “The Triple-A Supply Chain,” was the Second Place Winner of the McKinsey Award for the Best Paper in 2004 in the Harvard Business Review. In 2004, his co-authored paper in 1997, “Information Distortion in a Supply Chain: The Bullwhip Effect,” was voted as one of the 10 most influential papers in the history of Management Science. In 2014, his co-authored paper in 2013, “The Impact of Logistics Performance on Trade,” received the Wickham Skinner Best Paper Award from the Production and Operations Management Society.

Professor Lee has consulted extensively in the public and private sectors. He is a co-founder of DemandTec, which went public in 2007. He is on the board and advisory board of several logistics services and supply chain software companies. He has also given executive training workshops on supply chain management and global logistics in Asia, Europe, and America.

Professor Lee obtained his B.Soc.Sc. degree in Economics and Statistics from the University of Hong Kong in 1974, his M.Sc. degree in Operational Research from the London School of Economics in 1975, and his MS and PhD degrees in Operations Research from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1983.

Research Interests

Supply chain management, entrepreneurship, information technology, value chain innovations

Research Statement

Hau Lee’s research focuses on value chain innovations to develop new business models and networks for value creation through effective management of the value chain. His works spans both global enterprises in developed and emerging countries, as well as entrepreneurs in developing economies.

Academic Degrees

PhD, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, 1983
MS, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, 1979
MSc, London School of Economics, 1975
BS, University of Hong Kong, 1974
Honorary Doctorate, Erasmus University of Rotterdam, 2008
Honorary Doctor of Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2006

Academic Appointments

At Stanford since 1983
Assistant Professor – Professor, Stanford University, 1983-present
Lecturer, University of Pennsylvania, 1982-1983
Lecturer, University of Hong Kong, 1975-1977

Awards and Honors

Best Paper in Production and Operations Management category, Case Center Awards and Competitions, 2018
Codirector, Value Chain Innovation Initiative, Stanford GSB, 2015
GSB Trust Faculty Fellow for 2014-2015
Best Paper Award, Production and Operations Management Society, 2014
National Academy of Engineering, 2010
Distinguished Teaching Award, Stanford GSB, 2007
Fellow, INFORMS, 2005
Fellow, Production and Operations Management Society, 2005
Paper voted as one of ten most influential papers in the history of Management Science, 2004
Fellow, Manufacturing and Service Operations Management, INFORMS, 2001

Books

Building Supply Chain Excellence in Emerging Economies
Hau L. Lee, Chung-Yee Lee Springer New York October 31, 2006

Videos

Courses Taught

The Innovative Technology Leader

Stanford Graduate School of Business

Online

The Emerging COO: Driving Innovation and Operational Excellence

Stanford Graduate School of Business

Online

Jan 27, 2025

Seed Transformation Program

Stanford Graduate School of Business

Online

Stanford Executive Program: be a Leader Who Matters

Stanford Graduate School of Business

Online

Frontiers in Social Innovation

CKGSB

Online

Read about executive education

Cases

Beef in Brazil: Shrinking Deforestation While Growing the Industry | GS88 Hau Lee, Sonali Rammohan2017

Frontier Services Group: Building a Pan African Logistics Provider (A) | IDE11 Hau L Lee, Laurent De Clara2016

Everything is Connected: A New Era of Sustainability at Li & Fung | GS87 Hau Lee, Sheila Melvin2015

Experian MicroAnalytics Accelerating the Development of Mobile Financial Services in Developing Markets | GS83 Hau Lee, Christopher Tang2014

Mekelle Farms Poultry Entrepreneurship in Ethiopia | IDE05 Hau Lee, Michael Kennedy, Jonathan Elist2014

MobiVi Establishing Credit Lending, Micro Donations, and Allied Services in Vietnam Using Telecom Technologies | GS82 Hau Lee, Christopher Tang, Jawad Masood2014

McDonald's India: Optimizing the French Fries Supply Chain | GS79 Hau L. Lee, Sonali Rammohan2013

PCH International (B) Supply Chain Solutions Take Off | GS61B David Hoyt, Hau Lee, Michael Marks2013

Crocs (B): Hitting the Skids | GS57B David Hoyt, Hau Lee, Michael Marks2011

Crocs (C): Back from the Dead | GS57C David Hoyt, Hau Lee, Michael Marks2011

Mountain Hazelnuts: Social Entrepreneurship in Bhutan | GS78 David Hoyt, Hau Lee2011

Shanzhai (“Bandit”) Mobile Phone Companies: The Guerrilla Warfare of Product Development and Supply Chain Management | GS75 David Hoyt, Hau Lee, Power Siu, Mitchell Tseng2010

Cisco Systems, Inc.: Collaborating on New Product Introduction | GS66 Hau Lee, Maria Shao2009

Ma Jun and the IPE: Using Information to Improve China’s Environment | SI115 Hau Lee, Erica Plambeck, Maria Shao2009

The European Recycling Platform: Promoting Competition in E-Waste Recycling | GS67 Hau Lee, Maria Shao2009

Zappos.com: Developing a Supply Chain to Deliver WOW! | GS65 David Hoyt, Hau Lee, Michael Marks2009

Integrated Distribution Services Group (IDS): Redefining the Asia Distribution Landscape | GS59 Hau Lee, Jennie Tung2008

PCH International Managing the Flows of Information, Goods, and Finance | GS61 Hau Lee, Jennie Tung2008

Renault’s Logan Car: Managing Customs Duties for a Global Product | GS62 Hau Lee, Amanda Silverman2008

Unsafe For Children: Mattel’s Toy Recalls and Supply Chain Management | GS63 David Hoyt, Hau Lee, Mitchell Tseng2008

Crocs (A): Revolutionizing an Industry’s Supply Chain Model For Competitive Advantage | GS57A Charles Holloway, David Hoyt, Hau Lee, Michael Marks, Amanda Silverman2007

Esquel Group: A Vertically Integrated Apparel Manufacturer | GS48 Barchi Peleg, Hau Lee2007

Riders for Health: Health Care Distribution Solutions in Sub-Saharan Africa | GS58 Hau Lee, Brian Tayan2007

Rio Tinto Iron Ore: Challenges of Globalization in the Mining Industry | GS56 David Hoyt, Hau Lee, Samir Singh2007

Starbucks Corporation Building a Sustainable Supply Chain | GS54 Stacy Duda, LaShawn James, Hau Lee, Zeryn Mackwani, Raul Munoz, David Volk2007

Evolution of the Xbox Supply Chain | GS49 Charles Holloway, David Hoyt, Hau Lee2006

Harrah’s Entertainment Inc.: Real-Time CRM in a Service Supply Chain | GS50 Hau Lee, Seungjin Whang2006

Netafim: Migrating from Products to Solutions | GS46 Hau Lee, Guy Michlin2006

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company: The Semiconductor Services Company | GS40 Hau Lee, Seungjin Whang2006

Woolworth “Chips” Away at Inventory Shrinkage Through RFID Initiative | GS51 Mike Gozycki, M. Johnson, Hau Lee2006

World Wide Technology and ClearOrbit: Enabling Supply Chain Collaboration | GS53 Luis Blancas, Hau Lee2006

CEMEX: Transforming a Basic Industry Company | GS33 David Hoyt, Hau Lee2005

Intel Corporation Product Transitions and Demand Generation | GS43 Feryal Erhun, Jay Hopman, Hau Lee, Mary Murphy-Hoye, Paresh Rajwat2005

POSCO: Global Supply Chain Management | GS44 Hau L. Lee, Seungjin Whang, David Hoyt2005

Toyota: Demand Chain Management | GS42 Hau Lee, Barchi Peleg, Seungjin Whang2005

Toyota: Service Chain Management | GS41 Hau Lee, Barchi Peleg, Seungjin Whang2005

OnStar: Connecting To Customers Through Telematics | GS38 Peter Koudal, Hau Lee, Barchi Peleg, Paresh Rajwat, Seungjin Whang2004

West Marine: Driving Growth Through Shipshape Supply Chain Management | GS34 Lyn Denend, Hau Lee2004

A Smart Supply Chain for a Smart Product: Micro Compact Car Smart GmbH | GS32 Hau Lee, Ozlem Yuksel2003

General Motors: Building A Digital Loyalty Network Through Demand And Supply Chain Integration | GS29 Peter Koudal, Hau Lee, Barchi Peleg, Paresh Rajwat, Richard Tully2003

Hewlett-Packard DeskJet Printer Supply Chain (A) | GS3A Laura Kopczak, Hau Lee2001

Lucent Technologies: Global Supply Chain Management | GS01 David Hoyt, Hau Lee2001

Lucent Technologies: Provisioning and Postponement | GS02 David Hoyt, Hau Lee, Enrique Tello-Lopez2001

SeeCommerce: Enhancing Supply Chain Velocity at DaimlerChrysler | GS25 Hau Lee, Paresh Rajwat2001

Solectron: From Contract Manufacturer to Global Supply Chain Integrator | GS24 David Hoyt, Hau Lee2001

Agile Software - I Want My WebTV! | GS20 M. Johnson, Hau Lee2000

Intuit Inc.: From Products to Services in the Information Age | GS21 Lyn Denend, Charles Holloway, Hau Lee, Terry Taylor2000

Note on Logistics in the Information Age | GS19 Laura Kopczak, Hau Lee, Seungjin Whang2000

Adaptec Inc.: Cross-Enterprise Integration | GS8 Hau Lee, Barchi Peleg1999

E-Greetings Network | GS5 Haim Mendelson, Sengjin Whang, Sunil Kuman, Hau Lee1999

Streamline, Inc.: A Lifestyle Solution Through Information-Smart Logistics | GS16 Hau Lee , Terry Taylor, Seungjin Whang1999

HP's da Vinci Project: New Order Process for HP's North American Distribution Organization | GS9 Hau Lee, Seungjin Whang, G. Schmidt1997

Hewlett-Packard Company: Network Printer Design for Universality | GS4 Toni Cupal, Hau Lee, Steven Plous1996

Tong Yang Cement (A): Logistics and Incentives | GS14A Seungjin Whang, Hau Lee, G. Schmidt1996

Information Flows in Manufacturing under SAP R/3 | OIT13 Seungjin Whang, Hau Lee1995

Hewlett-Packard: DeskJet Printer Supply Chain (B) | GS3B Hau Lee, Laura Kopczak1994

Steelmaking at POSCO (1992) | GS17 Hau Lee, Seungjin Whang1992

Mhuri Enterprise: Innovating the Value Chain of Small-Scale Pig-Farms in Zimbabwe | GS92 Hau Lee, Richard Chivaka2018