Gies Faculty Profile – Gopesh Anand

With a background in Operations Management, professor Gopesh Anand recently received the ISOI award for his research. His passions are in learning how to continuously improve processes and the quality of goods and services, “through clarification of purpose, design of processes, and engagement of people, i.e., purpose, process, people.”

Anand has taught at Gies since 2006. He’s currently teaching Operations Management at the masters level and Process Improvement for undergraduates. “I knew I wanted to be a business school professor when I was managing a manufacturing business and recognized the potential of adding systematic planning and implementation,” he says.

Currently, Anand is working on a project to study how technologies such as machine learning and the internet of things can be used towards improving processes.

He enjoys teaching business students because of how engaged they are in class, and his favorite quality in a student is curiosity. If he weren’t teaching, Anand would love to be a vegetarian chef “experimenting with vegetarian dishes in different cuisines.”

If he could add to the business school experience in the future, he’d include more site visits. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a student and a teacher of the same things,” he adds.

Name: Gopesh Anand

Title: Professor and William N. Scheffel Faculty Scholar

At current institution since what year? 2006

Education: PhD Operations Management, Ohio State University

Professional bio, highlighted awards/achievements: Gopesh Anand is a professor of operations and supply chain management. Through his research, Gopesh aims to develop a better understanding of continuous improvement of work processes and execution of operations strategy in organizations. Recently, in 2022, Gopesh received the Illinois Strategic Organizations Initiative (ISOI) Award for one of his research papers. His name appears regularly in the List of Excellent Teachers at University of Illinois and he has won MBA Teaching awards on five occasions. 

List of courses you currently teach: Operations Management (Masters) – in-person and on-line, and Process Improvement (Undergraduate elective and as a module in two Masters Programs).

TELL US ABOUT LIFE AS A BUSINESS SCHOOL PROFESSOR

I knew I wanted to be a business school professor when… I was managing a manufacturing business and recognized the potential of adding systematic planning and implementation.

What are your major research interests? Find ways to improve quality of goods and services through clarification of purpose, design of processes, and engagement of people, i.e., purpose, process, people. I empirically study questions related to this topic by talking to managers, collecting data using surveys and analyzing existing data in different industries, recently paying more attention to the contexts of health care service delivery and supply chains.

What are you currently studying? I have recently started a project to study how technologies such as machine learning and internet-of-things can be used toward improving the effectiveness and efficiency of processes.

What is the most significant discovery you’ve made from your research? My research has revealed organizational structures and processes that impact process compliance and process improvement.

If I weren’t a business school professor… I would be a chef, experimenting with vegetarian dishes in different cuisines.

What do you think makes you stand out as a professor? I am not sure…could be that I am approachable.

One word that describes my first time teaching: Eye-opening.

Here’s what I wish someone would’ve told me about being a business school professor: It is hard when the semester ends, and I do not hear again from most students.

Professor I most admire and why: My doctoral studies advisor, Professor Peter Ward, who connected so effectively with professional students and doctoral candidates alike, and acted on his vision to combine academia and practice through program development.

TEACHING GIES STUDENTS

What do you enjoy most about teaching business students? The engagement in class.

What is most challenging? Connecting with the students in a large class.

In one word, describe your favorite type of student: Curious.

In one word, describe your least favorite type of student: Disruptive.

When it comes to grading, I think students would describe me as… Fair.

LIFE OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM

What are your hobbies? Walking, Reading (lately, books on tape), Movies

Favorite book(s): “Of Mice and Men”, “To Kill a Mockingbird”, and “The Measure of a Man”

What is currently your favorite movie and/or show and what is it about the film or program that you enjoy so much? Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. I love the detail combined with humor.

What is your favorite type of music or artist(s) and why? Bollywood, mainly from the seventies to the nineties.

THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS

If I had my way, the business school of the future would have much more of this… Site visits.

In my opinion, companies and organizations today need to do a better job at… communicating with their employees (despite the numerous channels available today).

I’m grateful for… the opportunity to be a student and a teacher of the same things.