Biography

Mark Klassen's research is primarily in innovation with a focus on measuring innovation culture and more recently sustainability. His publications are more practitioner and executive oriented, blending academic research with pragmatic strategic advice for business leaders. Mark has an extensive consulting background including experience with Big 4 and Global Technology Consulting Firms. Mark has served CPA/CMA Saskatchewan in the past as a Board member and is currently actively involved with the Canadian Academic Accounting Association. Mark has taught management accounting and information systems classes in the undergrad, MBA and Masters of Professional Accounting (MPacc) programs.

Courses

Mark Klassen’s teaching interests are primarily in management accounting and control and information systems. In 2013, he was awarded MPacc Professor of the Year.

 

Comm 210: Introductory Management Accounting

This course introduces students to the vital role that modern management accounting information plays in running a business in today’s economy. Understanding of the management accounting information, examining the usefulness of the information from management’s perspective, and understanding the limitations of accounting information and the potential dysfunctional behavior that may arise from its use are the primary focus areas of this course. The course is mandatory for all ESB students and is typically taken in the second year of their studies.

COMM 337: Accounting Information Systems

This course is an introduction to Accounting Information Systems (AIS). The course explores the fundamental role of AIS is to support and facilitate achieving the objectives of a business by enabling managers. The four key objectives of AIS that are emphasized in the course are 1) to make decisions that add value to the business, 2) to control vital business processes and thereby ensure that the processes function correctly, 3)to develop accurate, timely, reliable and consistent reports on the financial and non-financial performance of the business and 4) to assure internal and external parties that the reporting of business’s performance is in accordance with established rules and procedures for reporting such as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)

MPACC 804: Strategic Management Accounting

This is a course in strategic management accounting which serves to blend traditional management accounting with best practice management concepts. The course focuses on developing a solid understanding of management control systems, with a particular focus on performance management. Building on the concepts of strategy formulation and implementation, this course aims to provide a holistic view of performance management. In addition the course also revisits traditional cost accounting methods and techniques. This course is taken by all students completing the Masters of Professional Accounting Program.

MBA 837: Accounting for Planning and Decision Making

This course introduces students to the vital role that modern management accounting information plays in running a business in today’s economy. This course assumes that most students taking this course will be in a management position in a non-accounting functional area in the future. Understanding the management accounting information, examining the usefulness of the information from management’s perspective, and understanding the limitations of accounting information and the potential dysfunctional behavior that may arise from its use are the primary focus areas of this course. The course was required by all MBAs to complete their MBA degree.

Publications

PUBLISHED

M. Klassen*, C. Brooke Dobni, K. Hertes (Accepted), Developing an innovation culture construct for healthcare organizations, Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management. (May 13, 2024).

N.T. Sheehan, G. Kobussen, G., G. Vaidyanathan, M. Klassen (Accepted). An interactive sustainability management approach to implement CSR initiatives, Management Accounting Frontiers, (April 20, 2024).

Sheehan, N.T., Vaidyanathan, G., Fox, K.A. and Klassen, M. (2023). Making the invisible, visible: Overcoming barriers to ESG performance with an ESG mindset, Business Horizons, 66(2): 265-276.

Klassen, M*., Dobni, C. and Wilson, G. (2023). The long game of innovation, Journal of Business Strategy, 44(4): 183-190.

Wilson, G., Dobni, C. and Klassen, M. (2022). Business practices of highly innovative Japanese firms. Asia Pacific Management Review, 27(3): 155-162.

Sheehan, N.T., Fox, K.A., Klassen, M*., and Vaidyanathan, G. (2022). Threshold concepts and ESG performance: Teaching accounting students reconceptualized fundamentals to drive future ESG advocacy, Accounting Education 33(1): 84-108.

Dobni, C. Klassen, M. and Wilson, G. (2021). Strategy shifts for innovation, Strategy and Leadership, 49(2): 36-40.

Dobni, C., and Klassen*, M. (2020), The decade of innovation, from benchmarking to execution, The Journal of Business Strategy, 42(1).

Klassen, M*., Dobni, C., and Neufeldt, V. (2020), Innovation Orientation and Performance in the Not-for-profit Sector, International Journal of Business Innovation and Research, 23(4): 540-560.

Klassen, M., Kalagnanam, S. and Vasal, V.K. (2019), Managing Values and Financial Accountability: The Case of a Large NGO, International Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management, 19(1): 103-127.

Dobni, C. and Klassen, M*. (2018) Linking innovation measurement to an implementation framework: A case study of a financial services organization, Journal of Innovation Management, 6(1): 80-110.

Dobni, C, Klassen, M. and Sands, D. (2016), Getting to clarity: new ways to think about strategy, Journal of Business Strategy, 37(5): 12-21.

Dobni, C., and Klassen, M*. (2015), Advancing an innovation orientation in organizations: Insight from North American business leaders. Journal of Innovation Management, 3(1): 104-121.

Dobni, C., Klassen, M*. and Nelson, W. (2015), Innovation strategy in the US: top executives offer their views, Journal of Business Strategy, 36(1): 3-13.

Klassen, M.*, and Kalagnanam, S. (2011), Mountain city transit: Management control and performance measurement. Accounting Perspectives, 10(3): 225-235.

Klassen, M.*, and Kalagnanam, S. (2011), Western cabinets – building a cabinet or building a transformation? IMA Educational Case Journal, 4(4).