Faculty Details
Saroj Kumar Pani
Designation
Professor
PhD (IIM Bangalore), MBA (Utkal University)
Strategic Management
Contact Information
skpani@iimraipur.ac.in
Dean (Academics)
Dr. Saroj Kumar Pani is a Fellow (PhD) in Corporate Strategy and Policy from IIM Bangalore. He holds an MBA in marketing and has completed the CPCL program from Harvard Business School, Boston. Prior to his association with IIM Raipur, he has worked for more than twenty years in industry and academia. After completing his doctoral program, he has worked as a visiting faculty at Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Italy and as a full-time faculty member at IIM Indore, XLRI Jamshedpur, IIM Nagpur, and IIM Visakhapatnam. Prof. Pani also has first-hand entrepreneurial experience as co-founder of an education and consulting start-up in early 2000. He was also the founding Managing Director of InFED, the incubation centre of IIMN and a sec-8 company.
Prof. Pani’s area of research and teaching broadly relates to business strategy, business models, strategic leadership, and entrepreneurship. Prof. Pani has been recognized for his research and teaching. He has received Andrew Towl Endowment Fund from Harvard University, Best Young Teacher Award from AIMS, Best Research Paper award at pan-IIM World Management conference, Best paper award at ICSBS, Singapore, and Outstanding Reviewer award at AoM, Texas to name a few. Apart from research and teaching, Prof. Pani has also been involved with industry as consultant and corporate trainer. In recent past he has been involved with reputed business firms such as NTPC, APO, EISAI Pharmaceuticals, Powergrid, ZIM Labs, Transrail, MECL, Mahindra Finance, SBI Life, Ashok Leyland, and Indian Oil to name a few.
1. Professor, IIM Raipur (2023-)
2. Associate Professor, IIM Visakhapatnam and Nagpur (2018-2023)
3. Assistant Professor (Sr.), XLRI Jamshedpur (2013-2018)
4. Assistant Professor, IIM Indore (2010-2013)
B. OTHER AFFILIATIONS (Selected)
5. Managing Director, InFED (2018-2020)
6. National Expert, India, Asian Productivity Organization (2022-)
7. Member, Board of Studies, Central Tribal University, Andhra Pradesh (2022-)
8. Member, Steering Committee, NRDC-IPFS & TISC (Govt. of India), Visakhapatnam (2021-)
9. Member, Advisory Board, Kislay Agro Tech (2018-)
10. Member, Competition Commission of India (2018-2023)
11. Member, Board of Studies, RCOEM, Nagpur (2020-2023)
12. Member, Advisory board, CIVN, VNIT (2019-2022)
2. “Best Paper Award” Strategic Management Forum (SMF) Annual Conference, IIM Trichy – 2018.
3. “Best Paper Award” in Oral Presentation Category at ICSBS Conference, Singapore – 2017.
4. “AIMS Best Young Teacher Award” at 27th AIMS Annual Management Convention, India – 2015.
5. “Best Research Paper Presentation Award” at BESSH Conference – 2015.
6. “Best Paper Award” at the pan-IIM World Management Conference, Goa, India – 2013.
7. “Andrew Towl Endowment Fund” to attend Glocoll-PCL program at Harvard Business School, Boston- 2012 and Case Workshop at The Harvard Center, Shanghai, China – 2013.
8. “Outstanding Reviewer Award” (BPS division), Academy of Management (AoM) Annual Conference, San Antonio, Texas – 2011.
9. “Best Reviewer Award” (SIM division), Academy of Management (AoM) Annual Conference, San Antonio, Texas – 2011.
10. “SCM Scholarship” by SCM Centre, IIM Bangalore from 2007 to 2010.
11. “Cummins Best Scholarly Paper Award”, Strategic Management Forum (SMF) Annual Conference, IIT Kanpur – 2008.
12. Best Graduate Award by J M Foundation – 1998.
13. National Talent Scholarship by Government of India – 1993.
Books
>> Pani S.K.(2013). Mayamukti (poetry book). Bijayini Publications.
>> Pani S.K.(2011). The Effect of Economic and Social Embeddedness of Firms (research monograph). LAP.
Journal Publications
>> Chaterjee A., Pani S.K.(2025). Doing More Harm Than Good? Lessons from Failures at the Base of the Pyramid. [International Journal of Global Business and Competitiveness], ,
>> Pani S.K., Tripathy M.(2024). The Power of Embeddedness: How nodal power affects the value appropriation potential of firms in economic networks. [Journal of Productivity and Performance Management], ,
>> Shome S., Shankar A., Pani S. K.(2024). Consumer Privacy in Smartphones: A systematic Review. [Journal of Consumer Marketing], 41(1),
>> Shankar A., Kumar A., Yadav R., Pani, S. K.(2023). Should I Adopt an Integrated Virtual Clinic? A Dual-Factor Theory Perspective. [Journal of Consumer Behaviour], 23(2),
>> Pani S.K., Pathak A.(2021). Managing Plastic Packaging Waste in Emerging Economies: The Case of EPR in India. [Journal of Environmental Management], ,
>> Pani S.K., Bhat R., Himatsinghka G.(2019). The effects of economic and political events on the movements of BSE Sensex: A study of outliers from 1991 to 2014. [Finance India], 33(2),
>> Kumar V., Thakur, M., Pani S.K.(2015). Corporate Political Activity: An Integrated Model. [Asian Social Science], 11(16),
>> Pani S.K.(2012). Infosys: Transition at the top. [Indore Management Journal], 3(2),
>> Ramachandran J., Pant A., Pani S. K.(2012). Reinventing the Artisan Community Ecosystem: The Evolving Engagement of Fabindia with Indian Handloom Artisans. [Journal of Product Innovation Management], 29(1),
>> Pani S. K.(2011). Euthanasia: Should it be Lawful or Otherwise. [Indore Management Journal], 2(2),
>> Pani S.K.(2008). Enhancing Business Sustainability and Gaining Competitive Advantage through CSR Initiatives: A Process Model for Corporation. [Vishleshak], 2(2),
Research Projects
>> Pani S.K.(2024). Institutional Ecosystem to Drive Productivity- India (Multi-country research on institutional ecosystem supported by APO, Tokyo, Japan).
>> Pani S.K.(2020). Competency mapping and structure realignment for ZIM Laboratories limited.
Conference Papers
>> Pani S.K.(2024). How do firms co-create value through social actions: A multi-stage case survey. 9th Pan-IIM World Management Conference
>> Pani S.K.(2023). The S-G relation in ESG: An exploratory process model to show how firms create social impact. International Conference on Sustainable Business Management, IIT Roorkee
>> Selvalakshmi V., Pani S.K.(2023). Green Practices and Business Sustainability: Role of Technological Innovations among Logistic Companies. 13th CARE Conference, IIM Indore
>> Pani S.K., Pathak A.(2022). Understanding the impact of strategic corporate social responsibility on business advantage. PRISIM Conference, IIM Nagpur
>> Pani S.K., Pathak A.(2021). The social aspect of ESG: How firms create social impact and business advantage. Strategic Management Forum (SMF) Annual Conference
>> Pathak A., Pani S.K.(2021). Urban tree protection framework in emerging economies. Strategic Management Forum (SMF) Annual Conference
>> Pani S.K.(2019). Re-creating the context: Pedagogical innovations for non-ideal case participants. Strategic Management Forum (SMF) Annual Conference
>> Chaterjee A., Pani S.K(2018). Collective Mindfulness in Teams: View from the Strategy Lens. Strategic Management Society (SMS) Special Conference
>> Pani S.K.(2018). The Active Case Method: Re-creating context with participants’ involvement. Strategic Management Forum (SMF) Annual Conference
>> Pani S.K.(2017). What do I get? A study on firms’ social investments on their own wellbeing. ICSBS Conference on Enriching Global Societal Wellbeing, Singapore
>> Chaterjee A., Pani S.K.(2016). Lessons from the Failures at the Bottom of the Pyramid. Sixth Subsistence Market Place Conference, Illinoi, USA
>> Pani S.K.(2015). CSR Internalization and Competitive Advantage of Firm. 16th BESSH Conference, Indonesia
>> Pani S.K.(2013). Embeddedness and value appropriation. Academy of Management (AoM) Annual Conference, Lake Buena Vista (Orlando), Florida, USA
>> Pani S.K.(2013). Power Imbalance in Inter-firm Exchange Networks. pan-IIM World Conference on Emerging Issues in Management, Goa, India
>> Pant A., Pani S.K.(2013). Innovative Management Practices and Interventions at the Base of the Pyramid: An Organizing Framework. Strategic Management Society (SMS) special conference, Mohali, India
>> Pani S.K.(2012). Value appropriation in economic networks: Does relational strength matter. Academy of Management (AoM) Annual Conference, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
>> Pani S.K.(2011). A Case Survey on CSR Process, Internalization, and Competitive Advantage. Managing in Global Economy XIV, Eastern Academy of Management (EAM) Conference Proceedings
>> Pani S.K.(2011). Inter-firm dependencies and firm’s profit potential. Academy of Management (AoM) Annual Conference, San-Antonio, Texas, USA
>> Pani S.K.(2011). Why and how do firms gain from CSR actions?. Academy of Management (AoM) Annual Conference, San-Antonio, Texas, USA
>> Ramachandran J., Pani S.K., Pant A.(2011). Base of the Pyramid Strategies: A Contingency View and an Organizing Framework. Strategic Management Society (SMS) special conference, San Diego
>> Pani S.K.(2009). Society as source of competitive advantage: A case survey on CSR actions and firm performance. Academy of Management (AoM) Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, USA
>> Pani S.K.(2009). Why do some firms gain from Corporate Social Responsible (CSR) actions, while others do not? A case survey on CSR process, internalization and competitive advantage. ”. IMR Doctoral Conference, IIM Bangalore
>> Pani S.K.(2008). Firm performance in socio-economic networks: Understanding network dynamics with Nodal Power. Academy of Management (AoM) Annual Conference, Anehiam, CA, USA
>> Pani S.K.(2008). From Corporate Social Responsibility to Competitive Advantage: A Process Model Exploring the Strategic Edge of CSR. 3rd CORE conference, NBS, UK
>> Pani S.K.(2008). Organizational Social Capital: A Theoretical and Mathematical Treatment. Strategic Management Forum (SMF) Annual Conference, IIT Kanpur, India
>> Ramachandran J., Pani S.K., Patvardhan S.(2008). Ability to compete: Creating fortune for the bottom of the pyramid. Strategic Management Society (SMS) special conference, ISB, Hyderabad
>> Pani S.K.(2007). Business Sustainability and Competitive Advantage through CSR Initiatives: A Process Model. DRIEMS International Management Seminar
Cases
>> Anuradha M.V. , Reddy K.H. , and Pani S.K.(2024). The Power of Storytelling: How Mahila Navodayam Built Confidence in SHG Women. The Case Centre.
>> Pathak A., Pani S.K., Agarwal A.(2019). CampusHash: Evolving business model of an entrepreneurial venture. Ivey Publishing.
>> Pani S.K., Singh H.(2017). LifeCarft: The Birth of a Social Entrepreneur. XLCDC.
>> Pani S.K., Samuel S., Rathi P.(2016). Divine Chocolates: Family Farmed, Farmer Owned. XLCDC.
>> Pani S.K., Bose S.(2014). Tata Steel India’s Project PRIDE. XLCDC.
>> Mishra A., Pani S.K.(2006). Finally, the Elephant danced: Foray into cellular jungle, a case of BSNL. IIMB Cases.
Chapter in Book
>> Pani S.K.(2014). Power Imbalance in Inter-firm Exchange Networks: Its Effect on Value Appropriation Potential of Firms in Embedded Structures. Emerging Issues in Management.
>> Pani S. K.(2010). A dependency-based view of Organizational Social Capital (OSC): Understanding the structural and reputational aspects of OSC, and its effect on performance. Changing Ideas in Strategy.
Invite Speaker to Reputed Conference/Seminar/Workshop start
>> Pani S.K.(2024). India 2047: Are we on right track?.
>> Pani S.K.(2023). Geopolitics and Socioeconomic developement of India: Creating an enabling innovation ecosystem.
>> Pani S.K.(2021). Developing Entrepreneurial Ecosystem for young entrepreneurs of Andhra Pradesh.
>> Pani S.K.(2020). Entrepreneurship Acumen and Engineering Education.
>> Pani S.K.(2020). Entrepreneurship and Skill Development for Grassroot Entreprenuers.
>> Pani S.K.(2019). Entrepreneurship development and role of institutes of national importance.
Others
>> Pani S.K.(2009). Exploring the strategic edge of Corporate Social Responsibility: A process model to uncover the missing links, IIMB-SSRN Research Paper.
>> Pani S.K.(2009). Facets of organizational social capital: How network renovation is key to favourable strategic space, IIMB-SSRN Research Paper.
2. Strategic Management Society, Chicago, IL, USA
3. Academy of International Management, MI, USA
4. Indian Academy of Management, India
5. Strategic Management Forum, India
Training (selected client organizations)
• Ashok Leyland
• Canara Bank
• EISAI Pharmaceuticals
• Indian Oil
• Mahindra Finance
• NTPC
• ONGC
• PowerGrid Corporation
• Rajya Sabha Secretariat
• SBI Life
• Time Technoplast
• ZIM Labs
Consulting (selected client organizations)
• Asian Productivity Organization (APO)
• BSNL
• Mahanadi Coal Fields Ltd.
• Tata Steel
• ZIM Labs.