Adam Smith Business School

Dr Farhad Shafti

  • Senior Lecturer in Management Science and Service Operations (Management)

telephone: 01413302026
email: Farhad.Shafti@gla.systa-s.com

Import to contacts

Biography

Within Business Studies, Farhad's expertise lies in Management Science (OR) and the analytical thinking that OR provides in the areas of Service Operations Management and Performance Measurement/Management. He has a BSc and MSc in industrial engineering, respectively from the University of Science and Technology and University of Tarbiat Modares in Iran. He holds a PhD in Management Science (OR) from the University of Strathclyde. Farhad has a second PhD in Theology from the University of Edinburgh which extends his expertise beyond Business Studies, while also helping to enhance his thinking in teaching and research in Management by adding synthesis to analysis.

Before joining the Adam Smith Business School, Farhad worked as a lecturer in the Department of Management Science, University of Strathclyde, where he held a variety of academic responsibilities, mostly focusing on teaching and learning excellence. Farhad has extensive experience in designing and delivering classes on service operations, performance measurement, management science, and simulation for both UG and PG levels. He has taught MBA modules in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Switzerland, Greece, Malaysia and Singapore. He has also designed and delivered distance learning teaching modules for postgraduate studies.

Farhad's research concentrates on a number of inter-related areas, including service quality and productivity management, performance measurement and application of OR and qualitative methods in approaching these subjects. He has published papers and been involved in a number of research projects in these areas.

Prior to joining academia, Farhad worked for the National Iranian Productivity Organisation and was Iran’s Liaison Officer for Asian Productivity Organisation.

Research interests

Farhad is a member of the Services and Operations Management research cluster.

Areas of expertise within the subject of Management:

  • Management Science - Operational Research (OR)
  • Service Operations Management
  • Performance Measurement in Services
  • Service Productivity and Quality Management

Other areas of expertise:

  • Theology and Islamic Studies

 Therefore also interested in any research subjects that connect the above two areas! 

Publications

List by: Type | Date

Jump to: 2025 | 2022 | 2021 | 2019 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2001 | 2000 | 1996
Number of items: 36.

2025

Karlsson, Paula S. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3187-6078, Shafti, Farhad and Duffy, Katherine ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3523-6892 (2025) The house of the business school: A pragmatic approach to conceptualising learning community. International Journal of Management Education, 23(2), 101141. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijme.2025.101141)

Wisniewski, Mik, Shafti, Farhad and Yeo, Wee Meng ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1173-9583 (2025) Quantitative Analysis for Decision Makers, 8th edition. Pearson. ISBN 9781292469850

2022

Olekanma, Obafemi, Dörfler, Viktor and Shafti, Farhad (2022) Stepping into the participants’ shoes: the trans-positional cognition approach. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 21, p. 16094069211072413. (doi: 10.1177/16094069211072413)

2021

Karlsson-Brown, Paula ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3187-6078, Shafti, Farhad and Duffy, Kat ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3523-6892 (2021) What Is a Learning Community, Really? Adam Smith Business School Learning and Teaching Seminar, 25 Mar 2021.

2019

He, Sijin and Shafti, Farhad (2019) A Starting Point for Teaching CSR: Mapping the Content. 8th International Conference on Social Responsibility, Ethics and Sustainable Business, Braga, Portugal, 24-25 Oct 2019. (Unpublished)

Wisniewski, Mik and Shafti, Farhad (2019) Quantitative Analysis for Decision Makers [7th ed.]. Pearson. ISBN 9781292276618

2016

Shafti, Farhad (2016) Service productivity: a journey planner. PMA Conference 2016, Edinburgh, UK, 26-29 Jun 2016.

2015

Shafti, Farhad (2015) Reflections on performance measurement: towards a new paradigm. The Strathclyde Evening Talks, Glasgow, UK, June 2015. (Unpublished)

2014

Shafti, Farhad (2014) Beyond performance measurement: contribution measurement. PMA Conference 2014, Aarhus Denmark, 25-27 Jun 2014.

Haghighi, Azin Mostajer, Baum, Thomas and Shafti, Farhad (2014) Dimensions of customer loyalty in hospitality micro-enterprises. Service Industries Journal, 34(3), pp. 251-273. (doi: 10.1080/02642069.2013.763928)

Shafti, Farhad (2014) Setting research agendas for productivity management in services. International Journal for Quality and Productivity Management, 11(1), pp. 25-42.

2012

Maguire, Stuart, Ojiako, Udechukwu, Papadopoulos, Thanos, Shafti, Farhad, Koh, Lenny and Kanellis, Panagiotis (2012) Synchronicity and alignment of productivity: the real value from service science? Production Planning & Control, 23(7), pp. 498-512. (doi: 10.1080/09537287.2011.640038)

2011

Shafti, Farhad, Felice, Maria, Van Der Meer, Robert and Bititci, Umit (2011) Service science, future concerns. 2nd Asian Conference on the Social Sciences (ACSS2011), Osaka, Japan, 20-22 Mar 2011. (Unpublished)

Bititci, U. et al. (2011) Managerial processes: business process that sustain performance. International Journal of Operations and Production Management, 31(8), 851 - 891. (doi: 10.1108/01443571111153076)

Bittici, U., Ackermann, F., Ates, Aylin, Davies, Jillian C., Gibb, S., Mackay, David, Maguire, Catherine, van der Meer, Robert and Shafti, Farhad (2011) Managerial processes: an operations management perspective towards dynamic capabilities. Production Planning and Control, 22(2), pp. 157-173. (doi: 10.1080/09537281003738860)

2010

Shafti, F., Bedford, T.J., Deleris, L., Hosking, J., Serban, N., Shen, H. and Walls, L.A. (2010) Service operation classification for risk management. IBM Journal of Research and Development, 54(3), 7:1-7:17. (doi: 10.1147/JRD.2010.2046465)

2008

Shafti, Farhad, Bititci, Umit and Van der Meer, Robert (2008) Service Science, the Elephant and the Blind Men. Who's Who? 22nd Service Conference and Workshop, Silicon Valley, CA, 6-8 Nov 2008. (Unpublished)

Bititci, U., Ackermann, F., Ates, A., Davis, J., Gibb, S., MacBryde, R.B., Shafti, F. and Bourne, M. (2008) Manage processes: what are they? Working Paper. University of Strathclyde. (Unpublished)

Mackay, D. et al. (2008) The process of managing performance: an inductive model. 15th International Annual EurOMA Conference 2008, Groningen, Netherlands, 15-18 Jun 2008. (Unpublished)

Mackay, D., Maguire, C., Bititci, U., Ates, A., Shafti, Farhad and Van der Meer, R. (2008) Towards a mixed method approach for the multidisciplinary investigation of management processes. EURAM 2008, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 14-17 May 2008.

Maguire, C. et al. (2008) Learning to SEE: Is Scanning the External Environment Key to Sustainability? 15th International Annual European Operations Management Association (EurOMA), Groningen, Netherlands, 15-18 June 2008.

2007

Van Der Meer, R. et al. (2007) An Empirical Study into the Modeling of Key Organizing Processes. 18th Annual Production and Operations Management Society (POMS) Conference, Dallas, TX, 4-7 May 2007.

Shafti, Farhad, Van Der Meer, Robert and Williams, Terry (2007) An empirical approach to service classification for productivity management studies. Service Industries Journal, 27(6), pp. 709-730. (doi: 10.1080/02642060701453197)

2006

Shafti, Farhad (2006) Seeking Productivity, Improving Quality, Challenges Across Service Sectors. First International Egyptian Conference on Total Quality Management in Service Industries, Alexandria, Egypt, 20-21 Jan 2007.

Shafti, F. (2006) Simulating Service Operations, Towards the Borders of Intangibility. 13th International Annual Conference of the European Operations Management Association, Glasgow, UK, 18-21 Jun 2006.

Shafti, F., Van Der Meer, R.B., Williams, T.M. and Bedford, T.J. (2006) Service Classification Research: Welcome Back! 13th International Annual Conference of the European Operations Management Association, Glasgow, UK, 18-21 Jun 2006.

2005

Shafti, Farhad (2005) Extending the boundaries of simulation. Operational Research-UK Annual Conference (OR47), Chester, UK, 13-15 Sep 2005. (Unpublished)

Shafti, Farhad, Van der Meer, Robert and Williams, Terry (2005) Classification of services: a new approach. Application in productivity management. Working Paper. University of Strathclyde.

2004

Shafti, Farhad and Wisniewski, Mik (2004) Impressing from a distance. 46th Annual Conference of the Operational Research Society (OR46), York, UK, 7-9 September 2004. (Unpublished)

2003

Shafti, F., Van Der Meer, R.B. and Williams, T.M. (2003) Service operations, the question of productivity and quality. 1st Joint European Operations Management Association (Euroma) and Production and Operations Management Society (POMS) International Conference, Lake Como, Italy, 16-18 June 2003. (Unpublished)

Wisniewski, M. and Shafti, F. (2003) Teaching and learning of performance measurement in OR/MS degrees. MSOR Connections, 3(4), pp. 39-41.

2001

Shafti, F., Van Der Meer, R.B. and Williams, T.M. (2001) Insights into service industries: the productivity management view. 8th International Annual Conference of the European Operations Management Association (Euroma), Bath, UK, 3-5 June 2001.

2000

Shafti, F., Van Der Meer, R.B. and Williams, T.M. (2000) A comparative study of productivity management in different services. 12th Annual Conference of the Production and Operations Management Society (POMS), Orlando, FL, 30 March-02 April 2001.

Shafti, Farhad, Van Der Meer, Robert and Williams, Terence (2000) Classifications of services: a never-ending story. British Academy of Management Annual Conference (BAM2000), Edinburgh, UK, 13-15 Sep 2000. (Unpublished)

Shafti, Farhad, Van Der Meer, Robert and Williams, Terence (2000) Productivity management and service operations: a generic approach. 7th International Annual Conference of the European Operations Management Association (Euroma), Ghent, Belgium, 04-07 June 2000.

1996

Shafti, Farhad (1996) Comparative analysis of the Iranian Culture and its effect on National Movement for Productivity (Trns) - تحليل تطبیقی فرهنگ ایرانی و تاثیر آن بر حرکت ملی بهره وری. Second National Productivity Congress, Tehran, Iran, 12 Nov 1996.

This list was generated on Sat Jan 31 01:01:46 2026 GMT.
Jump to: Articles | Books | Research Reports or Papers | Conference or Workshop Item
Number of items: 36.

Articles

Karlsson, Paula S. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3187-6078, Shafti, Farhad and Duffy, Katherine ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3523-6892 (2025) The house of the business school: A pragmatic approach to conceptualising learning community. International Journal of Management Education, 23(2), 101141. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijme.2025.101141)

Olekanma, Obafemi, Dörfler, Viktor and Shafti, Farhad (2022) Stepping into the participants’ shoes: the trans-positional cognition approach. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 21, p. 16094069211072413. (doi: 10.1177/16094069211072413)

Haghighi, Azin Mostajer, Baum, Thomas and Shafti, Farhad (2014) Dimensions of customer loyalty in hospitality micro-enterprises. Service Industries Journal, 34(3), pp. 251-273. (doi: 10.1080/02642069.2013.763928)

Shafti, Farhad (2014) Setting research agendas for productivity management in services. International Journal for Quality and Productivity Management, 11(1), pp. 25-42.

Maguire, Stuart, Ojiako, Udechukwu, Papadopoulos, Thanos, Shafti, Farhad, Koh, Lenny and Kanellis, Panagiotis (2012) Synchronicity and alignment of productivity: the real value from service science? Production Planning & Control, 23(7), pp. 498-512. (doi: 10.1080/09537287.2011.640038)

Bititci, U. et al. (2011) Managerial processes: business process that sustain performance. International Journal of Operations and Production Management, 31(8), 851 - 891. (doi: 10.1108/01443571111153076)

Bittici, U., Ackermann, F., Ates, Aylin, Davies, Jillian C., Gibb, S., Mackay, David, Maguire, Catherine, van der Meer, Robert and Shafti, Farhad (2011) Managerial processes: an operations management perspective towards dynamic capabilities. Production Planning and Control, 22(2), pp. 157-173. (doi: 10.1080/09537281003738860)

Shafti, F., Bedford, T.J., Deleris, L., Hosking, J., Serban, N., Shen, H. and Walls, L.A. (2010) Service operation classification for risk management. IBM Journal of Research and Development, 54(3), 7:1-7:17. (doi: 10.1147/JRD.2010.2046465)

Shafti, Farhad, Van Der Meer, Robert and Williams, Terry (2007) An empirical approach to service classification for productivity management studies. Service Industries Journal, 27(6), pp. 709-730. (doi: 10.1080/02642060701453197)

Wisniewski, M. and Shafti, F. (2003) Teaching and learning of performance measurement in OR/MS degrees. MSOR Connections, 3(4), pp. 39-41.

Books

Wisniewski, Mik, Shafti, Farhad and Yeo, Wee Meng ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1173-9583 (2025) Quantitative Analysis for Decision Makers, 8th edition. Pearson. ISBN 9781292469850

Wisniewski, Mik and Shafti, Farhad (2019) Quantitative Analysis for Decision Makers [7th ed.]. Pearson. ISBN 9781292276618

Research Reports or Papers

Bititci, U., Ackermann, F., Ates, A., Davis, J., Gibb, S., MacBryde, R.B., Shafti, F. and Bourne, M. (2008) Manage processes: what are they? Working Paper. University of Strathclyde. (Unpublished)

Shafti, Farhad, Van der Meer, Robert and Williams, Terry (2005) Classification of services: a new approach. Application in productivity management. Working Paper. University of Strathclyde.

Conference or Workshop Item

Karlsson-Brown, Paula ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3187-6078, Shafti, Farhad and Duffy, Kat ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3523-6892 (2021) What Is a Learning Community, Really? Adam Smith Business School Learning and Teaching Seminar, 25 Mar 2021.

He, Sijin and Shafti, Farhad (2019) A Starting Point for Teaching CSR: Mapping the Content. 8th International Conference on Social Responsibility, Ethics and Sustainable Business, Braga, Portugal, 24-25 Oct 2019. (Unpublished)

Shafti, Farhad (2016) Service productivity: a journey planner. PMA Conference 2016, Edinburgh, UK, 26-29 Jun 2016.

Shafti, Farhad (2015) Reflections on performance measurement: towards a new paradigm. The Strathclyde Evening Talks, Glasgow, UK, June 2015. (Unpublished)

Shafti, Farhad (2014) Beyond performance measurement: contribution measurement. PMA Conference 2014, Aarhus Denmark, 25-27 Jun 2014.

Shafti, Farhad, Felice, Maria, Van Der Meer, Robert and Bititci, Umit (2011) Service science, future concerns. 2nd Asian Conference on the Social Sciences (ACSS2011), Osaka, Japan, 20-22 Mar 2011. (Unpublished)

Shafti, Farhad, Bititci, Umit and Van der Meer, Robert (2008) Service Science, the Elephant and the Blind Men. Who's Who? 22nd Service Conference and Workshop, Silicon Valley, CA, 6-8 Nov 2008. (Unpublished)

Mackay, D. et al. (2008) The process of managing performance: an inductive model. 15th International Annual EurOMA Conference 2008, Groningen, Netherlands, 15-18 Jun 2008. (Unpublished)

Mackay, D., Maguire, C., Bititci, U., Ates, A., Shafti, Farhad and Van der Meer, R. (2008) Towards a mixed method approach for the multidisciplinary investigation of management processes. EURAM 2008, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 14-17 May 2008.

Maguire, C. et al. (2008) Learning to SEE: Is Scanning the External Environment Key to Sustainability? 15th International Annual European Operations Management Association (EurOMA), Groningen, Netherlands, 15-18 June 2008.

Van Der Meer, R. et al. (2007) An Empirical Study into the Modeling of Key Organizing Processes. 18th Annual Production and Operations Management Society (POMS) Conference, Dallas, TX, 4-7 May 2007.

Shafti, Farhad (2006) Seeking Productivity, Improving Quality, Challenges Across Service Sectors. First International Egyptian Conference on Total Quality Management in Service Industries, Alexandria, Egypt, 20-21 Jan 2007.

Shafti, F. (2006) Simulating Service Operations, Towards the Borders of Intangibility. 13th International Annual Conference of the European Operations Management Association, Glasgow, UK, 18-21 Jun 2006.

Shafti, F., Van Der Meer, R.B., Williams, T.M. and Bedford, T.J. (2006) Service Classification Research: Welcome Back! 13th International Annual Conference of the European Operations Management Association, Glasgow, UK, 18-21 Jun 2006.

Shafti, Farhad (2005) Extending the boundaries of simulation. Operational Research-UK Annual Conference (OR47), Chester, UK, 13-15 Sep 2005. (Unpublished)

Shafti, Farhad and Wisniewski, Mik (2004) Impressing from a distance. 46th Annual Conference of the Operational Research Society (OR46), York, UK, 7-9 September 2004. (Unpublished)

Shafti, F., Van Der Meer, R.B. and Williams, T.M. (2003) Service operations, the question of productivity and quality. 1st Joint European Operations Management Association (Euroma) and Production and Operations Management Society (POMS) International Conference, Lake Como, Italy, 16-18 June 2003. (Unpublished)

Shafti, F., Van Der Meer, R.B. and Williams, T.M. (2001) Insights into service industries: the productivity management view. 8th International Annual Conference of the European Operations Management Association (Euroma), Bath, UK, 3-5 June 2001.

Shafti, F., Van Der Meer, R.B. and Williams, T.M. (2000) A comparative study of productivity management in different services. 12th Annual Conference of the Production and Operations Management Society (POMS), Orlando, FL, 30 March-02 April 2001.

Shafti, Farhad, Van Der Meer, Robert and Williams, Terence (2000) Classifications of services: a never-ending story. British Academy of Management Annual Conference (BAM2000), Edinburgh, UK, 13-15 Sep 2000. (Unpublished)

Shafti, Farhad, Van Der Meer, Robert and Williams, Terence (2000) Productivity management and service operations: a generic approach. 7th International Annual Conference of the European Operations Management Association (Euroma), Ghent, Belgium, 04-07 June 2000.

Shafti, Farhad (1996) Comparative analysis of the Iranian Culture and its effect on National Movement for Productivity (Trns) - تحليل تطبیقی فرهنگ ایرانی و تاثیر آن بر حرکت ملی بهره وری. Second National Productivity Congress, Tehran, Iran, 12 Nov 1996.

This list was generated on Sat Jan 31 01:01:46 2026 GMT.

Grants

  • Co-Investigator, ‘Managing the Manage Processes’, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), 2005 – 2008, £372,945
  • Team leader: ‘Collaborative study of Service Science’, University of Strathclyde Research Enhancement Scheme, £8000, 2007 - 2008
  • Academic member: ‘Funded Project for the Scottish Highlands and Islands Centre for Business Process Outsourcing (CBPO)’ 2006 – 2008  
  • Co-Investigator, ‘Teaching and learning of performance measurement on MS/OR degrees’, LTSN- Maths, Stats and OR Network, 2000 – 2001, £5000

Supervision

Farhad is interested in supervising works in the following areas:

  • Application of non-financial measures, including qualitative methods, in performance measurement and management in services
  • Application of Soft OR in problem structuring
  • Conceptualising productivity and its links with quality in services
  • Effect of culture and ethical/religious systems on management and performance
  • Application of performance measurement for CSR
  • New methods for managing and measuring customer satisfaction

He is also open to proposals on any other areas that fulfill the same interests and aspirations that the above topics cover.

Current supervision:

  • Irene Han: The Transformative Journey of Social Media Entrepreneurs  

  • (TBC): Decision Modelling and Analysis of Behavioral-Organizational Dynamics in Retail & Supply Chain

 

  • Otepbergen, Aigerim
    Performance Measurement and Management in Kazakhstani Higher Education: Implications for Employee Wellbeing

Some of the topics that I supervsed and led to successful PhD:
Completed PhD students:

  • Performance Management and Well Being in the Higher Education
  • Performance Management for CSR in higher education
  • Productivity of Knowledge Workers in the Nigerian Finacial Sector
  • Performance Management in Thai R&D Organisations

Teaching

  • Service and Operations Management
  • Performance Measurement
  • (Soft) Operational Research
  • Simulation

 

 

Additional information

Topics taught before joining the University of Glasgow:

  • Operations Management, MBA (Iran, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Switzerland, Greece, Singapore, Malaysia)
  • Service Operations and Simulation, MBA elective (Glasgow, Abu Dhabi)
  • Service Operations Management, MSc (Campus and Distance Learning)
  • Performance Measurement & Management, MSc (Campus and Distance Learning)
  • Becoming an Effective Business Analyst, MSc
  • Modelling Service operations, Honours Year 
  • Operations Strategy: Honours Year
  • Discrete Event Simulation, MSc (Campus and Distance Learning)
  • Introduction to Management Science, 1st Year UG
  • Research Methodology, Honours Year
  •  Management Development Programme, Years 1-3, UG

Professional Development and Training Courses:

  • Executive Academy: Leading with Impact, EFMD
  • Research Supervision Induction Course, University of Strathclyde
  • Teaching, Learning & Assessment in Higher Education Course, University of Strathclyde
  • Research Methodology Course, University of Strathclyde
  • Asian Productivity Organisation (APO) Observational Study Mission to Japan, Taiwan and Malaysia

Dr Farhad Shafti