John Francis

John Francis serves as Associate Professor in the Management Department at San Diego State University's Fowler College of Business, where he has taught since 2005. His instructional responsibilities include strategic thinking courses in the MBA and Sports MBA programs, along with undergraduate strategic management and leadership of the Aztec Consulting Program.

His academic credentials feature a PhD in Management from the University of Memphis (2000), MBA in Management from Samford University (1994), and BBA from the University of Montevallo (1988).

Professor Francis's research centers on strategic decision-making within international contexts, with dual emphases on foreign market entry dynamics and organizational crisis/turnaround scenarios. His work examines how firms navigate complex environments through adaptive capabilities, particularly focusing on SME performance under environmental volatility and institutional constraints.

Publication analysis reveals three distinct research phases: current work (2021-2025) investigates SME consulting efficacy and rural business development; mid-career studies (2013-2016) explored bricolage in social ventures and cross-border acquisition pitfalls; while foundational research (2009-2010) established frameworks for institutional perspectives on foreign direct investment and vicarious learning from industry failures.

His institutional recognition includes:

• Presidents Leadership Fund Excellence Award, SDSU (May 15, 2017)
• Assigned Time Exceptional Service to Students Award, Fowler College of Business (April 15, 2017)

Through the Aztec Consulting Program, Professor Francis provides undergraduate students with practical business strategy experience. While his publication record demonstrates sustained scholarly output, no research grants or graduate student mentorship activities are documented in available materials.