K.V. Ajaygopal
Ph.D., Indian Institute of Management, MumbaiAssistant Professor, School of Management Sciences
K.V. Ajaygopal
Ph.D., Indian Institute of Management, MumbaiMy research lies at the intersection of operations management, sustainability, and data-driven decision-making, with a particular focus on complex socio-technical systems in emerging economies. I am motivated by real-world problems where operational inefficiencies, uncertainty, and institutional constraints jointly shape outcomes in supply chains, infrastructure systems, and digital platforms. A central theme of my work is the design and evaluation of decision-support frameworks that can guide policymakers, firms, and stakeholders toward resilient, sustainable, and ethically grounded choices.
A significant part of my research examines circular economy transitions, especially in e-waste and closed-loop supply chains. I study how consumer behavior, informal–formal sector interactions, and policy instruments influence the effectiveness of collection networks and remanufacturing systems. By integrating optimization models, nature-inspired algorithms, and hybrid multi-criteria decision-making techniques, my work offers actionable insights for selecting suppliers, remanufacturers, and infrastructure locations under multiple, often conflicting objectives.
Methodologically, I draw on operations research, fuzzy systems, game theory, and statistical analysis, complemented by computational tools such as Python, R, and mathematical optimization solvers. I place strong emphasis on methodological rigor while ensuring managerial relevance. Overall, my research aims to bridge theory and practice by developing models that are analytically sound, contextually grounded, and capable of informing sustainable operations and policy design in dynamic and uncertain environments.
K V Ajaygopal is an Assistant Professor in the area of Operations and Supply Chain Management. He holds a Ph.D. in Operations and Supply Chain Management from the Indian Institute of Management Mumbai, where his doctoral research examined consumer utility and the transition to formal e-waste management systems in India. He also holds an M.Tech. in Industrial Engineering and Management from the National Institute of Technology Calicut and a B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering from the National Institute of Technology Raipur. fileciteturn0file1
He has published in leading international journals and conferences, including Q1-ranked outlets, on topics such as circular supply chains, cybersecurity platform selection, data privacy in digital credit systems, and decision-support methodologies. His work has been presented at reputed international forums such as the IISE Annual Conference and international conferences on cybersecurity.
Dr. Ajaygopal has served as a Teaching Assistant at IIM Mumbai and as an Assistant Professor at IILM University, Gurugram, teaching courses in operations management, supply chain management, operations research, and business analytics. He has also contributed to executive education and management development programs for industry professionals in collaboration with industry bodies. His research combines analytical rigor with practical relevance, reflecting a strong commitment to impactful scholarship and high-quality teaching.
- Ph.D., Operations and Supply Chain Management, Indian Institute of Management Mumbai
- M.Tech., Industrial Engineering and Management, National Institute of Technology Calicut
- B.Tech., Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Raipur
- R. Verma and S. Koul, “Evaluation and selection of a cybersecurity platform—Case of the power sector in India,” Decision Making: Applications in Management and Engineering, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 209–236, 2024.
- R. Verma, K. V. Ajaygopal, and S. Koul, “Circular supplier evaluation and selection using hybrid MCDM methods: Case of the steel manufacturing industry,” 2022.
- S. Koul, R. Verma, and K. V. Ajaygopal, “Privacy preferences of consumer and lender: A case of digital credit systems in India,” Journal of Internet Commerce, vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 414–444, 2024.
- R. Verma, S. Koul, K. V. Ajaygopal, and S. Singh, “Exploring game theoretic applications in cyber security,” in Proc. Int. Conf. on Intelligent Systems for Cybersecurity, 2024.
- K. V. Ajaygopal, R. Verma, and S. Koul, “Sustainable and resilient circular supply chain: A remanufacturer selection,” Journal of Enterprise Information Management, vol. 38, no. 4, pp. 1187–1222, 2025.
- S. Koul, R. Verma, and K. V. Ajaygopal, “Stakeholders’ understanding of data privacy: Implications for digital credit consumers,” Cogent Business & Management, vol. 12, no. 1, 2025.
- K. V. Ajaygopal and R. Verma, “Optimal number of emergency facility and its positioning using nature-based algorithm: A case of Mumbai city,” in Mathematical Modeling for Computer Applications, 2024, pp. 477–500.
Project 1
- Title: Data Privacy Practices and Policies for Digital Credit Services in India
- Duration: 2023–2024
- Granting Agency: Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA)
- PIs/Co-PIs: R. Verma, S. Koul, K. V. Ajaygopal
- Purpose: To examine data privacy practices in digital credit platforms and assess consumer and lender preferences
- Short Description: The project involved empirical analysis and policy-oriented evaluation of digital credit data practices in India.
- Status: Completed
- Grant Amount: USD 16,000