Mark Jacobs

Mark brought his success at IBM to the small business context. Reporting to the board of directors at JL Analytical Services, he created and led the implementation of strategy that resulted in significant growth in revenue, reputation, and scope. Under his leadership, the laboratory expanded to serve 8 of the 10 largest food companies and 4 of the 5 largest wineries in the U.S., while building a nationwide client base. In addition to these achievements, he spearheaded initiatives that improved safety, productivity, service performance, and overall profitability.

At CGE&Y, Mark applied his expertise to clients in procurement operations. He led strategic sourcing initiatives, guided plants through e-procurement adoptions, managed organizational change, and contributed to the development and growth of the firm’s product lifecycle management practice.

Since transitioning into academia, Mark has drawn on his corporate experience to inform his research. His scholarly focus centers on how product and portfolio complexity, complexity management strategies, and supply chain integration impact organizational performance.

Mark's desire's are to:

1. Help companies enhance operational effectiveness and leverage trading partners.
2. Help closely held businesses navigate the unique challenges they face.
3. Help other academicians with leadership, program management & development, and culture building.

• MSC 317 - Quantitative Business Research Methods
• MSC 372 - Manufacturing Planning & Control
• OPS 301 - Survey of Operations and Supply Management
• OPS 485 / 495 - Operations Management Capstone
• OPS 481 - Procurement Processes
• MBA 793 - Operational Effectiveness
• MBA 791 - Business Analytics
• MBA 692 - Immersion: Technology and Innovation

• The interface between product development and supply chain management; in particular, how product and portfolio strategies affect organizational performance.
• Complexity management strategies such as modularity, standardization, and process flexibility.
• Issues in supply chain integration such as supply base structure, buyer behavior, environment, and knowledge management.

• Engineering, California
• Laboratory Director, U.S. EPA & Cal DHS

• Michigan State University, PhD (Operations and Sourcing Management), 2008
• University of Minnesota, MBA (Supply Chain Management/Entrepreneurship/Finance), 2003
• California Polytechnic State University, BS (Industrial Engineering), 1988

• Associate Editor, Journal of Operations Management
• Decision Sciences Institute
• Institute of Industrial Engineers
• Academy of Management
• Production and Operations Management Society
• The Executive Committee

• Jacobs, M., Berg, C., Opata, R., Bodeman, C., Walker, M., “Open for Business: Fundamentals for Today's Business”, Kendall-Hunt, Dubuque, ISBN 9781792492426
• Jacobs, M., Keyte, B., Gorman, M., Wagner, P., “Introduction to Operations Management”, Kendall-Hunt, Dubuque, ISBN 9798385112753
• Song, Y., Yu, W., Jacobs, M., Chavez, R., (2025) "Pandemic-related inventory management practices and financial performance: Exploring the roles of pandemic-related production uncertainty and big data analytics capability”, International Journal of Production Research, 63 (17), 6319 – 6338
• Yu, W., Chavez, R., Jacobs, M., Wong, C., (2025) “Modern slavery supply chain capabilities: The effects of Blockchain technology and employees’ digital dexterity” International Journal of Operations and Production Management, 45 (1), 210 – 235
• Yu, W., Chavez, R., Jacobs, M., Wong, C., (2024) “What are the right configurations of just-in-time and just-in-case when supply chain shocks increase?”, International Journal of Production Economics, 276, 109352
• Chavez, R., Yu, W., Jacobs, M., Wong, C.Y., (2024) "Does digitalization enhance the effects of lean production on social performance?", International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 44 (6), 1192 – 1216
• Yu, W., Jacobs, M., Chavez, R., Song, Y., (2024) “Leveraging supply chain visibility for implementing just-in-case practices: The roles of knowledge and digital resources bundling”, Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, (29) 5, 871 – 884
• Yu, W., Chavez, R., Jacobs, M., Wong, C., (2024) “Openness to technological innovation, supply chain resilience and operational performance: Exploring the role of information processing capabilities” IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 71, 1258 – 1270
• Chavez, R., Yu, W., Wong, C., Jacobs, M., (2023) “Surfing with the tides: How digitization creates firm performance through supply chain entrainment”, International Journal of Operations and Production Management, 43(12), 2008 – 2030
• Yu, W., Wong, C., Chavez, R., Jacobs, M., Nittala, L., (2023) “Exploring the effects of intellectual capital on operational excellence and supply chain resilience: An intellectual capital knowledge-based view”, Supply Chain Management, 28(6), 1060 – 1074
• Lee, B., Nittala, L., Jacobs, M., Yu, W., (2023) “Impact of Psychological Safety on Supply Chain Operational Performance”, International Journal of Production Research, 61(3), 754 – 773
• Yu, W., Jacobs, M., Chavez, R., (2022) “Exploring the effect of business environment on supply chain integration and financial performance: An environment-system-performance paradigm”, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 69(6), 3197 – 3211
• Yu, W., Wong, C. Y., Chavez, R., & Jacobs, (2021) M. A., “Integrating big data analytics into supply chain finance: The roles of information processing and data-driven culture”, International Journal of Production Economics, 236(1), 108135
• Yu, W., Chavez, R., Jacobs, M., Wong, C., (2020) “Innovativeness and Lean Practices for Triple Bottom Line: Testing of Fit-as-Mediation versus Fit-as-Moderation Models”, International Journal of Operations and Production Management, 40(10), 1623 – 1647

• Yu, W., Chavez, R., Jacobs, M., Wong, C., Yuan., C., “Environmental scanning, supply chain integration, responsiveness, and financial performance: An integrative framework” International Journal of Operations and Production Management, 2019, 39(5), 787 – 814
• Yu, W., Jacobs, M., Chavez, R., Yang, J., “Dynamism, disruption orientation, and resilience in the supply chain and the impacts on financial performance: A dynamic capabilities perspective”, International Journal of Production Economics, 2019, 218(2), 352 – 362
• Yu, W., Jacobs, M., Chavez, R., Feng, M., “Data driven supply chain and financial performance: The moderating effect of innovation focused complementary assets” The British Journal of Management, 2019, 30 (2), 299 – 314
• Jacobs, M., Lyons, G., Rademacher, B.; “Using Excel to build dedicated routes from ad hoc routes”, Interfaces, 2018, 48(6), 591 – 595
• Yu, W., Chavez, R., Jacobs, M., Feng, M., “Data-driven supply chain capabilities and performance: A resource-based view", Transportation Research Part E, 2018, 114, 371 – 385
• Chavez, R., Jacobs, M., Yu, W., “Data-driven supply chains, manufacturing capability and customer satisfaction”, Production Planning and Control, 2017, 28(11), 906 – 918
• Yu, W., Jacobs, M., Chavez, R., Feng, M., “The impacts of IT capability and marketing capability on supply chain integration: A resource-based perspective”, International Journal of Production Research, 2017, 55(14), 4196 – 4211
• Chavez, R., Jacobs, M., Yu, W., “Manufacturing capability and organizational performance: The role of entrepreneurial orientation” , International Journal of Production Economics, 2017, 184(1), 33 – 46
• Jacobs, M., Yu, W., Chavez, R.; “The effect of internal communication and employee satisfaction on supply chain integration”, International Journal of Production Economics, 2016, 171(1), 60 – 70
• Chavez, R., Yu, W., Jacobs, M., Fynes, B., & Lecuna, A.; “Internal Lean Practices and Performance: The Role of Technological Turbulence”, International Journal of Production Economics, 2015, 160(1), 157 – 171
• Durmusoglu, S., Jacobs, M., Nayir, D., Khilji, S., & Wang, X.; “The Quasi-Moderating Role of Organizational Culture in the Relationship between Rewards and Knowledge Shared and Gained”, The Journal of Knowledge Management, 2014, 18(1), 19 – 37
• Yu, W., Jacobs, M., Salisbury, W., & Enns, H.; “The effects of supply chain integration on customer satisfaction and financial performance: An organizational learning perspective”, International Journal of Production Economics, 2013, 146(1), 346 – 358
• Jacobs, M.; “Complexity: Toward an empirical measure”, Technovation, 2013, 33(4), 111 – 118
• Droge, C., Jacobs, M., Vickery, S. (2012). An Empirical Study: Does Supply Chain Integration Mediate the Relationship Between Product/Process Strategy and Service Performance? International Journal of Production Economics, 137(2), 250-262.
• Jacobs, M., Swink, M. (2011). Product Portfolio Architectural Complexity and Operational Performance: Incorporating the Roles of Learning and Fixed Assets. Journal of Operations Management, 29(8), 677-691.
• Jacobs, M., Droge, C., Vickery, S., Calantone, R. (2011). The Effect of Product and Process Modularity on Agility and Firm Growth Performance. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 28(1), 124-138.
• Jacobs, M. (2009) Volume and Cost Implications of Product Portfolio Complexity. Saarbrucken, VDM Verlag., 152 pgs.
• Closs, D., Jacobs, M., Swink, M., Webb, G. S. (2008). Toward a Theory of Competencies for the Management of Product Complexity: Six Case Studies. Journal of Operations Management, 26(5), 590-610.
• Jacobs, M., Vickery, S., Droge, C. (2007). The Effects of Product Modularity on Competitive Performance: Do Integration Strategies Mediate the Relationship? International Journal of Operations and Production Management, 27(10), 1046-1068.
• Jacobs, M. (2007). Product Complexity: A Definition and Impacts on Organizations. Decision Line, 38(5).