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I hold a PhD in Strategic Management from the Ivey School of Business (Ivey) at Western University. I also have an MBA from Ivey as well as an MA (English Literature) from Queen’s University and a BA (Hon. English Literature) and a BSc from the University of Waterloo. I joined Wilfrid Laurier University in 2014 as a tenure-track professor in policy at the Lazaridis School of Business & Economics (Lazaridis School). I teach strategic management at the undergraduate, graduate and executive masters level. I have been involved in a number of undergraduate and graduate activities at the Lazaridis School and have served in a number of administative roles including course coordinator, the Faculty Lead for the Integrated Case Exercise, and the Academic Director for the AACSB Accreditation. I have also served as the Director of BBA programs and the Director of MBA programs at the Lazaridis School.
Before returning to academia, I served in senior roles in government including Chief of Staff at the Ontario Ministries of Health and Long-Term Care, Environment, Attorney General, and Transportation in Toronto, Canada. I also held roles in the private sector as a senior strategy, corporate communications and crisis management consultant to executive-level clients. My clients spanned the private, public and not-for-profit sectors and were primarily in the healthcare, environment, and financial services fields.
Recently, I served as the Chair of the Board of the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario, as the Vice-Chair of the Waterloo Regional Police Services Board, and was a board member of iGaming Ontario where I chaired the Corporate Affairs Committee. I am also a former National Council Member of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) of Canada. In 2021, I served as the Chair of the Ontario Government Task Force on Women and the Economy. I am a very proud member of the national Advocacy Committee of ALS Canada, a cause that is very important to my family.
My current research focuses on strategic management, corporate governance, global healthcare management and innovation, and case-based learning. I have published a number of articles and book chapters in peer-reviewed journals and books, have co-authored a book on case-based learning in collaboration with students and have authored award-winning case studies that have been published in leading strategy textbooks and case journals. Currently I am involved in research related to women entrepreneurs, AI in strategic decision-making, and case-learning in entrepreneurship education.
Research grants:
- Co-investigator, SSHRC Partnership Grant #290-2014-0020, $199,995 (3 years).
Fellowships/Scholarships:
- Paul R. Lawrence Fellowship, Case Research Foundation, 2015.
- Academic Scholarship, Institute for Healthcare Improvement, 2013.
- Brock Ontario Graduate Scholarship, Ivey Business School, Western University, 2013-14.
- C.B.(Bud) Johnston Ontario Graduate Scholarship, Western University, 2013-14.
- C.B.(Bud) Johnston Ontario Graduate Scholarship, Ivey Business School, Western University, 2012-13.
- Ontario Graduate Scholarship, Government of Ontario, 2011-12; 2012-2013; 2013-14.
- Doctoral Student Scholarship, Healthcare Management Division, Academy of Management, 2012.
- Connor, Clark and Lunn Foundation Ontario Graduate Scholarship, Ivey Business School, Western University, 2011-2012.
- Richard Ivey School of Business Plan for Excellence Doctoral Fellowship, Western University, 2009-2013.
- Queen’s Graduate Fellowship, Queen’s University, 1994-1995.
Awards and honours:
- Winner, Outstanding Paper, Emerald Literati Awards 2022 for "Standing on the shoulders of giantesses: How women technology founders use single and mixed gender networks for success and change," International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship. 13(4): 420-448.
- Finalist, 2020 Tate Award (considers best three cases published that year by the Case Review Journal), Case Review Journal, 2021
- Outstanding Reviewer Award, Management Education Division, Academy of Management (AOM), Virtual 2021.
- Winner, Donald F. Morgenson Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence – Early Career Excellence, Wilfrid Laurier University, 2019.
- Merit Recipient, Lazaridis School, Wilfrid Laurier University, 2018 (Service), 2021 (Teaching).
- Best Case Award, Case Division, Administrative Sciences Association of Canada (ASAC) Annual Meeting, Edmonton, AB, 2016.
- University Student Council (Western University) Teaching Honour Roll, 2013, 2014.
- Outstanding Reviewer, BPS Division, Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, 2013.
- Finalist, Best Paper, Healthcare Management Division, AOM Annual Meeting, Boston, MA, 2012.
- Best Doctoral Paper Award – Strategy, OT and International Business Division, Southern Management Association (SMA) Annual Meeting, Savannah, GA, 2011.
- Best Reviewer Award – Strategy Division, Administrative Sciences Association of Canada Annual Meeting, Montreal, QC, 2011.
- Woodwark, M., Wood., A. & Schnarr, K. (2021). "Standing on the shoulders of giantesses: How women technology founders use single and mixed gender networks for success and change," International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship. 13(4): 420-448.
- Schnarr, K., Henriques, K. & Carson, C. (2021). "The Briarwood Ballet: An Artistic Expression," Christian Business Academy Review. 16(1): 11-27.
- Woodwark, M., Risavy, S., & Schnarr, K. (2020). "Doctors divided: Representing specialist physicians in contract negotiations with the Ontario Ministry of Health," Case Review Journal. 40(3): 1-17.
- Snowdon, A., Schnarr, K., Hussein, A., & Alessi, C. (2016). "Exploring the relation between Canadians’ values and health system costs,” Canadian Journal of Physician Leadership. 3(2): 44-49.
- Kunsch, D., Schnarr, K. & Rowe, W. G. (2016). “The effects of the environment on illegal cartel activity,” Journal of Strategy and Management. 9(3): 344-360.
- Snowdon, A., Alessi, C., Bassi, H., DeForge, R., & Schnarr, K. (2015). “Enhancing patient experience through personalization of health services,” Healthcare Management Forum. 28(5): 182-185.
- Schnarr, K., Snowdon, A., Cramm, H., Cohen, J., & Alessi, C. (2015). “The link between health governance models and global health innovation: An exploration of OECD nations,” Advances in Health Care Management. 17: 39-69.
- Snowdon, A., Alessi, C., Bassi, H., DeForge, R., & Schnarr, K. (2015). “Enhancing patient experience through personalization of health services,” Healthcare Management Forum. 28(5): 182-185.
- Snowdon, A., Schnarr, K., & Alessi, C. (2015). “Global trends in health system innovation” in V.K. Singh & P. Lillrank (Eds.), Innovations in Healthcare Management: Cost-Effective and Sustainable Solutions, CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group.
- Kunsch, D. & Schnarr, K. (2014). “The use of argument mapping to enhance critical thinking skills in business education,” Journal of Education for Business. Vol. 89: 403-410.
- Kunsch, D., Schnarr, K., & Rowe, W. G. (2014). “Do the ends justify the means? A cross-disciplinary approach to illegal organizational activity,” Journal of Business and Behavioral Science. 22(2): 18-38.
- Kunsch, D., Schnarr, K. & Rowe, W.G. (2014). “The relational effect of the rule of law,” Asian Academy of Management. 19(1): 1-19.
- Snowdon, A., Schnarr, K., & Alessi, C. (2014). “Personalization in healthcare: Consumer access to health information,” HealthcarePapers. 13(4): 32-37.
Books
- Schnarr, K. & Woodwark, M. (2023). How to Write Great Business Cases, Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.
Book Chapters
- Woodwark, M. & Schnarr, K. (2022). "How to conduct live cases in entrepreneurship education" in K. Wigger, L. Aaboen, D. Haneberg, S. Jakobsen & T. Lauvas (Eds.), Reframing the Case Method in Entrepreneurship Education: Cases from the Nordic Countries, Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.
- Snowdon, A., Alessi, C., Van Aerde, J., and Schnarr, K. (2018). “The future of health systems: Personalization” in Braithwaite (Ed), Healthcare Systems: Future Predictions for Global Care, CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group. 19-24.
- Snowdon, A., Schnarr, K., & Alessi, C. (2015). “Global trends in health system innovation” in V.K. Singh & P. Lillrank (Eds.), Innovations in Healthcare Management: Cost-Effective and Sustainable Solutions, CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group. 11-32.
Cases
- Woodwark, M., Schnarr, K., & Bes, G. (2020). "Little Short Stop: Creating strategy for a shifting industry," Ivey Case #9B20M076 and Teaching Note #8B20M076
- Schnarr, K., Krizmanich, M., & Lee, C. (2016). “The Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club: Skating into the future,” Ivey Case #9B16M160 and Teaching Note #8B16M160
- Schnarr, K. & Kunsch, D. (2016). “MacPhie & Company: The growth imperative,” Ivey Case #9B16M133 and Teaching Note #8B16M133
- Schnarr, K., & Rowe, W. G. (2014). “Tim Hortons, Inc.” Ivey Case #9B14M114 and Teaching Note #8B14M114. One of Ivey Publishing’s Top 20 Selling Cases in 2016.
- Schnarr, K. & Kunsch, A. (2014). “Transformational Change at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health” Ivey Case # 9B14M083 and Teaching Note #8B14M083 under the supervision of Professor Anne Snowdon.
- Schnarr, K. (2013). “Shriners Hospitals for Children” Ivey Case #9B13M075 and Teaching Note #8B13M075 under the supervision of Professor Anne Snowdon.
- Schnarr, K. (2012). “The State Fair of Virginia” Ivey Case #9B12M050 and Teaching Note #8B12M050 under the supervision of Professor W. Glenn Rowe.
- Singh-Randhawa, B. & Schnarr, K. (2011). “City Furniture and Mattress” Ivey Case #9B11M102 under the supervision of Professor W. Glenn Rowe.
- Schnarr, K. (2011). “Teaching Note for City Furniture and Mattress” Ivey Case #8B11M102 under the supervision of Professor W. Glenn Rowe.
White Papers
- Snowdon, A., Schnarr, K., Alessi, C. (2014). “It’s all about me: The personalization of health systems,” White Paper, Ivey International Centre for Health Innovation. Released February 25, 2014.
- Snowdon, A., Schnarr, K.., Hussein, A., & Alessi, C. (2012). “Measuring what matters: The costs vs. values of health care,” White Paper, Ivey International Centre for Health Innovation. Released November 27, 2012.
BU481: Policy 1: Strategic Management
BU601: Strategic Management
BU608: Integrative Thinking: A Playbook for Managerial Action
BU610: Applied Business Research
TM701: Strategic Management of Technology
Contact Info:
Office location: LH4111
Office hours: On Leave of Absence as of September 1, 2023.
Languages spoken: English