Professor M. R.Gopalan served for twenty-five years at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB), from November 1978 to May 2003. Associated with the Production and Operations Management (POM/POMA) area, Professor Gopalan brought extensive industry experience into management education, particularly in operations, materials management, project management, and technology management. His teaching contributions spanned the Post Graduate Programme(PGP), executive education through Management Development Programmes (MDPs), and the Fellow Programme in Management (FPM).Within the PGP, Professor Gopalan taught core and elective courses, including Computer and MIS, Materials Management, Work Study, and Flexible Manufacturing Systems, and later developed new courses such as Technology Management, Service Operations Management, Project Management, and Quality Management. His pedagogy emphasised industry relevance, particularly for public sector enterprises in the early years of IIMB. In executive education, he coordinated and delivered numerous MDPs across India, addressing topics such as project management, materials planning, inventory control, production planning, and technology transfer. He was consistently recognised among the top faculty for teaching effectiveness in both PGP and executive programmes. Professor Gopalan’s engagement with doctoral education included serving as thesis guide and committee member across sectors such as transportation, healthcare, and operations. His consultancy and research activities covered diverse organisations, including the Indian Navy, public sector undertakings, SMEs, and educational institutions, focusing on inventory rationalisation, quality standards, technology upgradation, and organisational systems. The interview also reflects on his roles in institutional administration, including placement coordination, area leadership, and contributions to entrepreneurship initiatives, highlighting IIMB’s culture of academic autonomy and professional self-development.

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