Hari Rajagopalan

About Hari Rajagopalan

I am Dr. Hari K. Rajagopalan, Eugene A. Fallon, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Production Management at Francis Marion University, with extensive experience in business analytics, operations management, supply chain management, and quantitative decision-making. I have served in academic leadership roles for nearly two decades, including Dean of the School of Business (2016–2025), Associate Dean, and multiple program and accreditation leadership positions.My academic background spans operations research, information systems, and analytics, supported by a PhD in Information Technology (Operations & Quantitative Management track), an MS in Computer Science, an MBA in Finance, and a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering. This interdisciplinary foundation informs my work at the intersection of analytics, optimization, simulation, and managerial decision-making.My research focuses on optimization models, emergency response systems, simulation-based decision support, supply chain coordination, forecasting, and applied analytics. I have published extensively in leading journals such as Omega, European Journal of Operational Research, Decision Support Systems, Computers & Operations Research, and Journal of the Operational Research Society. I am also the Editor-in-Chief of SAGE’s Business Foundations: Business Analytics and Data-Enhanced Decision Making: Operations Management, contributing to globally adopted educational content in analytics and operations.As an educator, I emphasize applied learning, analytical rigor, and real-world problem solving. I regularly supervise industry-sponsored student consulting projects—particularly in forecasting and aggregate planning—and integrate simulation, optimization, and data analytics into undergraduate, MBA, and executive education programs. I have developed multiple certificate and executive education programs, generating sustained enrollment growth and industry engagement.In addition to teaching and research, I am deeply involved in AACSB accreditation and continuous improvement, having served as Chair and member of numerous accreditation review teams across the U.S. and internationally. I also actively contribute to professional societies including INFORMS, POMS, Decision Sciences Institute, Academy of Management, and EURO.My work is driven by a commitment to bridging rigorous quantitative research with practical, impactful applications, preparing students and organizations to make better data-driven decisions in complex environments.

Experience

1. Coordinator of Management and Professor of Management

   Francis Marion University

   Jul 2025 — Present · Florence, SC, US

Education

• Anna University Chennai

  Bachelor of Engineering (BE), Mechanical Engineering

  1991 — 1995

• Delhi Public School - R. K. Puram

  High School

  1989 — 1991

• University of North Carolina at Charlotte

  Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Information Technology

  2001 — 2006

• University of North Carolina at Charlotte

  Graduate Certificate, Advanced Databases and Knowledge Discovery

  2003 — 2003

• University of North Carolina at Charlotte

  Master of Science (MS), Computer Science

  2003 — 2004

• Faculty of Management Studies - University of Delhi

  Master of Business Administration (MBA), Finance and Financial Management Services

  1997 — 1999

• Harvard Graduate School of Education

  Management Development Program, Education Leadership

Skills

• Quality Assurance
• Public Speaking
• Artificial Intelligence
• Operations Management
• Powerpoint
• Research
• Data Analytics
• Requirements Analysis
• Project Management
• Analysis
• Emergency Management
• Data Analytic
• Strategic Planning
• Microsoft Office
• Genetic Algorithms
• Statistics
• Business Intelligence
• University Teaching
• Erp
• Supply Chain Optimization
• Leadership
• Higher Education
• Management
• Data Analysis
• Business Statistics
• Program Management