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John Olson

Professor

  • Education
  • B.S., Economics and Mathematics, University of Minnesota
    M.B.A., Operations Management, St. Cloud State University
    Ph.D., Operations Management, University of Nebraska
  • Research Interests
  • The impact of blockchain technology on health care systems

John Olson, PhD, has been a faculty member at the University of St. Thomas since 2004. He has taught a variety of courses including undergraduate and graduate courses in operations management, quality management and analytics. He currently serves as the faculty director of the Master of Science in Business Analytics program.

Olson loves teaching students how to make sense of data. He finds it very rewarding when students learn how to use data to gain valuable insights and make better decisions. He also has several years of consulting experience and has been able to keep his classroom current by understanding the real problems facing companies in today’s business environment.

Olson’s research explores how emerging technology impacts the healthcare ecosystem. He focuses on how this technology has the potential to change how data is used in healthcare to ultimately lower healthcare costs and increase the quality of care.


  • McLaughlin, D. B., & Olson, J. R. (2017). Teaching the use of systems dynamics for strategic decision making in healthcare. INFORMS Transactions on Education, (17)(3),
  • Olson, J. R., & McLaughlin, D. B. (2014). Case study: Process improvement in the criminal court. (37)(3), pp. 1-5
  • Sanders Jones, J., White, S. W., & Olson, J. R. (2013). University of St. Thomas uses AHP to grow operations management major. International Journal of Information and Operations Management Education, (5)(2), pp. 130-153
  • Tyagi, R., Cook, L., Olson, J. R., & Belohlav, J. (2013). Healthcare technologies, quality improvement programs and hospital organizational culture in Canadian hospitals. BMC, Health Services Research, (13), pp. 1-20
  • Olson, J. R., Belohlav, J., & Cook, L. (2012). A Rasch model analysis of technology usage in Minnesota hospitals.
  • Behohlay, J., Cook, L., Olson, J. R., & Drehmer, D. (2010). Core values in hospitals: A comparative study. Quality Management Journal, (17)(4),
  • Olson, J. R., Hays, J., Belohlav, J., & Cook, L. (2008). Examining quality improvement programs: The case of Minnesota hospitals. (43)(5), pp. 0017-9124
  • Olson, J. R., & Cook, L. (2006). The sky's the limit: An activity for teaching project management: an experiential learning activity. Journal of Management Education, (30), pp. 404-420
  • Olson, J. R., Belohlav, J., Hartman, L., & Rubin, R. (2006). The quandary of serving multiple masters: An institutional exploratory analysis of publishing in business law. Midwest Law Review, (20), pp. 1-22
  • Olson, J. R., & Boyer, K. (2005). Internet ticketing in a not-for-profit, service business: Building customer loyalty. International Journal of Operations and Production Management, (25)(1), pp. 74-93
  • Olson, J. R., Belohlav, J., & Boyer, K. (2005). Operational, economic and mission elements in not-for-profit organizations: A case of the Chicago symphony orchestra. Journal of Operations Management, (25)(3), pp. 125-143
  • Olson, J. R., & Boyer, K. (2004). Operations strategy and internet purchasing: A contingent model. (2)(1), pp. 41-63
  • Olson, J. R., Aase, G., & Schniederjans, M. (2004). U-shaped assembly line layouts and their impact on labor productivity: An experimental integer programming study. European Journal of Operational Research, (156), pp. 698-711
  • Olson, J. R., Aase, G., & Schniederjans, M. (2004). U-OPT: An analysis of exact u-shaped line balancing procedures. International Journal of Production Research, (41)(17), pp. 4185-4120
  • Olson, J. R., Schniederjans, M., & Cao, Q. (2004). Consumer perceptions of product quality: Made in China. Quality Management Journal, (11)(3), pp. 8-19
  • Olson, J. R., Swenseth, S., & Southard, P. (2002). Extending product profiling through simulation. International Journal of Operations and Production Management, (22)(9), pp. 956-971
  • Olson, J. R., & Aase, G. (2002). Programs du joir: Why don't they work. Business Horizons, (45)(3),
  • Olson, J. R., & Boyer, K. (2002). Factors influencing the utilization of internet purchasing in small organizations. Journal of Operations Management, (21)(2), pp. pp225-245
  • Olson, J. R., & Boyer, K. (2002). Drivers of internet purchasing success. Production and Operations Management, (11)(4), pp. 480-498
  • Olson, J. R., Boyer, K., Calantone, R., & Jackson, E. (2002). Print vs. electronic surveys: A comparison of two data collection methodologies. Journal of Operations Management, (20)(4), pp. pp357-373
  • Olson, J. R., & McLaughlin, D. B. (2017). Healthcare operations management 3rd Ed. Healthcare Administration Press
  • Olson, J. R., & McLaughlin, D. B. (2012). Healthcare operations management 2nd Ed. Healthcare Administration Press
  • Department of Management Teaching, 2003
  • Decision Sciences Institute
  • Decision Sciences Innovative Educational Journal
  • Journal of Operations Management, Production and Operations Management, Reviewer
  • Journal of Service Business
  • City of Monticello, Board Member
  • Professor, University of St Thomas, (2012 - present)
  • Director, Business Analytics Program, University of St. Thomas, Saint Paul / Minneapolis (2015 - present)
  • Director, Healthcare Research Center, University of St. Thomas, Saint Paul / Minneapolis (2015 - present)
  • Operations Supply Chain Management Department Chair, University of St. Thomas - Opus College of Business, St. Paul / Minneapolis (2009 - 2015)
  • Associate Professor, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul / Minneapolis (2004 - 2012)
  • Assistant Professor, DePaul University, Chicago (1999 - 2004)
  • Principal Investigator, DePaul University, Chicago (2000 - 2001)
  • Executive Education, DePaul University, Chicago (2000 - 2000)
  • Assistant Professor, DePaul University, Chicago (2000 - 2000)
  • Grant Coordinator, University of Nebraska, Lincoln (1996 - 1999)
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Nebraska, Lincoln (1995 - 1999)
  • Graduate Research Assistant, University of Nebraska, Lincoln (1997 - 1997)
  • Instructor, Hempac Summer Institute, St. Cloud (1994 - 1994)
  • Graduate Research Assistant, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud (1992 - 1994)