CAREER SUMMARY

Shanta Rajapaksha Yapa PhD (Colombo), FBCS (UK), MIET (UK), MBA (Sri J.), MSc (Moratuwa) , NDT Mech Eng., CMILT (SL), CMSLIM, MCS (SL), MIEEE 

Dr. Yapa is the first PhD from the Faculty of Management & Finance, University of Colombo. He has academic and professional qualifications in mechanical engineering, IT,  textile and clothing technology, banking and business management. He is a Certified Innovation Manager and a member of eight chartered and professional institutions in IT, engineering, logistics, marketing, psychology and industrial engineering. He has received training in development banking, quality management and energy engineering from HIID of Harvard University, JNIDB (India), and RIT, Sweden. 

Dr Yapa has 36 years of experience in diverse industry sectors of manufacturing, banking, international business and ICT in leading organizations including Hatton National Bank PLC, Ceylinco Group and Affiniti Innovations. He is currently a board director of the ICT Industry Skills Council of Sri Lanka, a past president (2013/15) and an exco member (2008/2020) of the FITIS Software Chapter and represented Sri Lanka at the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) as a council member (2013/2015).

He has been teaching strategy, OB and research methods in postgraduate programs of 20 local and international universities for 20 years as a visiting lecturer. The universities include University of Moratuwa, 7 UK universities, 2 Australian universities and 3 Indian universities. He is an Asst Professor (Visiting) attached to Universal Business School, India and works as an advisor of their Case Research Center. He is an Associate Tutor attached to Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK. He is in advisory committees of many Sri Lankan universities. He was a visiting faculty member of AITE of the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand for 7 years (2008/2015). He was also a member of the standing committee for IT at the University Grants Commission from 2010 to 2017.

Dr Yapa has published several articles and tools in open innovation and knowledge management. In 2020, he authored the strategy book RISING IN CRISIS – Survival & Growth Strategies for Entrepreneurs and Managers. The book offers many new tools and over 200 strategic insights covering all functional areas of an organization.  He is a certified reviewer and a member of the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council, an opt-in research community of business professionals.

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

• PhD in Management & Business Studies - Faculty of Management & Finance, University of Colombo - Thesis: Open Innovation  (2014-2020)
• MSc - Textile & Clothing, Faculty of Engineering, University of Moratuwa (2003-2007)
• MBA - Postgraduate Institue of Management, University of Sri Jayewaradenepura (1995-1998)
• NDT Mechanical Engineering (Automobile) - University of Moratuwa (1981-1984)
• Intermediate Diploma in Banking - Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka  (1993)

Part qualifications: 

• Completed all the taught modules with an overall distinction of the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree of AIT, Thailand (2007/2012).
• Completed all the taught modules of the Postgraduate Diploma in Industrial Engineering program of NIBM (1999/2000).

RESEARCH INTERESTS AND MEMBERSHIP

MY PUBLICATIONS