Overview

David Upton read Engineering at Cambridge University, and took a Ph.D. in artificial intelligence and engineering at Purdue University.  He was on the faculty at the Harvard Business School for 20 years, where he was the Albert J. Weatherhead III Professor of Business Administration.

At Harvard, he was the course head for the first-year MBA courses in Technology and Operations Management, and developed additional courses in Operations Improvement and Information Technology.   He was course head for numerous executive courses, and developed courses for companies and universities in Southern and Eastern Asia, South America, Africa and Europe.  He is a recipient of Harvard's Apgar award for Innovation in Teaching.

He serves on the board of Tech Data Inc., a Fortune 100 company based in Clearwater, Florida, and consults internationally on strategy, information technology and the improvement of service and manufacturing operations.  He is a Chartered Engineer, and an accredited member of the National Association of Corporate Directors in the USA.

Research interests

David Upton’s primary research areas are Competitive Strategy, Service and Manufacturing Improvement, Information Technology and the Social Impact of Operations.  His research is based internationally, with a particular focus on India, China, South America and Europe.

Working papers:

Brunner, David James, Bradley R. Staats, Michael L. Tushman, and David M. Upton. "Wellsprings of Creation: Perturbation and the Paradox of the Highly Disciplined Organization." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 09-011, July 2010.

Journal articles:

Staats, Bradley R., Brunner, David J. & Upton, David M. 2011. Lean Principles, Learning, and Knowledge Work: Evidence from a Software Services Provider. Journal of Operations Management, 29(5): 376-390.    Lead article for special issue on “Field Research in Operations and Supply Chain Management.

Huckman, Robert S., Bradley R. Staats, and David M. Upton. "Team Familiarity, Role Experience, and Performance: Evidence from Indian Software Services." Management Science (55: 85-100, 2009).

Upton, David, and Bradley R. Staats. "Radically Simple IT." Harvard Business Review 86, no. 3 (March 2008): 118-124.

Upton, D. M., and A. P. McAfee. "A Path-based Approach to Information Technology in Manufacturing." Special Issue on Barriers to Wiser Agreements between Environmental and Economic Concerns. International Journal of Technology Management (2000).

Upton, D. M., and A. P. McAfee. "Computer Integration and Catastrophic Process Failure in Flexible Production." Production and Operations Management Journal 7, no. 3 (fall 1998).

Hayes, R. H., and D. M. Upton. "Operations-Based Strategy." California Management Review 40, no. 4 (summer 1998): 8-25.

Upton, D. M., and B. Kim. "Alternative Methods of Learning and Process Improvement in Manufacturing." Journal of Operations Management 16, no. 1 (January 1998): 1-20.

Upton, D. M. "Process Range in Manufacturing: An Empirical Study of Flexibility." Management Science 43, no. 4 (August 1997).

Upton, D. M., and A. P. McAfee. "The Real Virtual Factory." Harvard Business Review 74, no. 4 (July - August 1996): 123-133.

Upton, D. M. "Mechanisms for Building and Sustaining Manufacturing Improvement." European Management Journal 14, no. 3 (June 1996).

Upton, D. M. "Flexibility as Process Mobility: The Management of Plant Capabilities for Quick Response Manufacturing." Journal of Operations Management 12, nos. 3-4 (June 1995): 205-224.

Upton, D. M. "What Really Makes Factories Flexible?" Harvard Business Review 73, no. 4 (July-August 1995): 74-81.

Upton, D. M. "The Management of Manufacturing Flexibility." California Management Review 36, no. 2 (winter 1994).

Morrison, D. L., and D. M. Upton. "Fault Diagnosis and Computer-integrated Manufacturing Systems." IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management 40, no. 4 (1993).

Upton, D. M. "A Flexible Structure for Computer-controlled Manufacturing Systems." Manufacturing Review 5, no. 1 (1992): 58-74.

Veeramani, D., D. M. Upton, and M. M. Barash. "Tool Management in Computer-integrated Manufacturing." International Journal of Flexible Manufacturing Systems 3, no. 4 (1992): 237-265.

Upton, D. M., M. M. Barash, and A. M. Matheson. "Architectures and Auctions in Manufacturing." International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing 4, no. 1 (January 1991): 23-33.

Matheson, A. M., and D. M. Upton. "Monopole Accretion by Cosmic Strings." Physics Letters Series A 5, no. 19 (1990): 1313-1320.

Williams, D. J., and D. M. Upton. "Syntactic Models of Manufacturing Processing and Control." International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing 2, no. 4 (January 1990): 229-237.

Books:

Hayes, Robert H., Gary P. Pisano, David M. Upton, and S. C. Wheelwright. Operations, Strategy, and Technology: Pursuing the Competitive Edge. Indianapolis, Ind.: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2004.

Upton, D. M. Designing, Managing and Improving Operations. Prentice Hall, 1998.

Hayes, R. H., G. P. Pisano, and D. M. Upton. Instructor's Manual, Strategic Operations: Competing through Capabilities. New York: Free Press, 1996.

Hayes, R. H., G. P. Pisano, and D. M. Upton. Strategic Operations: Competing through Capabilities. New York: Free Press, 1996.

Book chapters:

Upton, David M. "Cultural Factor, Operations and Technology in Developing Countries"  In Cultural Factors in Systems Design, edited by Robert Proctor, Shimon Y. Nof, and Yuehwern Yih.  In print October, 2011

in Upton, David M. and Virginia A Fuller. "The E-Choupal: Just Enough Bandwidth in Developing Agriculture." In The Broadband Explosion, edited by Robert D. Austin and Stephen P. Bradley. Boston: Harvard Business School Press, 2005.

Upton, D. M., and A. P. McAfee. "The Emergence of Internetworked Manufacturing." In Sense and Respond: Capturing Value in the Network Era, edited by Stephen P. Bradley and Richard L. Nolan. Boston: Harvard Business School Press, 1998.

Jaikumar, R. and D. M. Upton. "The Coordination of Global Manufacturing." In Globalization, Technology, and Competition: The Fusion of Computers and Telecommunications in the 1990s, edited by S. P. Bradley, J. A. Hausman and R. L. Nolan. Boston, Mass.: Harvard Business School Press, 1993.

Rogers, P., D. M. Upton, and D. J. Williams. "Computer-integrated Manufacturing." In Handbook of Industrial Engineering. 2nd ed. Edited by G. Salvendy. New York: Wiley, 1992.

Research and Teaching Cases:

Upton, David M., and Andrew P. McAfee. "AeroTech Service Group Inc. TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 697-120.

Upton, David M., and Andrew P. McAfee. "AeroTech Service Group, Inc." Harvard Business School Case 696-094.

Upton, David M., Christine Ellis, Sarah Lucas, and Amy Yamner. "Akshaya Patra: Feeding India's Schoolchildren." Harvard Business School Case 608-038.

Upton, David M., and Joshua D. Margolis. "Australian Paper Manufacturers (A)." Harvard Business School Case 691-041.

Upton, David M. "Australian Paper Manufacturers (A) and (B), Teaching Note." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 692-026.

Upton, David M., and Joshua D. Margolis. "Australian Paper Manufacturers (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 691-043.

Upton, David M., Virginia Fuller, and Bradley R. Staats. "Codelco Copper Mines." Harvard Business School Case 608-053.

Upton, David M. "Cybertech Project (A), The." Harvard Business School Case 695-030.

Upton, David M. "Cybertech Project (B), The." Harvard Business School Supplement 695-041.

Upton, David M., and Christine Steinman. "Cybertech Project, The (A) and (B) TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 697-083.

Upton, David M., and Kim Bowon. "Daewoo Shipbuilding and Heavy Machinery." Harvard Business School Case 695-001.

Upton, David M. "Daewoo Shipbuilding and Heavy Machinery TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 696-053.

Upton, David M., and Christine Steinman. "Deloitte & Touche Consulting Group." Harvard Business School Case 696-096.

Upton, David M., and Christine Steinman. "Deloitte & Touche Consulting Group TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 697-085.

Upton, David M., and Andrew P. McAfee. "Deloitte & Touche Consulting Group/ICS and SAP." Harvard Business School Case 696-095.

Upton, David M. "Designing, Managing and Improving Operations Note for Instructors TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 697-072.

Upton, David M. "Designing, Managing and Improving Operations Note for Instructors, Module 2: Operations Systems and Information Technlogy." Harvard Business School Note 697-015.

Upton, David M. "Designing, Managing and Improving Operations, Module 1: Designing, Managing and Improving Operations Processes." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 697-065.

Upton, David M. "Designing, Managing and Improving Operations, Course Overview." Harvard Business School Note 697-134.

Upton, David M. "Designing, Managing and Improving Operations, Module 1." Harvard Business School Note 697-131.

Upton, David M. "Designing, Managing and Improving Operations, Module 2." Harvard Business School Note 697-132.

Upton, David M. "Designing, Managing and Improving Operations, Module 3." Harvard Business School Note 697-133.

Upton, David M. "Designing, Managing and Improving Operations: Note for Instructors- Module 3: Designing and Implementing Operations Improvement Strategies TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 697-077.

Upton, David M. "Deutsche Allgemeinversicherung." Harvard Business School Case 696-084.

Upton, David M., and Christine Steinman. "Deutsche Allgemeinversicherung, Teaching Note." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 697-090.

Upton, David M. "The Economic Order Quantity." Harvard Business School Note 691-019.

Upton, David M., and Andrew Matheson. "EG&G Rotron Division." Harvard Business School Case 695-037.

Upton, David M., and Christine Steinman. "EG&G Rotron Division TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 697-100.

Upton, David M. "FASTech Integration Inc." Harvard Business School Case 694-028.

Upton, David M., and Christine Steinman. "FASTech Integration Inc. TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 697-091.

Upton, David M. "Flexibility in Operations, Module TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 693-104.

Upton, David M., and Virginia Fuller. "Foremostco, Inc. (A)." Harvard Business School Case 604-017.

Upton, David M., and Virginia Fuller. "Foremostco, Inc. (A) & (B) (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 607-011.

Upton, David M., and Virginia Fuller. "Foremostco, Inc. (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 605-032.

Upton, David M., and Sari Carp. "HMS Thetis and Apollo XIII." Harvard Business School Case 696-097.

Upton, David M., and Christine Steinman. "HMS Thetis and Apollo XIII TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 697-092.

Upton, David M., and Virginia Fuller. "Information Technology and Innovation at Shinsei Bank." Harvard Business School Case 607-010.

Upton, David M., Michelle Jarrard, and Laurie Thomas. "Integron Incorporated: The Integrated Components Division (ICD)." Harvard Business School Case 695-060.

Upton, David M., and Christine Steinman. "Integron, Incorporated The Integrated Components Division (ICD) TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 697-119.

Bowen, H. Kent, David M. Upton, Bradley R. Staats, and Preston Trent Staats. "IT Concepts: An Online Course." Harvard Business School HBSP Online Case Products 605-701.

Upton, David M., and Bradley R. Staats. "IT Concepts: An Online Course (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 605-050.

Upton, David M., and Virginia Fuller. "The ITC eChoupal Initiative (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 604-077.

Upton, David M., and Virginia Fuller. "ITC eChoupal Initiative, The." Harvard Business School Case 604-016.

Upton, David M. "John Crane UK Ltd.: The CAD-CAM Link." Harvard Business School Case 691-021.

Upton, David M. "John Crane UK Ltd.: The CAD-CAM Link, Teaching Note." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 692-100.

Upton, David M., and Bradley R. Staats. "Lean at Wipro Technologies." Harvard Business School Case 607-032.

Upton, David M., and Joshua D. Margolis. "McDonald's Corporation." Harvard Business School Case 693-028.

Upton, David M. "McDonald's Corporation TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 693-106.

Upton, David M. "McDonald's Corporation (Abridged)." Harvard Business School Case 603-041.

Upton, David M., and Joshua D. Margolis. "Micom Caribe (A)." Harvard Business School Case 692-002.

Upton, David M. "Micom Caribe (A), (B), and (C) TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 694-022.

Upton, David M., and Joshua D. Margolis. "Micom Caribe (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 692-003.

Upton, David M., and Joshua D. Margolis. "Micom Caribe (C)." Harvard Business School Supplement 692-043.

Upton, David M., and Andrew P. McAfee. "Note on Computer Security TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 697-031.

Upton, David M., and Andrew P. McAfee. "A Note on Plant Tours." Harvard Business School Note 697-076.

Upton, David M. "Pacific Dunlop China (A): Beijing (Multimedia Case)." Harvard Business School Multimedia/Video Case 696-701.

Upton, David M., and Richard Seet. "Pacific Dunlop China (A): Beijing." Harvard Business School Case 695-029.

Upton, David M., and Christine Steinman. "Pacific Dunlop China (A): Beijing TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 697-081.

Upton, David M., and Christine Steinman. "PPG: Developing a Self-Directed Work Force (A), (B) and (C) TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 697-095.

Upton, David M., and Bowon Kim. "Samsung Heavy Industries: The Koje Shipyard." Harvard Business School Case 695-032.

Upton, David M., and Christine Steinman. "Samsung Heavy Industries: The Koje Shipyard TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 697-102.

Upton, David M., and Diane Long. "Shanghai Volkswagen." Harvard Business School Case 696-092.

Upton, David M., and William H. Bolen, Jr. "Southern Pulp and Paper." Harvard Business School Case 696-103.

Upton, David M. "Stermon Mills Incorporated." Harvard Business School Case 693-053.

Upton, David M. "Stermon Mills Incorporated TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 693-105.

Baldwin, Carliss Y., and David M. Upton. "Stermon Mills: An Options Approach." Harvard Business School Supplement 695-036.

Upton, David M., and Bradley R. Staats. "Tech Data Corporation." Harvard Business School Case 606-060.

Upton, David M. "U.S. Robotics Inc. TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 693-107.

Upton, David M. "U.S. Robotics, Inc." Harvard Business School Case 692-061.

Upton, David M., and Sarah Tabler. "United Distillers." Harvard Business School Case 696-078.

Upton, David M., and Andrew P. McAfee. "Vandelay Industries, Inc." Harvard Business School Case 697-037.

Upton, David M., and Andrew P. McAfee. "Vandelay Industries, Inc., Teaching Note." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 697-063.

Upton, David M., and Sari Carp. "Western Casualty." Harvard Business School Case 697-121.

Upton, David M., and Virginia Fuller. "Wipro Technologies: The Factory Model." Harvard Business School Case 606-021.