Venugopal Prabhakar Gantasala

Prabhakar holds a doctorate in the field of Management and has more than 25 years of experience in higher education across schools in the U.S., UAE, and India. His administrative experience with the School of Management includes being associate dean for five years. He was promoted to full professor in 2018 while teaching at the Abu Dhabi campus, and granted tenure in May 2022.

He has strong student evaluation scores that are above school averages across courses he has taught for M.B.A. and B.S.B.A. students since 2013. As an appreciation of outstanding contributions to teaching and for impactful or innovative teaching initiatives, he was awarded the Distinguished School of Management Faculty Teaching Award in May 2021.

His scholarly contributions are commensurate with rank and include 43 published articles in high-quality peer-reviewed journals, several conference proceedings, and presentations. A few of these include:

His research titled School resource inadequacy and school social engagement: Mediating effect of principals' stress published in the Journal of Community Psychology (2022) (a Q1 SCIMAGO Journal), focuses on student social engagement initiatives and the interactional effects of school resources toward improving learning experiences and contributing to reduced stress on administrators.
He worked closely with a co-researcher and student coordinators of medical colleges to assess the impact of the COVID pandemic on the learning experience of undergraduate medical students in India. This research titled 'Quality of learning experience, student satisfaction and perceived overall experience in the COVID-19' context published in the Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education (2022) reiterates the importance of course content, course structure, lecture-delivery quality, instructor mentoring, and student-instructor interactions in improving perceived overall experience and student satisfaction.
He co-authored a research study titled "Improving School Performance and Student Academic Orientation: the role of Safety-Oriented Knowledge Management and Diversity" and published in the VINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems (2021) (Q2 SCIMAGO Global Journal Ranking list; B Ranking Journal as per Australian Business Deans Councils' (ABDC) Journal Ranking).
He had the opportunity to work with several small businesses and entrepreneurs and assessed the impacts of changes in the Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) decree and side agreements on full foreign ownership of a business in the UAE and the exceptions thereof. This research titled 'The Potential Impact of the 2020 UAE FDI Decree and Side Agreements' was accepted for publication in the ICSID Review – Foreign Investment Law Journal (2021, Q2 SCIMAGO).
He was invited to deliver lectures on Organizational behavior topics (2014) and Knowledge management topics (2015) at the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU), Vladivostok and these visits allowed him to work on collaborative research with established researchers at the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU), Vladivostok, Russia. The research titled 'Knowledge conversion processes and organizational performance was published in the International Journal of Knowledge Management Studies (2018, 13th on the Global List of Journals publishing in the field of Knowledge Management) and confirmed the relationship between knowledge conversion processes on all factors considered for assessing organizational performance.

Service and Responsibility

…to the University:

Strategic Three-Year Planning Committee that developed New York Institute of Technology's Strategic three-year plan;
Registrar Search Committee that successfully mobilized the registrar recruitment process and selected the university's current registrar;
and the Financial Literacy Platform that collaboratively worked with iGrad and launched modules for financial literacy for students and their families.

…to the School of Management:

Chaired the Curriculum sub-committee on the Amalgamated B.S.B.A. Management Concentration revision; and
Chaired the Curriculum sub-committee & worked towards achieving STEM for the M.B.A. program.
Serve as the Chair of the Quality Assurance Committee charged with discussing process improvements. Processes that were developed and approved by the Dean, School of Management include:
- Process for Classification of Adjunct Faculty members
- Process for Classification of Full-time Faculty members
- Faculty Hiring Process

…to the academic community:

He currently serve as Chairman, Board of Governors, Aurora's Post Graduate College, and responsible for mentoring and providing guidance on Approvals, Affiliations, and Accreditations; serve as a reviewer for several International Journal publications that include VINE The Journal of Information and Knowledge Management, Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, International Journal of Leadership in Education, and Human Resource Development Review; delivered a session on 'Insights on Strategic HR Analytics' at the ATAL Faculty Development Program on Technology Management through 'Business Intelligence and Data Analytics' organized by the Aurora Post Graduate College, Hyderabad, India 1-5 February 2021; and organized a pro-bono workshop "Experiential Learning – An Interactive session for MBA Beginners" for students of Yogi Vemana University and Sri Sai Institute of Technology and Science, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India, September 2019.

…to the student community:

He serves as a mentor for the School of Management mentoring program engaging students in discussing career paths, motivations, and necessary resources that enable self-actualize and achieve their goals; organized a 'Faculty-student Engagement Lunch" on the topic for discussion was "United States Economic Forecast 2019" for the students of MGMT 102 (M01 & M02) and graduate students of MGMT 650 (M02); organized and led a field trip to Gear Motions in support of the course-embedded industry project to the Syracuse plant location; organized a field trip to Bernard & Herold Inc., in support of the course-embedded industry project for the MBA students taking the Strategic Leadership capstone course (MGMT 650); and initiated Deans Student Ambassadors teams, School of Management, New York Institute of Technology, Abu Dhabi.

Demonstrated time management:
He was responsible for activities several of which evidence timely planning, organizing, and implementation of school initiatives that continue to be central to the school's mission, vision, and strategic goals. Submission of Schools Annual plans (Abu Dhabi), review of faculty one-to-one, submission of Directors' and office bearers' annual reports to the Dean of the School of Management, preparation of documentation for accreditation visits, and scheduling of classes for the Master of Business Administration and BS in Business Administration programs, among others.

Demonstrated Project Management:
He engaged with several industry projects that include Industry projects for Nicholson Ranch LLC., USA, Bernard Herold & Co., Inc USA, Herold & Lantern Investments Inc., USA, MapMyIndia, KIMS Bahrain (Royal Bahrain Hospital) Gear Motions Inc., USA, Bin Butti Group, UAE, and Ministry of Labor, Jordan. These engagements have resulted in internship opportunities for students while mobilizing impactful improvements for these industry partners. These projects have received recognition with the conferral of the Dean's Distinguished Service Award (2021), Outstanding contribution to Industry Engagement Award (2020), and the South Ural State University award for contribution to the BRICS Model (2020).

Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion:
He organized initiatives in support of diversity and inclusion that include, a workshop for women entrepreneurs, raised funds in support of children with cleft lips and need of correction surgeries, and collaborated annually with Ghantoot and Pink Polo that engages in charitable initiatives for women and other underrepresented sections of the community; mentored a cohort of students from the Abu Dhabi Police and UAE military paramedics in the MBA program; and engaged student, faculty, and staff participation in annual blood donation drive in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Blood bank services.

Recent Projects and Research

Prabhakar, G, Mario Garcia, Ayushi Lakhani., March 2022 – Consulting industry project for Absolutely Mario, USA, Marketing Mix strategies for Absolutely Mario, High School Students Business Competition.
Prabhakar, G., September – December 2020, Consulting Industry project for Nicholson Ranch LLC., USA: Digital Marketing and Business Development during COVID-19 and the California Fires.
Prabhakar, G., January – May 2020, Consulting Industry project for Bernard Herold & Co. Inc., USA: M&A Integration Strategies, resulted in two internships offered for Seline Solberg and Pranay Khore (MBA students) during Summer 2020.
Prabhakar, G., January – May 2020, Consulting Industry project for Herold & Lantern Investments USA: Technology Integrations for Herold & Lantern Investments.
Prabhakar, G., January – May 2020, Consulting Industry project for MapMyIndia, India: Business Development Strategies for MapMyIndia.
Prabhakar, G., Co-authored Case study for KIMS Bahrain, adjudicated students' presentation for the Corporate Challenge Case competition, Spring 2020.
Prabhakar, G., January – May 2020, Ongoing Consulting Industry project for ElrinKlinger USA Inc., Materials Handling and logistics management.
Prabhakar, G., September – December 2019, Consulting industry project for Gear Motions Inc. USA: Strategy, Culture and Communications.
Gantasala, P., & Ahmad, I. (March–June 2014). First Audit Report for Bin Butti Group of Industries submitted to HH Sheikh Hamed Bin Khadem Bin Butti Al Hamed.
Research Consultant: Study on Commercial Refrigeration Industry in Jordan in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor, Jordan, 2010.
Research Consultant: Research Project on Outsourcing and Call Center job training done in collaboration with Al-Quds College and the Ministry of Labor, Jordan, 2010.
Member of the consulting team of the project "Efficiency of Fund utilization of The Chief Minister's Empowerment of Youth" done for the Government of Andhra Pradesh, India.

Selected Publications and Presentations

Gantasala, V.P., Gantasala, S. B., Madireddy, M., & Upadhyay, P. (2022). School resource inadequacy and school social engagement: Mediating effect of principals' stress. Journal of Community Psychology, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.22903 (Q1 SCIMAGO), SCOPUS JOURNAL
Birasnav, M., Gantasala, S.B., Gantasala, V.P., Singh, A. (2022) "Total Quality and Organizational Innovativeness: The role of Social Capital Development in American Schools," Benchmarking: an International Journal (Accepted for publication) (Q2 SCIMAGO, ABDC – B Journal), SCOPUS JOURNAL
Gantasala, V.P., Gantasala, S.B., & La, T. (2022) Influence of motivation on achieving energy sustainability: mediating effects of decision-making. Environment Systems and Decisions (Accepted for publication) (Q2 SCIMAGO), SCOPUS JOURNAL.
Gantasala, V.P., Gantasala, S.B., Tareq Al Tawil, Prerana P. (2022) Quality of learning experience, Student satisfaction and Perceived overall experience in the COVID-19 context. Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education. (Emerald, Q3 SCIMAGO) SCOPUS JOURNAL
Gantasala, V.P., & Peter Harris. (2022). Strategic Intent, Data Analytics, and Intellectual Capital. Internal Auditing, 38–42. (ABDC – C Journal)
Birasnav, M., Gantasala, V.P., Gantasala, S.B., (2021) "Improving School performance and Student academic orientation: the role of Safety-oriented Knowledge management and Diversity," VINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems (Accepted for publication) (Q2 SCIMAGO, ABDC – B Journal), SCOPUS JOURNAL
Tareq Nail Al-Tawil, Gantasala, V.P., Hassan Younies (2021). " The Potential Impact of the new UAE Foreign Direct Investment Law and Side Agreements," ICSID Review – Foreign Investment Law Journal (Accepted for publication) (Oxford University Press, Q2 SCIMAGO) SCOPUS JOURNAL
Tareq Al Tawil, Younies, H., Gantasala, V.P. (2021) Labour-Friendly Practices and Value Maximization: a SEM approach. International Journal of Law and Management (Accepted for publication). (Emerald, Q2 SCIMAGO) SCOPUS JOURNAL
Gantasala, V.P., Larisa Savinkina (2018). Knowledge conversion processes and organizational performance. International Journal of Knowledge Management Studies. (13th on the Global List of Journals publishing in the field of Knowledge Management) (Inderscience, Q3 SCIMAGO) SCOPUS JOURNAL
Tareq Nail Al-Tawil, Gantasala, V.P., Hassan Younies (2018). "The benefits and disadvantages of the law on the expansion of the jurisdiction of the DIFC Court," International Journal of Law and Management, https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLMA-05-2017-0123 (Impact factor 0.68). (Emerald, Q2 SCIMAGO) SCOPUS JOURNAL
Gantasala, V.P., Larisa Savinkina, Ramesh Reddy, Bhargavi, S. G., Sailaja Ankireddy (2018). Influence of Organizational culture dimensions on Knowledge management processes in Higher Educational institutions. International Journal of Knowledge Management Studies. (13th on the Global List of Journals publishing in the field of Knowledge Management) (Inderscience, SCIMAGO Q3) SCOPUS JOURNAL
Gantasala, V.P. (2016). Solar Augmentation of Power Plants in the UAE. Applied Solar Energy, 52(4), 271–277. (Impact factor 0.880) (Springer, SCIMAGO Q3) SCOPUS JOURNAL
Gantasala, V.P., Ali Yaseen (2016). Decision-making styles and leadership: evidence from the UAE. International Journal of Management Development, 1(4), 287–306.
Gantasala, V.P. (2016). Teamwork in Higher Education: an exploratory study in an UAE University. Strategic Management Quarterly, 4(1), 16–40.
Gantasala, V.P. & Swetha Reddy, G. (2016). Employee Engagement in the IT Industry – Evidence from India. Strategic Management Quarterly, 4(1), 61–86.
Gantasala, V.P., & Rami Wahib Brnia (2016). Ambulatory healthcare staffs' perception of the influence of training on performance. European Journal of Training and Development Studies, 3(3), 17–36.
Gantasala, V.P., Wafaa Diab & Bhargavi, S. G. (2016). Transformational Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility: the UAE experience. Review of Contemporary Business Research, 5(1).
Gantasala, V.P. (2015). Complexity Leadership and Knowledge Management in Higher Education. International Journal of Social, Behavioral, Educational, Economic, Business and Industrial Engineering, 9(1), 707–714.
Gantasala, V.P., & Padmakumar, R. V. (2013). The influence of Human Resource practices on organizational commitment and retention: Evidence from India. Organizational Cultures – An International Journal, 1(1), 3–18.
Gantasala, V.P., & Padmakumar, R. V. (2013). SERVQUAL and customer satisfaction, The mediating influence of communication in the privatized telecom sector. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 3(3), 135–151.
Gantasala, V.P., & Padmakumar, R. V. (2011). Antecedent HRM Practices for Organizational Commitment. International Journal of Business and Social Science. 2(2), 55–62.
Padmakumar, R. V., & Prabhakar, G. V. (2011). An enquiry into the mediatory role of employee engagement, evidence from hotel industry in Jordan. Far East Journal of Psychology and Business, 5(2), 41–59.
Padmakumar, R. V., & Gantasala, V.P., (2011). The role of employee engagement in work-related outcomes. Interdisciplinary Journal of Research in Business, 1(3), 47–61.
Padmakumar, R. V., Bhargavi, S. G., & Gantasala, V.P., (2011). Work environment, service climate and customer satisfaction, examining theoretical and empirical connections. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 2(20), 121–132.
Gantasala, V.P., & Padmakumar, R. V. (2011). Sanaya human capital: Strategic planning and human capital case study. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 2(5), 237–241.
Gantasala, V.P., & Padmakumar, R. V. (2011). Transformational leadership perceived organizational support, and employee engagement as predictors of job satisfaction and organizational commitment. International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management, 11(1), 1–14. SCOPUS JOURNAL
Gantasala, V.P., & Bhargavi, S. G. (2011). Global Markets: The crossroads. Global Studies Journal, 4(1), 1–14.
Naik, C. N.K., & Gantasala, V.P., (2010). Human Rights –The road ahead. Journal of Academic Perspectives, 1(3), 1–10.
Naik, C. N.K., Bhargavi, S. G., & Gantasala, V.P., (2010). SERVQUAL, customer satisfaction and behavioral intentions in retailing. European Journal of Social Sciences, 17(2), 200–213.
Naik, C. N.K., Bhargavi, S. G., & Gantasala, V.P., (2010). Service Quality (Servqual) and its effect on customer satisfaction in retailing. European Journal of Social Sciences, 16(2), 239–251.
Padmakumar, R. V., & Gantasala, V.P., (2010). Determinants of pay satisfaction: A study of the hotel industry in Jordan. European Journal of Social Sciences, 14(3), 442–454.
Padmakumar, R. V., & Gantasala, V.P., (2010). Leadership styles and perceived organizational politics as predictors of work-related outcomes. European Journal of Social Sciences, 15(1), 40–55.
Gantasala, V.P., & Bhargavi, S. G. (2010). Behavioral influences on knowledge sharing in virtual communities. Ubiquitous Learning: An International Journal, 2(1), 91–102.
Gantasala, V.P., & Bhargavi, S. G. (2010). Sustainable rural well-being through SHGs in the Indian scenario. The International Journal of Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability, 6(2), 1–17.
Gantasala, V.P., Naik, C. N.K., & Bhargavi, S. G. (2010). Impact of HR practices on customer satisfaction. International Journal of Arts and Sciences, 3(12), 178–188.
Gantasala, V.P., Padmakumar, R. V., Yasin, A., & Bhargavi, S. G. (2010). The role of HR practices and knowledge management on organizational performance. International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management, 10(1), 1–16. SCOPUS JOURNAL
Gantasala, V.P., Padmakumar, R. V., Reddy, R.P., & Bhargavi, S. G. (2010). The influence of corporate entrepreneurship on performance. International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management, 10(1), 1–14. SCOPUS JOURNAL
Gantasala, V.P., & Bhargavi, S. G. (2009). Influence of Learning Styles. International Journal of Learning, 16(9), 1–15. SCOPUS JOURNAL
Gantasala, V.P., Bhargavi, S. G., & Naik, C. N.K. (2009). Knowledge Management – An integrated approach. International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management, 9(1), 11–22. SCOPUS JOURNAL
Gantasala, V.P., Bhargavi, S. G., & Naik, C. N.K. (2009). The influence of employee engagement on knowledge management. International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management, 9(1), 91–101. SCOPUS JOURNAL
Gantasala, V.P., Bhargavi, S. G., & Santhosh Kumar (2009). Climatic change – The Indian challenge. International Journal of Climate Change, 2(1), 1–13.
Gantasala, V.P., Bhargavi, S. G., & Naik, C. N.K. (2008). Antecedents of knowledge management success. International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management, 8(1), 105–111. SCOPUS JOURNAL
Naik, C. N.K Gantasala, V.P., & Bhargavi, S. G. (2008). Human Rights – The road ahead. Journal Forum on Public Policy, 2(1), 1–11.

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Professional Honors and Awards

Distinguished School of Management Faculty Teaching Award (2021)
Dean's Distinguished Service Award (2021)
Outstanding contribution to Industry Engagement Award (2020)
South Ural State University award for his contribution to the BRICS Model (2020)
UAE Global Management Challenge certificate, 2016-2017 Edition
UAE Global Management Challenge certificate, 2013-2014 Edition
Prof. K. Venkat Reddy Gold Medal for being the topper in MBA, class of 1994

Courses Taught at New York Tech

M.B.A. Program

BUSIE 702 Practicum (Field Work)
BUSIE 702 Practicum (Field Work)
MGMT 735 Multinational Business Management
MGMT 650 Strategic Leadership Capstone
MGMT 706 Cyber Law, Policy, and Ethics
MGMT 620 International Dimensions of Organizational Behavior
MGMT 740 Knowledge Management

B.S.B.A. Program

MGMTE 480 Management Practicum
MGMT 475 Knowledge and Innovation Technology Strategy
BUSI 435 Business Policy and Strategy Capstone
MGMT 425 Strategic Technology Management
BUSI 405 Business Research and Innovation
MGMT 370 Organizational Behavior
MGMT 311 Knowledge Management
SBES 310 Small Business Management
MGMT 102 Principles of Management
DATA 101 Making sense of Data Society