Team Learning
Product Management
Design Thinking
Entrepreneurship and Venturing
Digital Ecosystems and Platforms
Innovation at the base of the pyramid
- varun.nagaraj@spjimr.org
Varun Nagaraj
ProfessorInformation Management & Analytics
Dean – SPJIMR
Varun Nagaraj is Dean and Professor of Information Management at S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR), Mumbai. He holds a Ph.D. in Management: Designing Sustainable Systems from Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management.
He also holds an MBA from Boston University, an MS in Computer Engineering from North Carolina State University, and a BTech in Electrical Engineering from IIT, Bombay. His career spanning over three decades in digital products reflects his passion for product management, development, and innovation.
He has held senior leadership roles including C-level responsibilities for venture-funded start-ups as well as public companies in the US. His research interests encompass the impacts of digital innovation on teams, organisations, and society at large. Specific interest areas include Team Learning, Product Management, Design Thinking, Entrepreneurship and Venturing, and Digital Ecosystems and Platforms.
His research contributions have been presented in prominent journals, renowned international conferences, and popular periodicals. He has previously taught at the University of Notre Dame, Pepperdine University, and Boston University.
EDUCATION
Case Western Reserve University (Weatherhead School of Management)
Ph.D., 2019
Focus: Design and Innovation
Boston University (Questrom School of Business)
MBA, 1995
Major: Finance and Strategy
North Carolina State University
MS, 1988
Major: Computer Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
BTech, 1986
Major: Electrical Engineering
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RESEARCH INTERESTS
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SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Nagaraj, V. (2022). How Product Managers Use Senseshaping to Drive the Front-end of Digital Product Innovation, Research-Technology Management, 65:2, 29-40.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08956308.2022.2014718.Nagaraj, V., Berente, N., Lyytinen, K., Gaskin, J. (2020). Team design thinking, product innovativeness, and the moderating role of problem unfamiliarity. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 37(4), 273–372.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jpim.12528 -
BOOKS/BOOK CHAPTERS
Nagaraj, V. (2022). Chapter 8: Digital Product-Assisted-Learning: Transforming the entrepreneurial learning process with digital product analytics. Handbook of Digital Entrepreneurship, 161 – 179. Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800373631.00016
Nagaraj, V., Joglekar, N. (2017). Digital Product Management Thinking: Integrating Analytics, Business Models, Coordination and Design Thinking (pp. 155 pages). Senseshaping Ventures LLC. https://www.amazon.in/Digital-Product-Management-Thinking-Coordination-ebook/dp/B0741RQM7R
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CONFERENCES
Nagaraj, V. (Keynote Presenter), Utility Analytics Summit, “Data-Driven Analytics: How Netflix Enhances Decision Making and Applications for Utilities”, Utility Analytics Institute. (2020).
Data-Driven Analytics: How Netflix Enhances Decision Making and Applications for Utilities.
Nagaraj, V. (Presenter), Product Collective, “ Software Tools for the Product Manager”, The Product Conference. (2019).
Software Tools for the Product Manager
Nagaraj, V. (Presenter), Berente, N., Gaskin, J., Lyytinen, K., AOM Annual Conference 2018, “How does design thinking impact the market success of digital products?” Academy of Management, Chicago. (August 2018).
https://journals.aom.org/doi/abs/10.5465/AMBPP.2018.15737abstract
Nagaraj, V. (Presenter), Boland, R. J., Lyytinen, K., AOM Annual Conference 2017, “Senseshaping: The dynamics of sensemaking and sensegiving in high velocity product innovation,” Academy of Management, Atlanta. (August 2017). https://journals.aom.org/doi/abs/10.5465/ambpp.2017.13314abstract
Nagaraj, V. (Presenter), Measurement Control and Automation Association Annual Conference, “Enabling Innovation – Improving your Organization’s Innovativeness through ‘Design Thinking’ Practices,” The Measurement, Control & Automation Association: MCAA, United States. (April 24, 2017).
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PERIODICALS
Jayakumar, T., Nagaraj, V. (2022). Let us raise a toast to family entrepreneurship in India. https://epaper.livemint.com/Home/ShareArticle?OrgId=19163955c8e&imageview=0
Nagaraj, V. (2022). Five Courses That Should Be Launched or Revamped By B Schools In The Post-Pandemic World. Business World (BW Education). http://bweducation.businessworld.in/author/Guest-Author/Varun-Nagaraj-92048/
Nagaraj, V., Frey, J. (2021). The Ethical Edge of Persuasion – Where is the line between persuasion, manipulation, and coercion? Psychology Today.https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/leading-in-the-real-world/202102/the-ethical-edge-persuasion
Nagaraj, V., Frey, J. (2021).Ethical Manipulation in Leadership – The ethical spectrum of compelling leadership. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/leading-in-the-real-world/202102/ethical-manipulation-in-leadership
Nagaraj, V., Frey, J. (2021). Ethical Influence – The ethical spectrum of compelling leadership. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/leading-in-the-real-world/202102/ethical-influence
Nagaraj, V., Frey, J. (2021). Where Leadership Persuasion Tips Into Manipulation – The ethical spectrum of compelling leadership. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/leading-in-the-real-world/202102/where-leadership-persuasion-tips-manipulation
Nagaraj, V. (2019). Emphasize Customer Success Metrics to Accelerate Revenue Growth. Gartner Group.https://www.gartner.com/en/documents/3953741
Nagaraj, V. (2019). Use In-Application Feedback to Continuously Improve Product-Market Fit. Gartner Group.https://www.gartner.com/en/documents/3947284
Nagaraj, V. (2019). Reignite Growth through Targeted Investments in Software Tools for Product Management. Gartner Group.https://www.gartner.com/en/documents/3923902
Nagaraj, V. (2019). Drive Product Growth by Emphasizing Packaging and Go-To-Market. Gartner Group. https://www.gartner.com/en/documents/3913386
Nagaraj, V. (2019). Use Three Design Thinking Principles in Everyday Product Management to Drive Innovation. Gartner Group.
https://www.gartner.com/en/documents/3912996
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COURSES
Digital Transformation
Product Management and Marketing
Product Innovation Lab
On-Ramp Acceleration
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WORK EXPERIENCE
S. P. Jain Institute of Management & Research, Mumbai (Sept 2021 – Present)
Dean & Professor Information Management
Boston University. (June 2017 – Present)
Adjunct Faculty
University of Notre Dame. (June 2021 – July 2021)
Adjunct Faculty
Bidgely, Inc., CA (Venture-Funded Series-C Start-up) (August 2019 – June 2021)
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Pepperdine University. (Oct 2018 – Dec 2019)
Adjunct Faculty
Sierra Monitor Corporation, CA (Acquired by MSA Safety (MSA: NYSE). (Aug 2014 – Aug 2017).
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Echelon Corporation, CA (Acquired by Adesto (IOTS: NASDAQ)). (July 2011 – July 2014)
GM IoT
Aprius, CA (Acquired by Fusion-IO/Western Digital (WDC: NASDAQ)). (June 2008 – June 2011).
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
NetContinuum, CA (Acquired by Barracuda Networks (Thoma Bravo: PE)). (May 2005 – May 2007)
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Extreme Networks, CA (EXTR (NASDAQ)). (April 2003 – April 2005).
VP, Product Management and Marketing
Ellacoya Networks, NH (Acquired by Arbor/Danaher (DHR: NYSE). (March 2001 – March 2003).
EVP, Marketing
PRTM Management Consulting, MA (Acquired by PwC). (Feb 1995 – Feb 2001).
Partner
Principal
Manager
Associate
Hewlett Packard, CA. and MA (HPE (NYSE)). (Jan 1988 – Jan 1995).
Product Manager
Engineer
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MDPS/FDPS
Pidilite, 2021-2022
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CORPORATE MENTORING
Advisor to Shoreline AI
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PRESS & MEDIA
Nagaraj, V. (2017). IoT Evolution. Podcast S.2 Ep.3: Sierra Monitor Corp.
Nagaraj, V. (2017). Learning from History. SierraMonitor.com.
https://us.msasafety.com/smc
Nagaraj, V. (2016). Alexa – Make my Building Run Better. ACHR News. https://www.achrnews.com/blogs/16-guest-blog/post/133999-alexa-make-my-building-run- better
Nagaraj, V. (2016). The Industrial IoT. Interview with TMCNet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YA33kSXVfFw
Nagaraj, V. (2016). Control Networking Conversations. Interview with Control Trends.
https://controltrends.org/controltrends-news/featured/01/varun-nagaraj-sierra-monitors-president-and-ceo-is-a-controltrends-awards-finalist/
Nagaraj, V. (2015). Interview with The Wall Street Analyzer.
Nagaraj, V. (2015). Taking Advantage of the Industrial IoT Opportunity. Interview with AutomatedBuildings.com.
https://www.automatedbuildings.com/news/mar16/interviews/160221110707nagaraj.html
Nagaraj, V. (2014). Migrating Legacy Devices to the IIoT. Design News. https://www.designnews.com/migrating-legacy-devices-iiot
Nagaraj, V. (2014). The Industrial IoT Isn’t the Same As The Consumer IoT. Forbes.com. https://www.forbes.com/sites/oreillymedia/2014/02/26/the-industrial-iot-isnt-the-same-as-the- consumer-iot/?sh=422574ed4720
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BOARD MEMBERSHIPS
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REVIEWER EXPERIENCE
Academy of Management Proceedings (2017 – 2018)
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TEACHING INTEREST
Product Innovation
Digital Entrepreneurship
Digital Transformation
Systems Thinking
Technology, Business, and Society
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PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Guest Speaker, Pepperdine University. (2020).
Guest Speaker, Case Western Reserve University. (2019 – 2020).
Guest Speaker, Stanford University. (2019).
Guest Speaker, California State University, Sacramento. (2018).
Guest Speaker, NC State University. (2010 – 2018).
Guest Speaker, University of Georgia. (2016).
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PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Academy of Management (AOM)
Product Development Management Association (PDMA)