Biography
John Varlaro’s areas of focus are business strategy and industrial/organizational (I/O) psychology. John is a case author and teacher, utilizing case method and discussion-focused pedagogy inside the classroom to develop critical-thinking and applied decision-making. He publishes strategic management and human resource management/organizational behavior cases. One of his co-authored case studies was awarded the Case Centre’s 2023 Outstanding Compact Case. John has contributed to strategic management and human resource management textbooks, and recently the Palgrave Encyclopedia of Leadership and Organizational Change.
John is a past president of the North American Case Research Association (NACRA). He is an editorial board member for the Philosophy of Management Journal and an editorial advisory board member for the Transformational Management Review Journal and the CASE Journal.
John teaches courses in strategy, research & managerial decision-making, leadership, organizational psychology, organizational behavior and human resource management at the undergraduate and graduate-level.
Education
PhD, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Business Psychology
MBA, University of Hawai’i at Mano’a
Business Administration
BA, Ithaca College
CITI Certification
Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI)
Introduction to Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees Training
New England Society for Biomedical Research (formally MSMR)
Global Professional in HR (GPHR)
HR Certification Institute (HRCI)
Senior Professional in Human Resources
HR Certification Institute (HRCI)
CITI Certification
Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI)
Senior Toast
Johnson & Wales University
Game Changer
Johnson & Wales Men’s Hockey Team
Outstanding Compact Case
The Case Centre
Teacher of the Year, College of Business
Johnson & Wales University
“What Office Culture Could Be Like When the Lockdown is Over.” Varlaro, J. (May 14, 2020)
. https://www.rd.com/advice/work-career/what-office-culture-could-be-like-when-lockdown-is-over/
“NFL Labor Dispute.” Varlaro, J. (March 5, 2011)
The Association for Humanistic Psychology (AHP)
The Association for Transpersonal Psychology (ATP)
North American Case Research Association (NACRA)
American Psychological Association (APA)
MENSA
Academy of Management (AOM)
Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP)
Beta Gamma Sigma
Varlaro, J. (June, 2026). Instructor Powerpoint Slides for Textbook Chapters: Essentials of Strategic Management. (Instructional Material).
McGraw Hill, 2026 Release.
https://www.mheducation.com/highered/product/essentials-of-strategic-management-the-quest-for-competitive-advantage-gamble.html?viewOption=student&release=2026+Release#mh-ecomm-he-product-accordion-2007874096-heading-mh-ecomm-accordion-list-922d110b9a
Varlaro, J. & Gamble, J. (June, 2026). Airbnb in 2025: Essentials of Strategic Management: The Quest for Competitive Advantage. (Case).
McGraw Hill Education, 2026 Release.
https://www.mheducation.com/highered/product/essentials-of-strategic-management-the-quest-for-competitive-advantage-gamble.html?viewOption=student&release=2026+Release#mh-ecomm-he-product-accordion-2007874096-heading-mh-ecomm-accordion-list-922d110b9a
Varlaro, J. & Dhiman, S. (November 25, 2025). Cognitive Dissonance Theory (Leon Festinger): The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Leadership and Organizational Change. (Book Chapter).
Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
https://link.springer.com/referencework/10.1007/978-3-031-51650-4#overview
Varlaro, J. & Dhiman, S. (October (4th Quarter/Autumn) 12, 2025). Self-Actualization: The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Leadership and Organizational Change. (Book Chapter).
Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
https://link.springer.com/referencework/10.1007/978-3-031-51650-4#overview
Varlaro, J. & Dhiman, S. (October (4th Quarter/Autumn) 12, 2025). Theory on Human Motivation (Hierarchy of Needs): The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Leadership and Organizational Change. (Book Chapter).
Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
https://link.springer.com/referencework/10.1007/978-3-031-51650-4#overview
Varlaro, J. & Dhiman, S. (September 2, 2025). Eupsychian Management (Abraham H. Maslow): The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Leadership and Organizational Change. (Book Chapter).
Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
https://link.springer.com/rwe/10.1007/978-3-031-51650-4_110-1
Varlaro, J. (March 1, 2024). Human Resources is like a snake that eats its own tail [Letter to the editor]. (Newspaper Article).
The Financial Times, 14.
https://www.ft.com/content/ee6fdc58-9d49-45b6-8ca6-c62f349482a5
Gamble, J. & Varlaro, J. (January (1st Quarter/Winter), 2024). Airbnb in 2023: Crafting and Executing Strategy: The Quest for Competitive Advantage: Concepts and Cases. (Case).
McGraw Hill Education, 24th.
https://www.mheducation.com/highered/product/crafting-executing-strategy-quest-competitive-advantage-concepts-cases-strickland-gamble/1265807361.html
Varlaro, J. & Gamble, J. (January (1st Quarter/Winter), 2024). Deere & Company in 2023-Its Innovation Strategy in Agricultural Robotics and Artificial Intelligence: Crafting and Executing Strategy: The Quest for Competitive Advantage: Concepts and Cases. (Case).
McGraw Hill Education, 24th.
https://www.mheducation.com/highered/product/crafting-executing-strategy-quest-competitive-advantage-concepts-cases-strickland-gamble/1265807361.html
Varlaro, J. & Gamble, J. (January (1st Quarter/Winter), 2024). Microsoft’s Strategic Alliance with OpenAI, Inc: Will the Partnership Create a First Mover Advantage?: Crafting and Executing Strategy: The Quest for Competitive Advantage: Concepts and Cases. (Case).
McGraw Hill Education, 24th.
https://www.mheducation.com/highered/product/crafting-executing-strategy-quest-competitive-advantage-concepts-cases-strickland-gamble/1265807361.html
Varlaro, J. & Gamble, J. (January (1st Quarter/Winter), 2023). Airbnb in 2022: Essentials of Strategic Management: The Quest for Competitive Advantage. (Case).
McGraw Hill Education, 8th.
Amos, N. & Varlaro, J. (2022). Alice’s Maternity Leave – Beneficial leave or Left Behind?. (Case).
Ivey Publishing.
https://www.iveypublishing.ca/s/product/haileys-handbags-customer-complaints-or-cyberbullying/01t5c00000D4plNAAR
Varlaro, J. (2022). The Practice of Human Resource Management. (Textbook).
Great River Learning, 2nd.
Varlaro, J. & Gamble, J. (2021). Airbnb in 2020: Crafting and Executing Strategy: The Quest for Competitive Advantage: Concepts and Cases. (Case).
McGraw Hill Education, 23rd.
Varlaro, J. & Gamble, J. (2021). Competition in the Craft Beer Industry in 2020: Crafting and Executing Strategy: The Quest for Competitive Advantage: Concepts and Cases. (Case).
McGraw Hill Education, 23rd.
Amos, N. & Varlaro, J. (2021). Hailey’s Handbags: Customer complaints or cyberbullying?. (Case).
Ivey Publishing.
https://www.iveypublishing.ca/s/product/alices-maternity-leave-beneficial-leave-or-left-behind/01t5c00000D693AAAR
Varlaro, J. (2021). 2021 Proceedings of the North American Case Research Association. (Conference Proceeding).
North American Case Research Association, 35(63rd Year).
https://nacra.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/NACRA-2021-Conference-Proceedings-v1-06092022.pdf
Varlaro, J. & Gamble, J. (2019). Airbnb in 2018: Crafting and Executing Strategy: The Quest for Competitive Advantage: Concepts and Cases. (Case).
McGraw Hill Education, 22nd.
Varlaro, J. & Gamble, J. (2019). Competition in the Craft Beer Industry in 2018: Crafting and Executing Strategy: The Quest for Competitive Advantage: Concepts and Cases. (Case).
McGraw Hill Education, 22nd.
Varlaro, J. & Gamble, J. (2018). Airbnb in 2017: Essentials of Strategic Management: The Quest for Competitive Advantage. (Case).
McGraw Hill Education, 6th.
Varlaro, J. & Gamble, J. (2018). Competition in the Craft Beer Industry in 2017: Essentials of Strategic Management: The Quest for Competitive Advantage. (Case).
McGraw Hill Education, 6th.
Varlaro, J. & Gamble, J. (2018). GAP Inc.: Can it Develop a Strategy to Connect with its Consumers in 2017?: Essentials of Strategic Management: The Quest for Competitive Advantage. (Case).
McGraw Hill Education, 6th.
Varlaro, J. (2018). Instructor’s Manual: HR Management: Gaining a Competitive Advantage. (Instructional Material).
McGraw Hill Education, 11th.
Varlaro, J. & Gamble, J. (2017). Airbnb in 2016: A Business Model for the Sharing Economy: Crafting and Executing Strategy: The Quest for Competitive Advantage: Concepts and Cases. (Case).
McGraw Hill Education, 21st.
Varlaro, J. & Gamble, J. (2017). Competition in the Craft Beer Industry in 2016: Crafting and Executing Strategy: The Quest for Competitive Advantage: Concepts and Cases. (Case).
McGraw Hill Education, 21st.
Varlaro, J. & Gamble, J. (2017). GAP Inc.: Can it Develop a Strategy to Connect with its Consumers in 2016?: Crafting and Executing Strategy: The Quest for Competitive Advantage: Concepts and Cases. (Case).
McGraw Hill Education, 21st.
Varlaro, J. (2017). Instructor’s Manual: Fundamentals of Human Resource Management. (Instructional Material).
McGraw Hill Education, 7th.
Varlaro, J. (2017). The Practice of Human Resource Management. (Textbook).
Great River Learning, First.
https://www.greatriverlearning.com/product-details/1457
Gamble, J. & Varlaro, J. (2016). Apple in 2015: Essentials of Strategic Management: The Question for Competitive Advantage. (Case).
McGraw Hill Education, 5th.
Varlaro, J. (2016). Restaurant Brands International, Inc.,- 2015: A Strategic Management Case: Strategic Management Concepts and Cases: A Competitive Advantage Approach. (Case).
Pearson Education, Inc, 16th.
Varlaro, J. (2016). Instructor’s Manual: HR Management: Gaining a Competitive Advantage. (Instructional Material).
McGraw Hill Education, 10th.
Varlaro, J. (2015). A Guide to the Human Resource Body of Knowledge. (Body of Knowledge).
HR Certification Institute, 1st.
Varlaro, J. (2015). Preparing Tomorrow’s HR Leaders: Aligning Education with HRCI Credentials. (Magazine/Trade Publication).
Certified, 2, 39-41.
University Scholarship and Best Practices Expo, “Case Studies: Pursuing a Scholarly Agenda Through the Case Method,” Johnson & Wales University. (February 14, 2025).
University Scholarship & Best Practices Expo,, “The Role of an IACUC: Scholarship & Learning with Animals,” Johnson & Wales. (February 14, 2025).
2022 North American Case Research Association Annual Conference and Meeting, “The Future of Case Publishing,” North American Case Research Association (NACRA), Niagara Falls, Canada. (October 6, 2022).
16th Annual Meeting of Asociacion Latinoamericana de Casos (ALAC), “Opening and Welcome Address,” Asociacion Latinoamericana de Casos (ALAC) & The International Case Centre of the Tecnologico de Monterrey. (June 30, 2022).
ICRA 2022 3rd Annual Webinar: Quality Case Research and Case Teaching, “Opening and Welcome Address,” International Case Research Association (ICRA) & Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics. (May 4, 2022).
Virtual Panel Discussion on the Future of Case Study Method for Digital Natives, “Future of Case Study Method for Digital Natives,” Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH) & Centre for Management Case Development (CMCD). (November 18, 2021).
ICRA 2021 2nd Annual Webinar: Quality Case Research and Case Teaching, “From Case Conference to Case Publication,” International Case Research Association (ICRA) & Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics. (June 6, 2021).
2020 North American Case Research Association Annual Conference and Meeting, “Case Study Writing from the Perspective of the Audience,” North American Case Research Association (NACRA). (October 9, 2020).
2020 North American Case Research Association Annual Conference and Meeting, “From Department to Practice: DM Fisher’s HRM Transition,” North American Case Research Association (NACRA. (October 8, 2020).
2019 North American Case Research Association Annual Conference and Meeting, “Alice’s Maternity Leave – Beneficial leave or Left Behind?,” North American Case Research Association (NACRA), Tempe, AZ, United States. (October 10, 2019).
2018 North American Case Research Association Annual Conference and Meeting, “Hailey’s Handbags: Customer complaints or cyberbullying?,” North American Case Research Association (NACRA), Orlando, FL, United States. (October 4, 2018).
Eastern Academy of Management 55th Annual Meeting, “Development of a Black STEM Solopreneur: Case A,” Eastern Academy of Management, Providence, RI. (May 3, 2018).