International Business
Emerging Markets
Organisational Learning
Hybrid Organisations
Family Business
Kiran J. Mahasuar
Assistant Professor, StrategyKiran J. Mahasuar is a practitioner turned academic with a decade of experience in industry and academia. He has a Ph.D. in Strategy from IIM, Kozhikode, India and holds a PGDM from XIM, Bhubaneswar (XIMB). Prior to SPJIMR, he was an Assistant Professor at IMT Ghaziabad. Prior to academia, he worked with ITC, Perfetti Van Melle, and Dabur in customer development and marketing roles.
His research interests include international business, emerging markets, knowledge management, organisational learning, strategic choices of firms, and business and society. His academic recognitions include being part of the Emerging Scholars from Emerging Markets Programme (2023 – 2024) of the Academy of International Business (AIB-EM SIG), finalist for the prestigious Alan M. Rugman Young Scholar Award instituted by the Academy of International Business (AIB), Best Reviewer Award from the Academy of Management (AoM), and Certificate of Recognition from Wiley for authoring one of the most downloaded papers in 2021. He has published research articles in the Journal of Strategic Marketing, Construction Management and Economics, Knowledge and Process Management, and Strategic Direction. In addition, he has also authored case studies published by The Case Centre and writes opinion pieces for Mint, The Print, Business Today, BW Business World, and Outlook Business.
Education
Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode
Ph.D.
Focus: Strategic Management
Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar
PG Diploma in Management (equivalent to MBA)
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Research interests
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Selected publications
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Managing Competing Institutional Logics in Public-Private Hybrids: A Negotiated Order Perspective. In Academy of Management Proceedings (Vol. 2025, No. 1, p. 21629). Valhalla, NY 10595: Academy of Management.
Mahasuar, K. (2023). COVID-19 and its impact on Indian Construction Industry: An Event Study Approach. Construction Management and Economics Vol. 41(5), 428-444. https://ideas.repec.org/a/taf/conmgt/v41y2023i5p428-444.html.
Mahasuar, K. (2023). Strategic choices of an MNE in an emerging market: the case of Perfetti Van Melle. Journal of Strategic Marketing Vol. 31(5),1012-1028. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/358080366_Strategic_choices_of_an_MNE_in_an_emerging_market_the_case_of_Perfetti_Van_Melle.
Mahasuar, K. (2023). Knowledge Management Practices in Non-Profit Organizations: An Institutional Logics Approach. Knowledge and Process Management Vol. 30(3), 267-277. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/365274408_Knowledge_Management_Practices_in_Non-Profit_Organizations_An_Institutional_Logics_Approach.
Mahasuar, K. (2022). Lies, damned lies, and statistics: The uncertainty over COVID-19 numbers in India. Knowledge and Process Management Vol. 29(4),410-417. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8441669/.
Mahasuar, K. (2019). Brand Horlicks in India: an epitome or an epitaph? Strategic Direction. Vol. 35(7), 9-11. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333518399_Brand_Horlicks_in_India_an_epitome_or_an_epitaph.
Mahasuar, K. (2019). Strategic innovations in distribution channels–an emerging market perspective and case studies from consumer-packaged-goods (CPG) industry of India. Strategic Direction. Vol. 35(1), 13-16. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329301724_Strategic_innovations_in_distribution_channels_-_an_emerging_market_perspective_and_case_studies_from_consumer_packaged_goods_CPG_industry_of_India.
Mahasuar, K. (2018). Demystifying Last Mile Distribution in Fast Moving Consumer Goods Industry- A Contemporary Perspective. The Management Accountant. Vol. 53(5), 76-79. https://icmai-rnj.in/index.php/maj/article/view/126020.
Mahasuar, K. (2018). Mevicol’s Gambit – Outsmarting the Competition (Case No. 318-0331-1). The Case Centre. https://www.thecasecentre.org/products/view?id=158523.
Mahasuar, K., & Subramanian, P. (2018). Suresh’s Dilemma – Managing the Team (Case No. 518-0055-8). The Case Centre. https://www.thecasecentre.org/products/view?id=153000.
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Conferences
Mahasuar, K. (2025). “Managing Competing Institutional Logics in Public-Private Hybrids: A Negotiated Order Perspective”, 85th Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Copenhagen, Denmark (accepted for presentation). (July 27 – 29).
Mahasuar, K., Rameshan, P., and Upadhyayula, R. (2023). “Medical Tourism: A Transaction Cost Economics Perspective”.
- Academy of International Business (AIB) Annual Meeting 2023, Warsaw, Poland. (July 6 – 9).
- Indian Academy of Management (INDAM) Conference, Mumbai, India. (January 6 – 8).
Mahasuar, K. and Bhanja, N. (2023), “Strategic Choices of a Latecomer MNE in an Emerging Market”.
- Academy of International Business (AIB) Annual Meeting 2023, Warsaw, Poland. (July 6 – 9).
- Wise Scholarship in Oceania Conference (co-hosted by Strategic Management division of the Academy of Management and Macquarie Business School), Sydney, Australia. (March 23 – 24).
Mahasuar, K. (2022). “COVID-19 and its impact on Indian Construction Industry”. IIM Indore-GIZ Germany Online Conference, Indore, India. (April 16 – 17).
Mahasuar, K. (2021). “The Interplay of Competing Institutional Logics and Collaborative Value Creation: Evidence from a successful public-private partnership project”. 7th International Communication Management Conference, Ahmedabad, India. (January 7 – 9).
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Periodicals
Mahasuar, K. J. (2025). The real reason Netflix is keen to buy Warner Bros. Outlook Business.
Mahasuar, K. J. (2025). Strategic ambiguity and organisational strain: Re-reading IndiGo’s recent turbulence. BW Marketing.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Microdramas – The land of first movers or fast followers? BW MarketingWorld.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). How Gen Z is rewriting the rules of brand loyalty. Forbes India.
Mahasuar, K. J. (2025). The human side of strategy: Why consultants still matter in the age of AI. BW Marketing.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). How India’s paints industry went from oligopoly to open battle. Outlook Business.
Mahasuar, K. J. (2025). From shopkeeper-in-law to algorithmic neutrality: The quiet power of quick commerce. BW Marketing.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Does Bollywood have a strategy? BW Marketing.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Diderot’s Curse and the BNPL Trap: Why India’s middle class may be walking into a debt crisis. Mint.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). When Acquisitions Seduce: Why FMCG Firms Must Look Beyond the Shopping Spree. Outlook Business.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Beyond Jobs: The True Role Of Business Schools. BW Education.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). India’s Test Prep Industry: A Meritocracy Of Inequity. BW Education.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). From Fat Profits To Fit Futures: How India’s FMCG Giants Must Rethink Strategy. BW Marketing World.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Maruti is late to the EV party, and it’s Toyota’s plus-one. Real Reinvention demands more. The Print.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Can India’s IT Sector Survive the AI Reset?. Outlook Business.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Inside The Modern MBA: Inclusion, Debate, Teamwork At The Core. BW Education.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Indian pharma can’t survive on prescriptions alone. It must now build brands. Business Today.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Campa Cola Needs More Than Nostalgia—Differentiation, Not Discounts, Will Keep it Afloat. Outlook Business.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Mounjaro will shrink India’s appetite for packaged food, gyms, and weight loss supplements. The Print.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Why sportspersons need not be authentic. Business Line on Campus.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). The new narrative of work, post-COVID. Business Line on Campus.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Decoding Neural Patterns. Indian Management.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Making Every Opinion Count. The Smart Manager.
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Working papers
Cultural intelligence of TMT and innovation
Competitive advantage in the service industry
Organisational learning and new product development
Public-private hybrids and negotiated order
Strategic choices in a family-owned MNE
RTM strategy effectiveness of DMNE
Imprinting effect in the legacy industry
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Featured in
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Weight-loss drugs are reshaping the snack shelf—one bite at a time. Mint.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Demand for weight loss drugs is growing. Can wellness companies keep up? Mint.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Healthify shifts gears to incorporate weight-loss drugs, cash in on anti-obesity boom? Mint.
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Courses
Strategic Management
Cross-Functional Simulation
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Awards and honours
Emerging Scholars from Emerging Markets Programme awardee of the Emerging Markets SIG of the Academy of International Business. (2023 – 2024).
Alan M. Rugman Young Scholar Award nominee instituted by the Academy of International Business. (2023).
Best Reviewer Award for International Management (IM) Division in the 83rd Academy of Management Annual Meeting. (2023).
Certificate of Recognition from Wiley for Top Downloaded Article. (2021).
Bronze Award for the best summer project by the Rural Marketing Association of India. (2009).
National Merit Scholarship recipient from the Government of India. (2004 – 2006).
Merit Certificate for Securing 10th Rank in Odisha State in the commerce stream in the annual higher secondary examinations conducted by CHSE, Odisha. (2004).
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Teaching interests
Strategic Management
International Business
Business Simulation
Competitive Strategies
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Work experience
Academic faculty
Assistant Professor at IMT Ghaziabad. (August 2024 – July 2025).
Faculty at ISB&M, Pune. (November 2017 – June 2019).
Administrative assignments
Co-chairperson of Strategy, Innovation & Entrepreneurship Area at IMT Ghaziabad. (February 2025 – July 2025)
Professional positions
Manager (Marketing, Media & PR) at MICA Ahmedabad. (2016 – 2017).
Trade Activation Manager Dabur India Limited. (2015 – 2016).
Regional Trade Marketing Manager at Perfetti Van Melle. (2013 – 2015).
Branch Manager at Pidilite India Limited. (2012 – 2013).
Area Manager at ITC. (2010 – 2012).
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Reviewer experience
Journals: Reviewer for Knowledge Management Research & Practice (Taylor & Francis), IIM Kozhikode Society & Management Review (SAGE), International Journal of Knowledge and Learning (Inderscience), & Paradigm (SAGE).
Conferences: Reviewer for Academy of Management Annual Conference (2023, 2024, 2025), Academy of International Business Annual Conference (2023, 2024), India Strategy Conference (2023).
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Professional memberships
Member of Academy of Management
Member of Academy of International Business