A qualified Chartered and Cost Accountant, and a Fellow of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Professor Ramachandran has been a Visiting Professor at INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, USA, and the Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, USA.
Recent Papers
Are there limits to diversification in emerging economies? Distinguishing between firm-level and business group strategies [ with Shaleen Gopal and KS Manikandan], Journal of Management Studies, Volume 58, Issue 6, September 2021. [https://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12680]
Shaping the Future: Strategy Making as Artificial Evolution [with Shubha Patvardhan], Organization Science, Volume 31, Issue 3, May-June 2020. [https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/full/10.1287/orsc.2019.1321]
Navigating Identity Duality in Multinational Subsidiaries: A Paradox Lens on Identity Claims at Hindustan Unilever 1959-2015 [with Anirvan Pant], Journal of International Business Studies 48, 664–692, 2017. [https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-017-0076-x]
Beyond institutional voids: Business groups, incomplete markets, and organizational form [with KS Manikandan], Strategic Management Journal. Volume 36 (4): 598–617, 2015. [https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.2226]
Why do Conglomerative Thrive (Outside U.S) [ with KS Manikandan and Anirvan Pant], Harvard Business Review, Volume 91(12): 111–119, 2013. [https://hbsp.harvard.edu/product/R1312H-PDF-ENG?]
Legitimacy beyond Borders: Indian Software Services Firms in the United States, 1984 – 2004 [with Anirvan Pant], Global Strategy Journal, Volume 2, 224–243, 2012. [https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-5805.2012.01037.x]
Building the BOP Producer Ecosystem: The Evolving Engagement of Fabindia with Indian Handloom Artisans [with Anirvan Pant & Saroj Pani], Journal of Product Innovation Management, Volume 29, No. 1, 33–51, 2012. [https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5885.2011.00877.x]
Growth and persistence of business groups in emerging markets: Towards solving the puzzle [with KS Manikandan], Academy of Management Best Paper Proceedings. 2012 [https://doi.org/10.5465/AMBPP.2012.93]
How do subsidiaries confront institutional duality? Identity claims at Hindustan Lever 1961-2009 [with Anirvan Pant], Academy of Management Best Paper Proceedings. 2011 [https://doi.org/10.5465/ambpp.2011.65870610]
The liabilities of origin: An emerging economy perspective on the costs of doing business abroad [with Anirvan Pant], In Devinney, TM, Pedersen, T & L Tihanyi Advances in International Management: The Past, Present and Future of International Business and Management, Volume 23, New York, NY: Emerald, 2010 [https://doi.org/10.1108/S1571-5027(2010)00000230017]
Research in emerging economies: Reading small type in dim light in a speeding train? [with Anirvan Pant and Srinivas Gunta] Academy of Management Best Paper Proceedings. 2008 [https://doi.org/10.5465/ambpp.2008.33662184]
Recent Cases
The House of Tata: Governance Challenges (A)
[with Savithran Ramesh and KS Manikandan], IIM Bangalore, 2021.
https://hbsp.harvard.edu/product/IMB899-PDF-ENG
The House of Tata: Governance Challenges (B)
[with Savithran Ramesh and KS Manikandan], IIM Bangalore, 2021.
https://hbsp.harvard.edu/product/IMB901-PDF-ENG
Motherson Sumi Systems Limited: Rewiring the Ownership Structure
[with Savithran Ramesh and Parita Shah], IIM Bangalore, 2021.
https://hbsp.harvard.edu/product/IMB897-PDF-ENG
The Art of Living: Celebrating Life
[With Nisheeta Bajaj] IIM Bangalore, 2021.
https://hbsp.harvard.edu/product/IMB849-PDF-ENG
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited: Disclosure Practices
[with Savithran Ramesh], IIM Bangalore, 2020.
https://hbsp.harvard.edu/product/IMB847-PDF-ENG
Yes Bank Limited: Too Big to Fail?
[with Savithran Ramesh], IIM Bangalore, 2020.
https://hbsp.harvard.edu/product/IMB837-PDF-ENG
Mindtree Limited: Hostile Acquisition
[with Srestha Dutta], IIM Bangalore, 2020
https://hbsp.harvard.edu/product/IMB825-PDF-ENG
Infosys Limited: Governance Imbroglio
[with Diptiprakash Pradhan], IIM Bangalore, 2020.
(https://cb.hbsp.harvard.edu/cbmp/product/IMB805-PDF-ENG).
Asian Paints Limited: Painting History
[with Jalaj Garg], IIM Bangalore, 2019.
(https://cb.hbsp.harvard.edu/cbmp/product/IMB749-PDF-ENG).
Hindustan Unilever Limited (A): Growing with India
[ with Pranav Garg] IIM Bangalore, 2019
https://hbsp.harvard.edu/product/IMB739-PDF-ENG]
Hindustan Unilever Limited (B): Winning in Many Indias
[with Pranav Garg and Bidhi Kashyap] IIM Bangalore, 2019
https://hbsp.harvard.edu/product/IMB741-PDF-ENG]
Hindustan Unilever Limited (C) : Boosting Growth in India
[with Pranav Garg and Bidhi Kashyap] IIM Bangalore, 2019
https://hbsp.harvard.edu/product/IMB743-PDF-ENG]
Leading the Tata Group (A): The Ratan Tata Years
[with KS Manikandan and K. Rajyalakshmi], IIM Bangalore, 2016.
(https://cb.hbsp.harvard.edu/cbmp/product/IMB597-PDF-ENG).
Leading the Tata Group (B): The Cyrus Mistry Years
[with KS Manikandan], IIM Bangalore, 2016.
(https://cb.hbsp.harvard.edu/cbmp/product/IMB599-PDF-ENG).
Ranbaxy Limited: Changing Aspirations
[with Snigdha Manukonda and Kiran Awate], IIM Bangalore, 2016.
(https://cb.hbsp.harvard.edu/cbmp/product/IMB601-PDF-ENG).
i flex solutions (A): Winning Unconventionally
[with Pranav Garg], IIM Bangalore, 2016.
(https://cb.hbsp.harvard.edu/cbmp/product/IMB603-PDF-ENG)
i flex solutions (B): The Oracle Years
[with Pranav Garg], IIM Bangalore, 2016.
(https://cb.hbsp.harvard.edu/cbmp/product/IMB603-PDF-ENG)
Indian Software Services Industry: The Changing Landscape
[with Ramya Krishnamurthy and Pranav Garg], IIM Bangalore, 2016.
(https://cb.hbsp.harvard.edu/cbmp/product/IMB581-PDF-ENG)
DDB Mudra Group (A): Transformative Growth
[with Seema Gupta], IIM Bangalore, 2016.
(https://cb.hbsp.harvard.edu/cbmp/product/IMB569-PDF-ENG)
DDB Mudra Group (B): Profitable Growth
[with Seema Gupta], IIM Bangalore, 2016.
(https://cb.hbsp.harvard.edu/cbmp/product/IMB571-PDF-ENG)
The Park Hotels: Communicating Experience
[with Seema Gupta], 2013. Asian Case Research Journal, Vol. 17, Issue 2, 199-224, 2013.
(https://doi.org/10.1142/S0218927513500090)
ITC Limited: India First.
[with K.S. Manikandan], IIM Bangalore, 2012.
(https://cb.hbsp.harvard.edu/cbmp/product/IMB375-PDF-ENG)
The Park Hotels: Designing Experience
[with Seema Gupta], IIM Bangalore, 2010.
(https://cb.hbsp.harvard.edu/cbmp/product/IMB373-PDF-ENG)
British Fashion Council: Shaping an Industry
[with Shubha Patvardhan], IIM Bangalore, 2009.
Hidesign: Designing an International Brand
[with Shubha Patvardhan], IIM Bangalore, 2008.
Fabindia: Crafting Success
[with Shubha Patvardhan], IIM Bangalore, 2008.
Recent Conference Papers:
Work-from-home and employee performance: COVID-19 as a natural experiment [ with Pranav Garg and Diptiprakash Pradhan], People and Organizations Conference, Centre for Human Resources, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA, Sep 24-25, 2021.
Imagination: The Cognitive Roots of Strategic Choice and Competitive Advantage [ with Shubha Patvardhan], Strategic Management Society Annual Conference, Toronto, Canada, Sep 18-21, 2021
Going Beyond Bounded Rationality: Imagination and Strategic Choice [ with Shubha Patvardhan], The Strategy Science Conference, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA, May 1-2, 2020.
The Cognitive Roots of Strategic Choice and Competitive Advantage [ with Shubha Patvardhan], The Strategic Management Society Special Conference on Designing the Future: Strategy, Technology, and Society in the 4th Industrial Revolution, Berkeley, California, USA, March 25-27, 2020.
Exploring the Microfoundations of Shaping-Oriented Strategies [with Shubha Patvardhan], 35th European Group of Organizational Studies (EGOS) Conference on Enlightening the Future: The Challenge for Organizations, Edinburgh University Business School, Edinburgh, UK. July 4-6, 2019.
Whole versus Part: Pro-market reforms and unrelated diversification of business groups [with Shaleen Gopal and KS Manikandan], Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Boston, USA, August 9-13, 2019.
Imagination: The Cognitive Roots of Forward-Looking Strategy [with Shubha Patvardhan], Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, August 9-13, 2019.
Organizational Identity Work as a Dynamic Capability: A Tale of Two Subsidiaries, 1969 - 1991, [ with Anirvan Pant], Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Chicago, USA, August 10 – 14, 2018.
Monitoring Strategic Choices: Re-conceptualizing Board Capital [with Snigdha Manukonda], Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Chicago, USA, August 10 – 14, 2018.
Governance through Relative Ownership: Enabling Better Decisions through Engagement [with Snigdha Manukonda], Academy of Management Meeting, Atlanta, USA August 4-8, 2017.
"Allocating capital amidst perceived uncertainty: Relative (not absolute) ownership matters" [with Snigdha Manukonda], Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Anaheim, California, USA, August 5-9, 2016.
“Inside the Business Group Black Box: Exploring the Structure-Scope Linkage” [with Shaleen Gopal], Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC, Canada, August 7-11, 2015.
“Overcoming Locational Disadvantage: Identity Work and Category Manoeuvring by Emerging Economy Multinationals” [with Anirvan Pant], Academy of International Business Annual Meeting, Bangalore, June 27-30, 2015.
“Beyond Institutional Determinism: Strategic Choice, and Performance of Business Group Affiliated Firms” [with Shaleen Gopal], CGIO Business Groups Academic Conference, National University of Singapore, Singapore, August 28-29, 2014.
“Location and the Categorical Imperative: Identity Rebellion in the Indian I.T.Services Industry” [with Anirvan Pant], Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, August 1-5, 2014.
“Strategy-on-the-Go: Revisiting Strategic Choice and Strategic Leadership” [ with Anirvan Pant and KS Manikandan] Strategic Management Society Special Conference, Mohali, India, December 17-18, 2013.
“Informal Institutions vs. Competition: What Shapes Firm Behavior during Institutional Transitions?” [with Shaleen Gopal] Strategic Management Society Special Conference, Mohali, India, December 17-18, 2013.
“Interpreting Punctuations: Impact on Adaptive Response of Firms” [with Shaleen Gopal], Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Lake Buena Vista (Orlando), Florida, USA, August 9-13, 2013.
“The Many Worlds of Emerging Economies: Researcher Frames in International Management Research” [with Anirvan Pant], Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Lake Buena Vista (Orlando), Florida, USA, August 9-13, 2013.
“Regulatory Punctuation, State Uncertainty and Firm Strategic Behavior: Evidence from India” [with Shaleen Gopal]. Strategic Management Society Annual Conference, Prague, Czech Republic, October 7-9, 2012.
“Leading the G-Form Organization: The Role of Group Headquarters in Indian Business Groups” [with Manikandan, K.S & Anirvan Pant] Academy of Management Annual Meeting, San Antonio, USA, August 12-16, 2011.
“Beyond Institutional Voids: The 'Organizational Advantage' of Business Groups” [with Manikandan, K.S], Academy of Management Annual Meeting, San Antonio, USA, August 12-16, 2011.
“Opening the Black Box: Growth of Business Groups” [with Manikandan, K.S], Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Montreal, Canada, 2010.
“Ownership Structure, Context, and Firm Diversification: An Analysis of Emerging Economy Firms” [with Shaleen Gopal & Rejie George, P]. Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Montreal, Canada, 2010.
“For Whose Sake - The Nation, The Corporation, Or the Self? Agency Theory and the Country Manager” [with Anirvan Pant & Mukta Kulkarni]. Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Chicago, USA, 2009.
“Geography is not history – The influence of location on the westward journey of Indian multinational enterprises” [with Anirvan Pant]. Strategic Management Society, India Special Conference (Hyderabad), 2008.
“Emerging Economy International New Ventures: The Quest for Legitimacy” [with Anirvan Pant], Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Anaheim, California, USA, 2008.
DOCTORAL SEMINAR COURSES:
Strategic Management
International Business
Corporate Governance
MBA COURSES:
Competition & Strategy
Strategic Leadership
Strategy & Organisation
Advanced Corporate Strategy
WORK EXPERIENCE
1992 – Present: Faculty Member, Strategy Area,
Indian Institute of Management Bangalore.
1997- till date: Professor
1994-1997 : Associate Professor
1992-1994: Assistant Professor
Harry Reynolds Visiting International Professor,
The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, USA (1996)
Visiting Professor, Carlson School of Management,
University of Minnesota, USA (1996).
Visiting Professor, INSEAD, France (1993-1994).
1984 - 1991: Reliance Industries Limited
Last Position: Vice President (Management Services)
Over the years:
BOARD POSITIONS
Present
Redington (India) Limited, Chairman of the Board
Aditya Auto Products and Engineering Limited, Chairman of the Board
Proconnect Supply Chain Solutions Limited, Member of the Board
Redington Gulf FZE, Member of the Board
Redington Mauritius Limited, Member of the Board
MVA Group International, USA, Member of the Board
Earlier
Polaris Consulting Services Limited, Vice Chairman of the Board
Sasken Technologies Limited, Member of the Board
Allcargo Logistics Limited, Member of the Board
Cyient Limited, Member of the Board
Reliance Communications Limited, Member of the Board
ECU Belgium, Member of the Board
Tejas Networks Limited, Member of the Board
CONSULTING
Over the years he has served as a consultant to many companies that include:
3M India, Allcargo Logistics Limited, Arvind Group, Aquarius Fund, Asian Paints, Carborandum Universal, Castrol India, Kewalram Chanrai Group, Chennai Petroleum, Colgate Palmolive, Dainik Bhaskar, Daimler Chrysler, Dalmia Cements, Ecu worldwide NV, Belgium, Eicher Group, Fidelity India, Freudenberg Group, Godfrey Philips, Godrej Group, Hewlett Packard, ITC Limited, Intel India, Intel Malaysia, Infosys, Infotech Enterprises, John Deere India, Kirloskar Group, Pepsi, PRS Group, Philips India, Polaris Consulting & Services Limited, Raymond India, Sasken Technologies Limited, Syntel, Saint Gobain, Siemens India, TVS Electronics, Tejas Networks, United Breweries, United Spirits, Virtusa Corporation, Wockhardt India & Wipro Corporation.
Dewang Mehta National Educational Award—Best Professor in Strategy Studies—2019.
IIMB Chair of Excellence, 2016
Best Paper, Academy of Management USA, Annual Meeting, 2012
Best Case Award, Eurpoean Foundation for Management Development, 2012
IMD FDC Award for Best Paper in Strategy/IB Theory, Academy of Management USA Annual Meeting, 2011
Bain Fellow, Bain and Company, 2011
Best Paper, Academy of Management USA Annual Meeting, 2008
Tata Steel – IIMB Award for Best Case in Corporate Social Responsibility, 2008
Best Case Award, Central & East European Management Development Association, 2008
Best Case Award, Association of Indian Management Schools, 2008
Nominee, Carolyn Dexter Award, Academy of Management USA, 2008
Best Conference Proposal – Runner Up, Strategic Management Society USA, 2008
Best Case Award, Association of Indian Management Schools, 2005
Best Case Award, Association of Indian Management Schools, 2003
Best Case Award, Association of Management Development Institutions of South Asia, 1998
Best Teacher Awards, Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
