Five Questions with Chang Hoon Oh
In our Five Questions series, faculty of the University of Kansas School of Business share their insights, experiences and advice for students.
Chang Hoon Oh is the William and Judy Docking Professor of Strategy at the School of Business. His research centers on non-market strategy in challenging environments, business continuity and sustainability, and globalization versus regionalization.
What got you interested in your field, and what is the most rewarding part of being involved in it?
My undergraduate major was engineering, but at that time I was fascinated by social sciences such as economics, sociology and political science. It was very interesting for me to analyze behaviors of individual and organizations. While I had an engineering degree, I was a project manager and marketing manager in Samsung Corporations and Samsung Electronics, where I supported directors and executives to make strategic decisions. When I entered my MBA program, I soon realized that I really liked to study business and management and continued my degree.
The most rewarding parts of being a researcher and teacher are two-fold. First, at times, I received emails noting that practitioners and policy makers read my research articles and would implement my recommendations to their organizations. This has given me an immense sense of accomplishment and motivates me to continue my research. Second, I occasionally receive notes and e-mails from students saying that they enjoyed my class and that I was very helpful for them. As a teacher, this is the most joyful and meaningful moment.
What is your favorite part about being a Jayhawk?
To be honest, I have not yet fully experienced being a Jayhawk due to COVID-19. However, my family has already started cheering on the Jayhawk basketball team!
What would you see yourself doing if you weren’t a professor?
It is very likely that I would have stayed at Samsung Electronics for the past 20 years and become a director by this time. Likely, I would work at least 14 hours per day.
What advice would you give your college self?
Experience something different as much as possible and enjoy the moment as much as I can. Make lifetime friends. When I have time, think about my career and finding out what I like the most.
If you could require students to read one thing before graduation (outside of your class reading), what would it be and why?
I like to recommend various short stories by Peter Bichsel, a Swiss writer. Sorry, I am a boomer. Two of my favorites are, “The Man Who No Longer Wanted to Know Anything,” and “A Table Is a Table.” His stories are short, easy, and cheerful because many of them were written for children, but they might make you think all day about yourself.
By Meaghan Boyd
