Alan Pilkington

Alan is an internationally recognised Professor of Technology Management. He joined WBS from Copenhagen Business School in 2013. He has many publications including highly cited articles in top journals such as Journal of Operations Management, International Journal of Operations and Production Management, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management and California Management Review. He is an acknowledged expert on innovation in lean management, the application of bibliometric techniques, and new product development.

He is also an experienced international teacher and executive coach, and co-author of a major international textbook published by McGraw-Hill. Alan is also a professional engineer and is engaged in developing the profession as well as consulting for international firms.

For over 20 years, Alan has taught modules in a wide variety of management and business courses, to under-graduates, post-graduates (including MBA and EMBA) and to executive education audiences all around the world. The largest classes have 450 enrolled students, while he also has extensive experience of small group teaching, and executive courses at several leading institutions around the world including Copenhagen Business School, ESSEC Paris, NUS Singapore, Warwick Business School, Hult International Business School and SP Jain Global School of Business.

Alan has a flare for identifying practical cases and using simulations which appeal to students to highlight important learning outcomes.

Alan is an author of major textbook in the field of operations management, published by McGraw-Hill and currently in the 2nd edition.

Alan’s work encompasses the application of lean knowledge, principles, and disciplines related to the analysis, design, implementation and operation of all elements associated with an enterprise. The view is one of continuous improvement and continued adaptation as firms, processes and markets develop along their life cycles.

This total systems approach follows lean principles and encompasses the traditional areas of research and development, product design, operations and manufacturing as well as information systems and strategic management.

In addition, he has become a leading expert on the use of bibliometric techniques to study both the development of academic disciplines and also network impacts on innovation. By examining the co-citation networks, a subject can be explored to understand the constituent elements and how these change over time. In terms of innovation and technology management, using network data on collaboration and patent technology linkages allows a true understanding of how technologies are developed amongst a group of firms or disparate fields.

Education

• PhD Aston University (1987 — 1992)
• B.Eng. Leicester Polytechnic (1983 — 1987)
• King Edward VI Retford

Companies

• Adjunct Professor ESSEC Asia-Pacific (2019)
• Adjunct Professor SP Jain School of Global Management - Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore & Sydney (2016)
• Visiting Professor Royal Holloway, University of London (2013)
• Professor of Technology Management University of Westminster (2013)
• Owner Pilko Ltd (2009)
• Adjunct Professor TBS Education (2018 — 2020)
• Visiting Professor Copenhagen Business School (2016 — 2019)
• Visiting Examiner Aston Business School (2016 — 2019)
• Visiting Examiner University of Surrey (2016 — 2019)

Skills

• Consulting
• Lean Manufacturing
• Technology Management

Other

Engineering Management, Business Strategy, Management Consulting, Management, SPSS, Product Development, Research Design, Innovation Management, Operations Management, University Teaching, Higher Education, Project Management, Research, Lecturing, Strategy