Faculty Unique ID: 1-9321661561
Prof. Gnanaharan S is an economist by education and training. Post graduating in Economics from Madras University (R K Mission Vivekananda College, Chennai) in 1976 with specialization in Labour Economics and Industrial Economics started his career at the Corporate Advisory Services Division of the Murugappa Group. After a decade long service there, he switched to Besant Raj Consultants, Mudra Communications in Ahmadabad/Mumbai, RK Swamy BBDO Advertising, and to Sterling Holiday Services Ltd both at Chennai. All through worked as a Market Researcher, Business Analyst, and Management Consultant finally heading the Corporate Advisory Services Division. Associated with Mindscan, a specialist firm in Qualitative Research and Francis Kanoi, a syndicated market research outfit both based at Chennai.
During the long corporate career he was actively involved in the strategic planning process of a business conglomerate and helped the vice-president as an executive assistant. For a decade, he worked with the Group Economist assisting and undertaking economic and industry studies and writing notes and reports for the top management. Gnanaharan carried out a range of MR and consultancy assignments covering consumer and industrial products as well as services.
After 25 years and by 2000 got into academics first teaching at Department of Entrepreneurship Studies of MKU, then Thiagarajar School of Management and finally at Jansons School of Business in Coimbatore. Taught Economics, Entrepreneurship, Business Environment, Strategic Management, Rural Marketing (Elective) and Research Methods. Drawing inspiration from the study undertaken by Prof. Srikant Datar of HBS et al, designed and taught a course called ‘Dimensions of Management’ focusing on the Being, Doing, and Knowing aspects.
While trying to become a full-time academician in 2000s, became a certified Cluster Development Agent (CDA) through a six-month long programme sponsored and conducted by UNIDO and EDI through TREC-STEP, Trichy. Also, undertook two successful cluster diagnosis exercises. Other assignments handled during this period in training and research was for both national and international agencies like USAID, CIDA, UNTACD, UNIDO, and ILO.
During the past two decades of full-time MBA teaching, wrote and published about a dozen articles and cases in all-India magazines and online websites. After retiring from full-time teaching and relocating to Madurai in 2019, Gnanaharan has been teaching at Thiagarajar School of Management as a Visiting Professor. He taught a couple of courses in Economics for two batches and Strategic Management for another two other batches. Also designed and delivered a Value Added Course (VAC) in the area of Behavioural Economics and in the name and style of ‘Good, Bad, and Biased Behaviour’ (GBBB).