Faculty

Overview

Professor Kavil Ramachandran, a founding faculty set up the Wadhwani Centre for Entrepreneurship Development at the ISB in 2001. Later, he was the Associate Dean (Academic Programmes) before becoming the Thomas Schmidheiny Chair Professor of Family Business and Wealth Management.

Currently, he is the Executive Director of the Thomas Schmidheiny Centre for Family Enterprise at the Indian School of Business. He has specialized in family business, entrepreneurship and strategy and has over 30 years of combined experience as an academic at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad and the Indian School of Business.

He was a faculty at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad for 15 years prior to joining ISB. He has been teaching courses on family business and entrepreneurship for various target groups. He has been a member of several national level committees of the Department of Science and Technology, SEBI and UPSC. He is on the Board of several companies and advises family businesses, growth companies and development institutions in India and abroad.

He has done research on family business, entrepreneurship and strategy, and has authored/edited seven books and published extensively in reputed Indian and overseas journals. His consulting experience includes areas such as family business governance, professionalization, succession planning, strategic planning, identification of new opportunities for growth, corporate entrepreneurship and turn around strategies in family and non-family environments. He is a frequent speaker to communities of family businesses in India and abroad, and writes for popular media regularly. He has written several management cases, and has conducted training programmes for family businesses on governance, professionalization, strategic management and entrepreneurship. He has been associated with the FBN International for several years, and has served on various advisory committees of the Government of India, World Bank, Securities and Exchange Board of India. His latest book the “The 10 Commandments for Family Business” has been published by the SAGE in January 2015. He has been a pioneer academic entrepreneur, propagating the message of strengthening family business in India and outside.

Education

• Ph D , Cranfield University, UK (formerly Cranfield Institute of Technology) 1986
• Master of Commerce (Finance), University of Calicut 1978

Research

Published Papers

Ramachandran, Kavil.,Antony, Sanjay. (2020) "Decision-Making Processes in Indian Joint Families and Their Implications for HR Professionals", NHRD Network , Volume: 13 (1), 62-72 Ramachandran, Kavil.,Bang, Nupur Pavan.,Bhatnagar, Navneet.,Basuthakur, Yashodhara. (2019) "Family Businesses: Spreading Roots and Wings", ISB Insight , 6 (2) Ramachandran, Kavil. (2019) "Indian Family Business: Creating Legacy", ISB insight Director Speak , Volume 4 (Issue 1) Bhatnagar, Navneet.,Sharma, Pramodita.,Ramachandran, Kavil. (2019) "Spirituality and Corporate Philanthropy in Indian Family Firms: An Exploratory Study.", Journal of Business Ethics Ramachandran, Kavil. (2018) "The Three Circles of Family Business", ISB insight Bhatnagar, Navneet.,Ramachandran, Kavil.,Ray, Sougata. (2018) "The Role of Familial Socio-Political Forces on New Venture Creation in Family Business", Cross Cultural and Strategic Management Journal , 25 (4), 550-577 Ray, Sougata.,Mondal, Arindam.,Ramachandran, Kavil. (2018) "How does Family Involvement Affect a Firm's Internationalisation? An Investigation of Indian Family Firms", Global Strategy Journal , 8 (1), 73 - 105 Bang, Nupur Pavan.,Chittoor, Raveendra.,Ramachandran, Kavil.,Vishwanathan, Anierudh. (2018) "Standalone Family Firms Lead on Gender Parity", ISB insight Ramachandran, Kavil.,Bang, Nupur Pavan.,Bhatnagar, Navneet. (2017) "Family Businesses - Embodiment of Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy", ISB Insight , 4 (4) Lampel, Joseph.,Bhalla, Ajay.,Ramachandran, Kavil. (2017) "Family Values and Inter-Institutional Governance of Strategic Decision Making in Indian Family Firms", Asia Pacific Journal of Management , 34(4), 901-930 Ramachandran, Kavil. (2016) "Institution Building: Experiences, Learnings and Challenges", SAGE Publications Ramachandran, Kavil. (2016) "Interview - Understanding Family Business", IUP Publications - Effective Executive , XIX (No, 3), 43-49 Bhatnagar, Navneet.,Ramachandran, Kavil. (2015) "Continuity of Family Business Across Generations", ISB insight , 46 - 50 Ramachandran, Kavil.,Bhatnagar, Navneet. (2015) "State of Family togetherness in Indian Family Businesses", ISB insight , 38 - 45 Ramachandran, Kavil.,Ward, John.,Waiker, Sachin.,Jha, Rachna. (2014) "Ensuring Family and Business Continuity at India’s GMR Group", ISB insight , 1 (2), 38 - 41 Ramachandran, Kavil. (2014) "Institution Building: Experiences, Lessons and Challenges", The IUP Journal of Management Research , Vol. XIII (No 1, 2014) Ramachandran, Kavil.,Marisetty, Vijay. (2009) "Governance Challenges for Family Controlled Firms while Globalizing", The Indian Journal of Industrial Relations , 45 (1), 54-61 Ramachandran, Kavil. (2009) "Family and Corporate Philanthrophy : Emerging trends in India", ISB insight , 5-8 Ramachandran, Kavil. (2008) "A Vision for Prosperity", ISB insight , 35 Ramachandran, Kavil. (2008) "Ten Commandments for an Excellent and Lasting Family Business", ISB insight , 6-9 Ramachandran, Kavil.,T P Devarajan.,Ray, Sougata. (2006) "Corporate Entrepreneurship: How?", Vikalpa , 31 (1), 85-97 Ramachandran, Kavil.,Ray, Sougata. (2006) "Networking and Resource Strategies in New Ventures: a study of information technology start-ups", Journal of Entrepreneurship , 15 (2), 146-168 Ramachandran, Kavil. (2006) "Why Governance is Challenging for Family Business", ISB insight , 10-12 Ramachandran, Kavil.,Devarajan, T. (2005) "Market Approach to Policing – Some International Trends", Academy Journal , 42-48 Ramachandran, Kavil.,Voleti, Sudhir. (2004) "Business Process Outsourcing (BPO): Emerging Scenario and Strategic Options for IT – enabled services", Vikalpa , 29 (1), 49-62 Ramachandran, Kavil.,Kumar S V. (2003) "Entrepreneurship, Small Industry and Exports: the Indian Scene", Journal of International Business and Entrepreneurship Ramachandran, Kavil. (2003) "Customer Dissatisfaction as a Source of Entrepreneurial Opportunity", Nanyang Business Review , 2 (2), 22-38 Ramachandran, Kavil.,Voleti, Sudhir. (2003) "BPO in India, Typology of and Strategic Options for Business Process", The Economic Times General Management Review Ramachandran, Kavil. (2003) "How Dotcoms can be Winners: Lessons from Internet’s Business Logic", Venture Capital , 5 (3), 191-216 Ramachandran, Kavil.,Ray, Sougata. (2002) "Entrepreneurial Resource Strategies in New Ventures", The Economic Times General Management Review Ramachandran, Kavil. (2001) "Management Strategies of Venture Capital Funded Firms", Journal of Entrepreneurship , 10 (2), 129-141 Ramachandran, Kavil.,Yip, G. (2000) "It's Time to Globalise Now", General Management Review , 11 (1) Ramachandran, Kavil. (1998) "Competitive Innovations and Customer Value Management", Strategic Marketing , 1 (4) Ray, Sougata.,Ramachandran, Kavil. (1996) "Towards a Framework for a Comprehensive Theory of Entrepreneurship", Journal of Entrepreneurship , 5 (1), 1-22 Ramachandran, Kavil. (1994) "Strategic Planning in Small Enterprises: Some Empirical Evidence", Vikalpa , 19 (3), 47-54 Ramachandran, Kavil. (1993) "Promoting Small Enterprises - an interventionist mechanism", Small Enterprise Development Journal , 4 (4), 34-41 Ramachandran, Kavil. (1993) "Poor Woman Entrepreneurs: lessons from Asian countries", Small Enterprise Development Journal (1), 46-49 Ramachandran, Kavil.,Subramaniam, Ramnarayan. (1993) "Entrepreneurial Orientation and Networking: some Indian evidence", Journal of Business Venturing , 8 (6), 513-524

Books and Monographs

Ramachandran, Kavil.,Basuthakur, Yashodhara. (2021) "The Evolution of a Sustainable Energy Family Business: The Case of Thermax Ltd.", Edward Elgar Publishing Inc , 125-150 Ramachandran, Kavil.,Suresh, Jayashree. (2021) "Succession and Innovation - Key Drivers of Sustainable Growth of SMEs in India", Palgrave Macmillan (10.1007/978-981-15-9015-3), 243-264 Bang, Nupur.,Mantravadi, Bharagavi.,Ramachandran, Kavil. (2020) "Managing Change at the Kuttakaran Group", World Scientific Publishing Company Limited Ramachandran, Kavil.,Ray, Sougata.,Basuthakur, Yashodhara. (2020) "Changing Landscape of Indian Family Businesses", Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd , 169–184 Bhatnagar, Navneet.,Sharma, Pramodita.,Ramachandran, Kavil. (2020) "Religion and Business Families' Philanthropic Practices", Edward Elgar Ramachandran, Kavil.,Bhatnagar, Navneet.,Joshi, Shefali. (2016) "Emerging Paradigms of Corporate Governance and Managerial Professionalization in Family Firms", Ramachandran, Kavil.,Bhatnagar, Navneet. (2015) "Challenges of Collective Leadership", Ramachandran, Kavil. (2015) "The 10 Commandments for Family Business", Sage Publications Ramachandran, Kavil.,Bhatnagar, Navneet. (2014) "Professionalization Efforts at Aurobindo Pharma", Sharma, Pramodita.,Sieger, Philipp.,Nason, Robert.,Gonzalez, Ana.,Ramachandran, Kavil. (2013) "Exploring Transgenerational Entrepreneurship: The Role of Resources and Capabilities", Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd Ramachandran, Kavil. (2012) "Entrepreneurial Case Analysis - Vimta Labs - Book chapter in, Entrepreneurship: a South Asian Perspective, (Editors - Kuratko DF and Rao TV)", Cengage Learning India Pvt Ltd , 579 – 585 Ramachandran, Kavil. (2011) "The Shakti Group: Keeping the Entrepreneurial Spirit alive in the Second Generation", Edward Elgar Publishing Au, Kevin.,Craig, Justin.,Ramachandran, Kavil. (2011) "Family Enterprise in the Asia Pacific: Exploring Transgenerational Entrepreneurship in Family Firms", Edward Elgar Publishing Ramachandran, Kavil.,Rachna.,Ward, John.,Waiker, Sachin. (2011) "GMR Group - A case of Serial Entreprenuership", Edwar Ed Elgar Publishing Ramachandran, Kavil. (2009) "Entrepreneurship Development:Indian cases on Change Agents", Tata McGraw Hill - sixth reprint in 2014 Ramachandran, Kavil.,Ray, Sougata. (2008) "The role of government in the formation of late emerging entrepreneurial clusters of India", Phillip Phan, SVenkataraman and RVelamuri, Entrepreneurship in Emerging Regions around the World: Theory, Evidence and Implications , 228-275 Ramachandran, Kavil.,Ray, Sougata. (2005) "Creating IT Industrial Clusters: Learning from strategies of early and late movers", Information Communication Technology and Economic Development: Learning from the Indian Experience Ramachandran, Kavil. (2001) "Overcoming Constraints to the Growth and Transformation of Small Firms", New Delhi: Oxford University Press Ramachandran, Kavil.,Yip, George. (1998) "India: Giving Multinationals a Chance", Asian Advantage: Global Strategy in the Pacific Region Ramachandran, Kavil. (1993) "Managing a New Business Successfully", New Delhi: Global Business Press Ramachandran, Kavil. (1992) "Development of Micro Enterprises by Women", New Delhi: British Council and Indian Institute of Management Ramachandran, Kavil. (1984) "Small Business Promotion: case studies from developing countries", London: Intermediate Technology International

Reports

Bang, Nupur.,Bhatia, Nandil.,Ray, Sougata.,Ramachandran, Kavil. (2020) "Family Businesses and India's Transition to a Services Led Economy (1991 – 2018)", Eraj Hassan, Syed.,Nupur Pavan, Nupur Pavan.,Chittoor, Raveendra.,Ramachandran, Kavil. (2018) "Family Businesses: Heeding the Call of Corporate Conscience 2015-2017", Bang, Nupur Pavan.,Ray, Sougata.,Ramachandran, Kavil.,Vishwanathan, Anierudh. (2018) "Family Businesses: Promoters’ Skin in the Game 2001-2017", Bang, Nupur Pavan.,Ray, Sougata.,Ramachandran, Kavil. (2017) "Family Businesses-The Emerging Landscape, 1990 - 2015", Ramachandran, Kavil.,Bhatnagar. (2014) "Togetherness in Family Business (White Paper)", Ramachandran, Kavil.,Bhatnagar. (2012) "Challenges Faced by Family Business in India (White paper)",

Cases

Bhatia, Nandil.,Ramachandran, Kavil. (2020) "ZEE Entertainment and Essel Group : A Quest for Legacy and Beyond (A)", Harvard Business Publishing , 16 Bang, Nupur.,Ramachandran, Kavil.,Bharatan, Kandaswamy. (2020) "Continuing the Legacy of Annapurna Studios", Harvard Business Publishing Bhatia, Nandil.,Ramachandran, Kavil. (2020) "ZEE Entertainment and Essel Group : A Quest for Legacy and Beyond (B)", Harvard Business Publishing , 16 Bhatnagar, Navneet.,Ramachandran, Kavil. (2020) "The Emami Mission to the Next Orbit", Sage Publications (http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781529709520) Ramachandran, Kavil.,Bang, Nupur. (2019) "Hilti - Leadership and Ownership Transition in a Culture - Rich Company", Harvard Business Publishing Bhatnagar, Navneet.,Ramachandran, Kavil.,Calabro, Andrea.,Ray, Sougata. (2018) "Merck, Darmstadt: Sustaining Legacy Beyond 350 Years", Harvard Business Publishing Ramachandran, Kavil.,Bhatnagar, Navneet. (2018) "Aurobindo Pharma Gearing Up for the Future", Sage Publishing Bhatnagar, Navneet.,Ramachandran, Kavil. (2018) "Touchdown Footwear on Slippery Slope", Harvard Business Publishing Bang, Nupur.,Ramachandran, Kavil. (2018) "Dodla's Dilemma", Harvard Business Publishing Manikutty, Sankaran.,Ramachandran, Kavil. (2017) "Aravind Eye Care System Retaining the Legacy", Harvard Business Publishing Mehrotra, Sonia.,Ramachandran, Kavil. (2017) "Eastern Condiments Private Limited The Changing Curry Company", Ivey publishing Bang, Nupur.,Ramachandran, Kavil. (2017) "The Unfinished Agenda : Dr Reddy's Laboratories Limited", Harvard Business Publishing Bhatnagar, Navneet.,Ramachandran, Kavil. (2016) "Ketan Logistics: Charting The Next Route", Harvard Business Publishing Ramachandran, Kavil.,Mathew, Alexander.,Bhatnagar, Navneet. (2015) "Professionalization of Sudarshan Chemicals Industries", Ivey Publishing Alur, Sivakumar.,Ramachandran, Kavil.,Bhatnagar, Navneet. (2015) "Leadership Succession at Achal : A Tough Nut to Crack", Harvard Business Publishing Ramachandran, Kavil.,Suresh.,Bhatnagar. (2014) "Zandu Pharmaceutical Works: The Takeover Bid (A)", Harvard Business Publishing Ramachandran, Kavil.,Ward, John.,Waiker, Sachin.,Jha, Rachna. (2011) "Ensuring Family and Business Continuity at India’s GMR Group", Ivey Publishing Ramachandran, Kavil.,Ward, John.,Walker, Sachin.,Jha, Rachna. (2011) "India's Mewar Dynasty: Upholding 76 generations of service and custodianship", Ivey Publishing Ramachandran, Kavil.,Mathew, Alexander. (2011) "Passing the Baton: Role Transition of BK Jhawar", Ivey Publishing Ramachandran, Kavil. (2010) "Professionalization of Ujwal Bharati", Ivey Publishing Dhanraj, Charles.,Ramachandran, Kavil.,Dasari, Swetha. (2009) "Havells India - The Sylvania Acquisition Decision (A)", Ivey Publishing Bhatnagar, Navneet.,Mantravadi, Bharagavi.,Ramachandran, Kavil. "The Challenge to Transform Cipla for the Future", Sage Publications

Working Papers

Bang, Nupur.,Ray, Sougata.,Ramachandran, Kavil. "Parenting among Business Groups: An Emerging Market’s Perspective" Bhatnagar, Navneet.,Mantravadi, Bharagavi.,Ramachandran, Kavil. "Firm Level Drivers of Environmental Sustainability Strategy of Indian Family Firms" Bhatnagar, Navneet.,Ray, Sougata.,Ramachandran, Kavil. "Decoding Family Togetherness : How Familial Bonds Shape the Family Business" Ramachandran, Kavil.,Bhatnagar, Navneet.,Ray, Sougata. "Gridlock that Family Firms Build for Themselves" Bhatnagar, Navneet.,Ramachandran, Kavil.,Chittoor, Raveendra. "Taking Governance to the Next Level: Learnings from the Case of Merck" Bhatnagar, Navneet.,Ramachandran, Kavil. "New Venture Creation by Business Families: An Indian Perspective" Bhatnagar, Navneet.,Ray, Sougata.,Ramachandran, Kavil. "Developing the Next Generation Leadership in Family Business" Bhatnagar, Navneet.,Sharma, Pramodita.,Mantarvadi, Bharagavi.,Ramachandran, Kavil. "Transformation of Indian Royal Families into Heritage Hoteliers" Ramachandran, Kavil. "Family Business at ISB – Glimpses into the big journey so far (Legacy Coffee Table Book)" Bhatia, Nandil.,Ray, Sougata.,Bang, Nupur.,Ramachandran, Kavil. "Pledging the Family Silver: Deciphering the Antecedents to the Decision to Pledge" Chittoor, Raveendra.,Bang, Nupur.,Ramachandran, Kavil.,Basuthakur, Yashodhara. "Family Firms and Compliance with Mandatory CSR: Evidence from a Natural Experiment" Mehrotra, Sonia.,Ramachandran, Kavil. "Suprajit Engineering : Derisking for Future Growth Strategy (Case B)" Bhatnagar, Navneet.,Ramachandran, Kavil. "The Influence of Familial Socio-Political Forces on New Venture Creation Strategy in Family Business" Mehrotra, Sonia.,Ramachandran, Kavil. "Suprajit Engineering : Derisking for Future Growth Strategy (Case A)" Ramachandran, Kavil.,Jha, Rachna. "Collapse of Institutions: Missing Links on Agency and Stewardship, Symphony and Learning for Family Businesses" Bhatnagar, Navneet.,Mantarvadi, Bharagavi.,Ramachandran, Kavil. "Influence of Family Champions on Sustainability Performance of Family Business Group Firms" Bhatnagar, Navneet.,Ramachandran, Kavil.,Ray, Sougata. "Strategic Agility and Familiness: Family Firms’ Rudders to Navigate the VUCA World" Bang, Nupur.,Ramachandran, Kavil. "Evidence on Family Firm Performance and Relevance of Context in an Emerging Economy" Chittoor, Raveendra.,Bang, Nupur.,Ramachandran, Kavil. "Regulatory Mandates and Gender Diversity in Corporate Boards: The Family Firm Effect" Bhadra, Santanu.,Ray, Sougata.,Manikutty, Sankaran.,Ramachandran, Kavil. "Family Business Groups in India: Perspectives on Their Roles, Strategies and Innovations" Ramachandran, Kavil.,Bang, Nupur Pavan. "Mending the Fence before the Family Fell apart: Succession in the Shampoo family" Chittoor, Raveendra.,Bhalla, Ajay.,Sougata.,Ramachandran, Kavil. "The Indian Family Business Groups and Corporate Entrepreneurship"