Aloysius Named Interim Director of Walton College Behavioral Business Research Lab

University Relations

John Aloysius

John Aloysius has been named interim director of the Behavioral Business Research Lab at the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas. 

As director, Aloysius temporarily replaces Cary Deck, an economics department professor who is taking a one-year sabbatical to serve as the visiting Rasmuson Chair of Economics in Anchorage, Alaska.

Anne O'Leary-Kelly, associate dean for Graduate Programs and Research at Walton College, appointed Aloysius as interim director for a one-year term beginning July 1.

"John was a natural choice to oversee the lab," O'Leary-Kelly said. "As a researcher, he uses the lab frequently and has significant experience working with researchers from different disciplines. He also has worked closely with Dr. Deck, which will be helpful for the transition." 

Aloysius is an associate professor in Walton's supply chain management department. His research interests focus on supply chain and behavioral decision-making. His laboratory studies span auto-ID and mobile technologies, customer-facing applications of technology, applications of cognitive and social psychology and behavioral economics.

"I am excited. The lab is one of our more valuable resources," Aloysius said. "What we have is a multi-user facility second to none."

The Behavioral Business Research Lab has several components for faculty or external corporate researchers, including a customer insights lab, computer lab, breakout rooms and a control room. 

The customer insights lab is a staging area for retailers, complete with shelving full of common products for American families - peanut butter, cereal, undergarments and more.  The computer lab can be configured for private responses using privacy screens or group responses with computers facing each other. Small group studies can take place in the breakout rooms even if participants are in different locations. Using sophisticated audio and video equipment, the control room can monitor and observe each study.

"If there is one thing that I'd like to do, it is to incorporate more interdisciplinary research that advances academic knowledge as well as provides a resource for industry," Aloysius said. He hopes to promote that interdisciplinary work with informal presentations and discussions between researchers from different departments and colleges.

"Operationally, however, nothing should change," Aloysius said.

Aloysius received his B.S. in mathematics and statistics from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, and his Ph.D. in operations management from Temple University.  His publications have appeared in Information Systems Research, MIS Quarterly, Production and Operations Management, Journal of Operations Management, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes and other journals. He has conducted studies for the Retail Industry Leaders Association, and corporate partners of the Walton College. He teaches in the EMBA, the full-time MBA, the professional MIS and the China study abroad programs of the Walton College. He is a member of INFORMS, CSCMP and POMS professional associations.