Robert Klassen

Robert is a Professor of Operations Management at Ivey Business School.

Robert's research interests focus on exploring the linkages between operations and sustainability with a particular focus on supply chain management. This research has emphasized, first, characterizing management practices and organizational capabilities, and second, understanding both the antecedents and performance outcomes of these practices and capabilities. His research has been published in Management Science, Production and Operations Management, Journal of Operations Management, Academy of Management Journal, and International Journal of Operations & Production Management, among others. He is currently serving as co-Editor for International Journal of Operations & Production Management, and as co-Department Editor for Production and Operations Management.

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

Education

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

Recent Refereed Articles

• Vanpoucke, E.; Klassen, R. D., 2023, "Reducing forced labour in supply chains: what could traditional companies learn from social enterprises?", International Journal of Operations & Production Management
• Hajmohammad, S.; Klassen, R. D.; Vachon, S., 2023, "Managing supplier sustainability risk: an experimental study", Supply Chain Management: An International Journal
• Klassen, R. D.; Shafiq, A.; Fraser Johnson, P., 2023, "Opportunism in supply chains: Dynamically building governance mechanisms to address sustainability-related challenges", Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, March 171: 103021 - 103021.
• Shafiq, A.; Johnson, P. F.; Klassen, R. D., 2022, "Building synergies between operations culture, operational routines, and supplier monitoring: implications for buyer performance", International Journal of Operations & Production Management, November 42(5): 687 - 712.
• Johnson, P. F.; Klassen, R. D., 2022, "New Directions for Research in Green Public Procurement: The Challenge of Inter-Stakeholder Tensions", Journal of Cleaner Logistics and Supply Chain
• Johnston, D.; Pagell, M.; Veltri, A.; Klassen, R. D., 2020, "Values-in-action that support safe production", Journal Of Safety Research, February 72: 75 - 91.
• Longoni, A.; Pagell, M.; Shevchenko, A.; Klassen, R. D., 2019, "Human capital routines and sustainability trade-offs: The influence of conflicting schemas for operations and safety managers", International Journal of Operations and Production Management, August 39(5): 690 - 713.
• Gualandris, J.; Klassen, R. D., 2018, "Delivering transformational change: aligning supply chains and stakeholders in non-profit organizations", Journal of Supply Chain Management, April 54(2): 34 - 48.
• Klassen, R. D.; Hajmohammad, S., 2017, "Multiple temporal perspectives extend sustainable competitiveness", International Journal of Operations and Production Management, November 37(11): 1600 - 1624.
• Shafiq, A.; Johnson, P. F.; Klassen, R. D.; Awaysheh, A., 2017, "Exploring the Implications of Supply Risk on Sustainability Performance", International Journal of Operations and Production Management, October 37(10): 1386 - 1407.
• Lee, S. Y.; Klassen, R. D., 2016, "Firms’ Response to Climate Change: The Interplay of Business Uncertainty and Organizational Capabilities", Business Strategy and the Environment, December 25(8): 577 - 592.
• Huq, F. A.; Chowdhury, I. N.; Klassen, R. D., 2016, "Social Management Capabilities of Multinational Buying Firms and their Emerging Market Suppliers: An Exploratory Study of the Clothing Industry", Journal of Operations Management, September 46: 19 - 37.
• Tompa, E.; Robson, L.; Sarnocinska-Hart, A.; Klassen, R. D.; Shevchenko, A.; Sharma, S.; Hogg-Johnson, S.; Amick, B. C.; Johnston, D. A.; Veltri, A., et al., 2016, "Managing safety and operations: The effect of joint management system practices on safety and operational outcomes", Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, March 58(3): e80 - e89.
• Galeazzo, A.; Klassen, R. D., 2015, "Organizational context and the implementation of environmental and social practices: What are the linkages to manufacturing strategy?", Journal of Cleaner Production, December 108(Part A): 158 - 168.
• Gualandris, J.; Klassen, R. D.; Vachon, S.; Kalchschmidt, M., 2015, "Sustainable evaluation and verification in supply chains: Aligning and leveraging accountability to stakeholders", Journal of Operations Management, July 38: 1 - 13.

Honours & Awards

• Operations Management Distinguished Scholar Award, 2013, Academy of Management (Operations Management division).
• Journal of Operations Management, 2012, “Top Cited Article 2007-2011” for Linton, J.D., R.D. Klassen and V. Jayaraman, “Sustainable Supply Chains: An Introduction,” 25(6), 1075-1082.
• Wickham Skinner Teaching Achievement Award, 2009. Production and Operations Management Society.
• Page Prize for Environmental Sustainability Curriculum, 2008. Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina.

Experience

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

Research/Course Development

• Sustainability (including both environmental and social issues) in operations management.
• Green supply chains.
• Developing and managing technology.
• Ivey case writing: over 30 cases and notes.