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Arun Pillutla

Associate Dean and Professor


Dr. Arun Pillutla is a Professor in the Department of Management and is the Associate Dean of the College of Business at St. Ambrose University. He previously served as Director of the American Business Experience (ABE) program from 2010 to 2016. Dr. Pillutla teaches courses on strategic management, organization theory, international management, and entrepreneurship. His research interests include organizational visioning, growth of small and medium enterprises, and political ideologies in organizations.

Dr. Pillutla's research on strategic alliances appeared in the Journal of Transnational Management Development, and articles on organizational visioning appeared in The CASE Journal and Group & Organization Management (GOM). His paper on "Organizational Visioning: An Integrative Review" received the Best Macro Paper Award from GOM. His work has been presented at numerous international conferences including the Strategic Management Society and the Academy of Management.

Dr. Pillutla was the recipient of the Doctoral Alumni Research Fellow award. He was elected to the Board of Directors of the Midwest Academy of Management (2016-2020), and as Program Chair for the 64th Annual Conference of the Midwest Academy of Management in 2021. He serves on the Board of Directors of RIA Federal Credit Union. Prior to his academic career, Dr. Pillutla worked in New Delhi as an Export Executive at ABB. He was a guest instructor in China, France, India and Ecuador, and has been an invited speaker at multiple colleges and universities in India.

Dr. Pillutla CV (pdf)

See Courses Taught


Education and Training


  • PhD, Washington State University, Strategic Management and Organization Theory
  • MS, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi, India
  • BA, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India

More About Dr. Pillutla

Courses Taught

MGMT 210 Principles of Management
MGMT 332 Organizational Theory and Behavior
MGMT 449 Strategic Management
MBA 621 Human Behavior in Organizations
MBA 800 Business Policy and Strategy Capstone
MBA 621 Human Behavior in Organizations
DBA 901 Research Methodology
DBA 904 Dissertation Design and Development
DBA 913 Developing Strategy for Competitiveness
DBA 960 Entrepreneurship
DBA 961 Corporate Social Responsibility

Noteworthy Publications and Presentations

Wolbers, G., & Pillutla, A. (2019). Mid-size firm growth: The process and empirical examination of resource orchestration by managers. Paper presented at the meeting of the Academy of Management Annual, Boston, MA.

Wolbers, G., & Pillutla, A. (2017). A process model for SME growth: The differential role of relationships and capabilities across the life cycle. Paper presented at the meeting of the Midwest Academy of Management, Chicago, IL.

Debrey, D., & Pillutla, A. (2017). Political ideology and performance management: Investigation of an implicit bias in performance assessment. Paper presented at the meeting of the Midwest Academy of Management, Chicago, IL.

Debrey, D., & Pilluta, A. (2016). Rational or Ideological? The unexplained role of political ideology in executive decisions. Paper presented at the meeting of the Midwest Academy of Management, Fargo, ND.

Pillutla, A., & Wolbers, G. (2016). An American Genesis in Japan. Paper presented at the meeting of the Midwest Academy of Management, Fargo, ND.

Pillutla, A., & Pillutla, P. (2015). Do CSR practices lead to firm performance? A review of theoretical approaches and empirical findings. Paper presented at the MBAA International Conference, Chicago, IL.

Pillutla, A., & Mishra, S. (2014). An investigation into the role of board structure as an antecedent of firm-level sustainability practices. Paper presented at International Conference on Sustainability and Responsibility, Berlin, Germany.

Zama, A., & Pillutla, A. (2014). Antecedents of TMT Composition: The Role of the Incoming CEO. Paper presented at the Midwest Academy of Management meeting, Minneapolis, MN.

O'Connell, D. J., Hickerson, K. A., & Pillutla, A. K. (2011). Organizational visioning: An integrative review. Group and Organization Management, 36(1), 103-125.

Jayne, R., & Pillutla, A. (2011). Business angel social capital and new venture performance. Paper presented at the meeting of the Strategic Management Society, Miami, FL.

Jayne, R., & Pillutla, A. (2011). Business angel knowledge spillover and new venture performance. Paper presented at the meeting of the Academy of Management, San Antonio, TX.

Jayne, R., & Pillutla, A. (2010). How do startups acquire cocial capital? Role of angel investors and social capital creation processes. Paper presented at the meeting of the Midwest Academy of Management, Grand Forks, ND.

Pillutla, A., O'Connell, D. J., & Hickerson, K. A. (2010). Large group visioning. Paper presented at the meeting of the Academy of Management, Montreal, CA.

Jayne, R., & Pillutla, A. K. (2008). Experienced business angels: Evaluating their knowledge contribution to a start-up firm's performance. Paper presented at the meeting of the Strategic Management Society, Cologne, Germany.

Hickerson, K. A., O'Connell, D. J., & Pillutla, A. K. (2008). Sally's dilemma: Making tough choices in collaborative visioning. The CASE Journal, 4(2), 3-19.

O'Connell, D. J., Pillutla, A. K., & Hickerson, K. A. (2006). Vision 2020: An embryo case study of the purpose, process and performance outcomes of visioning. Paper presented at The CASE Association meeting, in conjunction with the meeting of the Eastern Academy of Management, Saratoga Springs, NY.

Pillutla, A. K., O'Connell, D. J., & Hickerson, K. A. (2006). The vision shrinker: An experiential exercise for management students learning about vision. Paper presented at the Experiential Learning Association meeting, in conjunction with the meeting of the Eastern Academy of Management, Saratoga Springs, NY.

Hickerson, K. A., O'Connell, D. J. & Pillutla, A. K. (2006). Sally's Dilemma: Making Tough Choices in Collaborative Visioning. Midwest Academy of Management Meeting, Louisville, KY.

Eveleth, D., & Pillutla, A. K. (2003). Task demands, task interest, and task performance: Implications for human subjects research and practicing what we preach. Ethics & Behavior, 13(2), 153-172.

Ramaya, K., Narayanan, V. K., & Pillutla, A. K. (2002). Internationalization of R&D and operations in dominant product U.S. firms: The role of configuration and competitive positioning. Journal of Transnational Management Development, 6(4), 145-166.

Allison, J. & Pillutla, A. K. (2001). E-Commerce 2.0: Nature of competition and suggestions for effective strategies. Paper presented at the meeting of the Strategic Management Society, San Francisco, CA.

Pillutla, A. K. (2000). Commitment to TQM: The role of external dependence and competition. Proceedings of the Midwest Decision Sciences Institute, Chicago, IL.

Pillutla, A. K. (1998). Persistence of inter-firm differences in quality: A theoretical explanation. Paper presented at the meeting of the Strategic Management Society, Orlando, FL.

Pillutla, A. K. (1998). Adoption of and commitment to TQM: The differential role of institutional context and top management compensation. Paper presented at the meeting of the Western Academy of Management, Portland, OR.

Pillutla, A. K. (1998). TQM implementation: How do successful efforts differ from unsuccessful ones? Proceedings of the Midwest Business Administration Association Conference, Chicago, IL.

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