Samim Al-Azad

Dr. Samim Al-Azad serves as Assistant Professor in the International Management and Strategy discipline within Lakehead University's Faculty of Business Administration. He brings extensive international experience from prior roles as post-doctoral researcher at Université Laval's Stephen A. Jarislowsky Chair in International Business and Assistant Professor at North South University in Bangladesh, complemented by industry work with BRAC on WHO/UNDP-funded development projects.

His educational background includes:

• Post-doctoral Fellowship, Stephen A. Jarislowsky Chair in International Business, Université Laval, QC
• Ph.D. in Business Administration, Seoul National University, South Korea
• MBA and BBA, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Dr. Al-Azad's research examines critical intersections between global business strategy and technological transformation. He investigates how knowledge management practices determine offshore IT outsourcing success, how Industry 4.0 readiness drives sustainable competitive advantage in emerging markets, and how SMEs navigate internationalization challenges. His work consistently addresses real-world business problems in developing economies through empirical analysis of organizational capabilities and strategic orientations.

His recent publications (2022-2023) reveal three key trends: (1) Growing emphasis on Industry 4.0's mediating role in sustainable advantage, (2) Deepening analysis of knowledge transfer mechanisms in global outsourcing, and (3) Expansion into pandemic-era e-commerce dynamics and ethnic food marketing. These studies predominantly employ quantitative methods examining organizational ambidexterity, partnership quality, and technological readiness across Asian and Canadian contexts.

Research recognition includes:

• Quebec Government Research Scholarship (FRQNT-2015)
• German Government Fellowship (DAAD-2014)
• Korean Government Scholarship (KGSP-2011-2015)
• BEST PAPER AWARD at ASAC 2015 Conference
• BEST PAPER AWARD at ASAC 2014 Conference

Dr. Al-Azad maintains active research funding through competitive government scholarships and industry partnerships, with current projects examining digital transformation in emerging markets. His teaching portfolio spans foundational courses (Introduction to Management, Basics of Management) and advanced strategy seminars (Business Policy, Management Theory), indicating strong commitment to student development at multiple levels. While no dedicated laboratory is specified, his work involves international research teams analyzing global value chains and technology adoption through collaborations with institutions in Canada, Bangladesh, and South Korea.