Mukundhan K.V.

Strategy and Entrepreneurship

Fellow (IIM Kozhikode), B.E. (Hons.) Electrical and Electronics Engineering (BITS, Pilani)

+91 431 250 5077

mukundhan@iimtrichy.ac.in

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I’m an Associate Professor specializing in Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation, with a strong blend of academic insight and hands-on industry engagement. My teaching is anchored in the case method, and I’m committed to helping learners sharpen their strategic acumen and apply insights that drive real-world results.

Before transitioning into academia, I gained rich industry experience through roles at Samsung India R&D Institute, Evalueserve (for Microsoft), Ford India, Hewlett Packard Labs India, and Nodwin Consulting. These experiences have given me a practitioner’s perspective, which I bring into both my teaching and research.

With over 400 hours of MDP facilitation experience, I’ve led executive education programs across industries such as Automotive, Construction, Financial Services, Manufacturing, IT/ITES, Mining, and Oil & Gas. I’ve worked with over 2,300 professionals, through repeat partnerships with top-tier public and private sector organizations, delivering actionable learning experiences that support leadership development and strategic thinking at scale.

My research focuses on why firms encounter growth stalls and how they can reorient themselves towards profitability and renewal. I also explore the challenges entrepreneurs face when scaling their ventures, particularly in dynamic and competitive environments.

Beyond academia, I work with organizations on turnarounds and with start-ups on entrepreneurial capability building, helping firms manage complexity, unlock growth, and build more resilient futures.

Journal Articles

Ellis, Chefor; Lyngdoh, Teidorlang; Hochstein, Bryan; Mukundhan, K.V.; Guda, Sridhar | Year – 2025

Extending Agency Theory in Sales Management: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Research Agenda. Industrial Marketing Management, 125: 195-214. DOI: 10.1016/j.indmarman.2025.01.001

Sofka, Wolfgang; Papageorgiadis, Nick; Sahasranamam, Sreevas; Mukundhan, K.V. | Year – 2025

Strategic Vulnerabilities of Emerging Market MNCs – How Litigation Experiences in Weak Patent Systems Increase the Risks of Patent Litigation Abroad. Journal of World Business, 60(3):101624. DOI: 10.1016/j.jwb.2025.101624

Sahasranamam, Sreevas; Arya, Bindu; Mukundhan, K.V. | Year – 2022

Dual Institutional Embeddedness and Home Country CSR Engagement: Evidence from Indian MNEs. Journal of Business Research, 141: 163-174. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.12.003

Mukundhan, K.V., Sahasranamam, Sreevas & Cordeiro, James | Year – 2019

Corporate Investments in Tax Havens: Evidence from India. Asian Business & Management, 18(5): 360-388. DOI: 10.1057/s41291-019-00086-y

Mukundhan, K.V., M.K., Nandakumar | Year – 2016

Stakeholder Influences on the Choice and Performance of FDI-based Market Entry Modes: A Conceptual Model. International Studies of Management & Organization, 46: 63-74. DOI: 10.1080/00208825.2015.1007017

Mukundhan, K.V. | Year – 2013

Organizational Responses to Institutional Changes - A Review and an Extension. IIMK Society and Management Review, 2(1): 21-30. DOI: 10.1177/2277975213496509

Mukundhan, K.V., M.K., Nandakumar | Year – 2013

An Isomorphism Perspective to FDI-Based Entry Mode Strategies of Emerging Market Firms – A Conceptual Model. Strategic Change, 22 (5-6): 259-269. DOI: 10.1002/jsc.1938

Conference/Seminar Proceedings

Sofka, Wolfgang; Papageorgiadis, Nick; Sahasranamam, Sreevas; Mukundhan, K.V. | Year – 2024

The Exposure of Emerging Market MNCs to Patent Litigation Abroad. Academy of Management Proceedings. DOI: 10.5465/AMPROC.2024.21072abstract

Mukundhan, K.V., Sahasranamam, Sreevas | Year – 2017

National Innovation Systems & Investment Mode Choices - Evidence from Indian Firms. Academy of Management Proceedings. DOI: 10.5465/AMBPP.2017.10245abstract

Mukundhan, K.V., Mankavil Kovil Veettil, Nandakumar | Year – 2015

Mimicry in the Choice of FDI-based Market Entry Modes and its Impact on Performance. Academy of Management Proceedings. DOI: 10.5465/ambpp.2015.16401abstract

Mukundhan, K.V. | Year – 2014

Genesis of Management Thought: Comparison between Early American & British-Indian Railroads. Academy of Management Proceedings. DOI: 10.5465/ambpp.2014.12775abstract

Edited Book Chapters

Mukundhan, K.V. | Year – 2023

From Technological Innovation to Innovative Business Model Design. In: Patnaik, S., Pallotta, V., Tajeddini, K. (eds) Global Trends in Technology Startup Project Development and Management: Innovation, Technology, and Knowledge Management. Springer, Cham. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-40324-8_1. ISBN: 978-3-031-40323-1
I actively teach in the MBA and Ph.D. programmes offered at IIM Tiruchirappalli. My active course offerings are listed below:

MBA PROGRAMMES
  1. Strategy (Core)
  2. The Entrepreneurial Manager (Core)
  3. Strategic Renewal (Elective)
  4. Strategies for Digital and Networked Businesses (Elective)

PH.D. PROGRAMMES
  1. Theory Building (Common Core)
  2. Strategy: Theory and Perspectives (Area Core)
  3. Strategy: Phenomena (Area Core)
  4. Doctoral Seminar in Entrepreneurship (Area Elective)
COMPANY-SPECIFIC TRAINING PROGRAMMES
I have taught and facilitated training sessions on the topics of Competitive Strategy, Corporate Strategy, and Innovation to managers from the Automotive, Construction, Financial Services, Manufacturing, IT/ITES, Mining and Oil & Gas industries. I have also designed and taught training programmes for the probationers of the Indian Postal Service, officers of the Indian Armed Forces (under the Directorate General Resettlement), and the Directors of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India.

My training portfolio encompasses the following client organizations:
  1. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd.
  2. Bureau of Indian Standards
  3. Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd.
  4. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd.
  5. Hyundai Motor India Ltd.
  6. Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.
  7. L&T Construction (Heavy Civil Infrastructure, Water & Effluent Treatment)
  8. Manappuram Finance Ltd.
  9. NLC India Ltd.
  10. Saint-Gobain Glass India Ltd.
  11. Tractors and Farm Equipment Ltd.

OPEN-ENROLMENT PROGRAMMES
I regularly teach in the long-duration certificate programmes of the institute. I coordinate and teach in the Post Graduate Certificate Programme in Strategic Management (PGCSM), offered by IIM Tiruchirappalli in collaboration with TimesPro.  Some of the topics I have taught in the open-enrolment programmes include:
  1. Strategic Analysis for Competitive Advantage (PGCEGMP)
  2. Strategic Management (PGCSMP)
  3. The Strategic Context of Human Resources Management (PGCSHRM)
  4. The Strategic Context of Digital Transformation (PGCDT)
  5. Building a Sustainable Business (PGCSMP)

RURAL & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES
  1. As part of Tamilnadu Urban Livelihood Mission (TNULM) and Tamilnadu Rural Transformation Programme (TNRTP), I have conducted workshops on ideation, opportunity identification, business model design, business plan formulation and growth strategies for microentrepreneurs, self-help groups and entrepreneurial support organizations representing agri-business, food processing and retail trade sectors in the vernacular language.
  2. In partnership with the National Institute of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Ni-MSME), I have trained 60 SC/ST entrepreneurs on various topics related to starting up and scaling up businesses for domestic trade.
  3. For the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) Thanjavur, I have trained 50 entrepreneurs on the topic of 'Growth Strategies for SMEs'.

FACULTY DEVELOPMENT & CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMMES
  1. I have handled multiple sessions on Strategy, Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship to vice chancellors, principals and senior academic administrators as part of the Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP).
  2. I have contributed academic content on 'Strategic Planning' for the Leading for Academic and Managerial Proficiency (LAMP) initiative - a Programme on Transforming Universities for the Commonwealth of Learning.

CONSULTING ASSIGNMENTS
  1. In collaboration with the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS), I completed a pilot project for the resettlement of sanitation workers in Tiruchirappalli city by nudging them into grey-collar jobs and entrepreneurship.
  2. I have coordinated and edited two volumes of the 'Literary History of Visistadvaita Philosophy' for Samskriti Foundation, Mysore for a project sponsored by the Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR).

Conference Presentations

Mukundhan, K.V.; P., Shanmugha Priya; Gouda, Sirish | Year – 2025

Exploring Needs, Aspirations and Barriers: A Framework for Transitioning Sanitation Workers to Alternative Livelihoods, Presented at the Curiosity Conference 2025, IIT Gandhinagar, Jan 18-19, 2025.

Prabhu, Dinesh; Dhandapani, Karthik; Munjal, Surendar; Mukundhan, K.V. | Year – 2025

Family CEOs Versus Professional CEOs: Leveraging Board Interlocks for Internationalization. Selected for presentation at the 67th Annual Meeting of the Academy of International Business (AIB), Louisville, USA, June 2025.

Mukundhan, K.V.; Mavathur, Meghana | Year – 2024

Barriers to Adoption of Circular Business Models: Evidence from the Indian Construction Industry. Presented at the 9th Indian Academy of Management Conference (INDAM), Goa Institute of Management, January 12, 2024.

Mukundhan, K.V. | Year – 2023

Financial Slack and Cross-Border FDI Financing Decisions: Evidence from Indian Multinationals. Presented at the 21st Annual Convention of the Strategic Management Forum, IIM Tiruchirappalli, December 19, 2023.

Mukundhan, K.V.; Mavathur, Meghana | Year – 2022

Doing well by doing good: An Exploratory Study of the Adoption of Sustainable Practices in the Construction Value Chain. Presented at the 3rd Globalizing Indian Thought (GIT) Conclave, IIM Kozhikode, December 2, 2022.

Mukundhan K.V., Sreevas Sahasranamam, Nikalaos Papageorgiadis, Wolfgang Sofka | Year – 2019

Intellectual Property Litigation Risk and Internationalization: The Case of Indian Firms. Presented at the 61st Annual Meeting of the Academy of International Business (AIB), Copenhagen, June 2019.

Mukundhan K.V., Sreevas Sahasranamam, Bindu Arya | Year – 2018

Internationalization and CSR in Emerging Market Multinationals. Presented at the SMS India Special Conference, Hyderabad, December 2018.

Mukundhan K.V., Sreevas Sahasranamam, Nikolaos Papageorgiadis | Year – 2018

The Moderating Effect of IP Systems on R&D Intensity & FDI-Based Entry: Evidence from Indian MNEs. Presented at the 60th Annual Meeting of the Academy of International Business (AIB), Minneapolis, June 2018.

Mukundhan, K.V. | Year – 2018

Teaching IB to Emerging Market Millennials: Blending Paradox and Conceptual Reinforcement. Presented at the 20th Annual Convention of the Strategic Management Forum, Tiruchirappalli, December 2018.

Mukundhan K.V., Sreevas Sahasranamam | Year – 2017

National Innovation Systems and Entry Mode Choice: Evidence from Indian Multinationals. Presented at the 59th Annual Meeting of the Academy of International Business (AIB), Dubai, July, 2017.

Mukundhan K.V., Sreevas Sahasranamam | Year – 2016

FDI-Based Entry Mode Strategies of Emerging Market Firms – The Role of Host Market Contextual Conditions. Presented at the 58th Annual Meeting of the Academy of International Business (AIB), New Orleans, June 2016.

Mukundhan, K.V.; Sahasranamam, Sreevas | Year – 2016

FDI-based Entry Mode Strategies of EMFs – The Role of Host Market Contextual Conditions. Presented at the 2016 Strategic Management Society (SMS) Annual Conference, Berlin, September 20, 2016.

Mukundhan, K.V., Nandakumar M.K. | Year – 2015

Inter-organizational Imitation in the Choice of FDI-based Market Entry Modes: Evidence from Indian Multinationals. Presented at the 57th Annual Meeting of the Academy of International Business (AIB), Bangalore, June 2015.

Mukundhan, K.V.; Nandakumar, M.K. | Year – 2014

Imitation in FDI-Based Entry: The Case of Emerging Market Firms Entering International Markets. Presented at the 4th Copenhagen Conference on Emerging Multinationals, Copenhagen Business School, October 8-11, 2014.

Mukundhan, K.V.; Nandakumar, M.K. | Year – 2013

Similarity in organizational strategies: Mimetic influences on entry mode strategies & market choices. Presented at the 2013 Strategic Management Society Special Conference, Strategic Leadership: An Emerging Market Perspective, December 17-19, 2013, Mohali, India.

Mukundhan, K.V.; Nandakumar, M.K. | Year – 2012

FDI-based Entry Mode Strategies of Emerging Market Firms - An Isomorphism Perspective. Presented at the IIM Kozhikode Sydney Conference: Global Strategies for an Emergent India, IIM Kozhikode, December 28, 2012.

Invited Talks

Mukundhan, K.V. | Year – 2025

Delivered a talk on "Entrepreneurship in Marginalized Communities: Navigating Aspiration-Deficits, Conservatism and Stigma." DSSE Research Symposium on Contemporary Entrepreneurship Research in India, IIT Bombay, February 14, 2025.

Mukundhan, K.V. | Year – 2021

Delivered a talk on "Leveraging Digital Technologies to Drive Profitable Growth" at the fifth MSME CEO Summit, CII South Zone, September 2021. Link: https://cam.mycii.in/OR/EventDetailOR.html?id=E000055770

Mukundhan, K.V. | Year – 2019

Delivered a talk on "Emerging trends in Strategic Management" to B.Com students of Sri Krishna Aditya College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, September 2019.

Mukundhan, K.V. | Year – 2017

Delivered a talk on "How to approach higher education?" to 12th Standard students as part of "The Hindu Edge Fair", Tiruchirappalli, Tamilnadu, April 2017.

Mukundhan, K.V. | Year – 2015

Delivered a talk on "Competing in Global Markets: The Strategic Imperative" to MBA students of Kongu Engineering College, Perundurai, Tamilnadu, October 2015.

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