USF professor named 'most prolific'

A business professor at the University of South Florida in St. Petersburg hasn't let his teaching load stand in the way of scholarly publication.

Hemant Merchant, who specializes in international business strategy, has been ranked the 10th most prolific international management scholar in the world, according to USF. The ranking is based on reports in the top three international business journals from 2001 to 2009.

Another study published in Management International Review ranks Merchant the fourth most prolific international management scholar in the United States.

“I was extremely surprised,'' says Merchant in a statement, to learn that his publishing productivity outpaced that of most of his peers. “It shows what you can achieve with persistence.”

Merchant studies the performance drivers of firms competing in emerging markets, as well as service-sector firms. In particular, he focuses on value creation through international joint ventures. “What my studies in general try to do is understand the drivers of stock prices associated with the announcement of joint ventures,” he says in the statement.

Merchant “is an important part of our growing focus on globalization, including global business,'' says Norine Noonan, vice chancellor for academic affairs at USF St. Petersburg.

Merchant has been awarded nearly $200,000 in grants, according to USF.