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When MIT Sloan School of Management professor Zeynep Ton was a first-year professor at HBS, she was eager to go over her teaching plans with Harvard Business School Professor H. Kent Bowen.

Bowen, the course head of HBS’ Technology and Operations Management, a required MBA course, had asked Ton and another new professor to prepare and present to him the first seven business case scenarios they would teach to students later that year.

While Ton expected Bowen to provide direct suggestions on how to improve her cases, he instead gave his feedback through the HBS case study method – by asking her questions and pushing her to come up with the answers herself.

“When we couldn’t answer his questions, he never gave us the answer. He patiently rephrased and asked again. It took two days to go through those cases,” Ton wrote.

“At the end, we didn’t just learn the material; we experienced what our students would experience—their confusion, struggles, and breakthrough moments,” she added. “When we finally stood in front of our own classrooms, we had empathy for every puzzled face looking back at us. Kent taught us not just how to teach, but how students learn.”

Bowen, who taught at HBS for 15 years before his retirement in 2008, died on July 17 at the age of 83.

Bowen is survived by his wife of 60 years, Kathy Jones; his children, Natalie, Jennifer, Melissa, Kirsten, and Jonathan; and six grandchildren.

Bowen graduated from the University of Utah in 1967 with a degree in Materials Science, before earning a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Ceramics Processing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1971.

Bowen then became a professor at MIT, where he founded the Leaders for Manufacturing program, which “aims to develop and educate global leaders with a deep knowledge of operations, engineering, and management to solve industry’s most important problems,” according to its website.

“That program, now called Leaders for Global Operations, remains a jewel at MIT, with nearly 2,000 graduates — many of whom have profoundly influenced American businesses and Institutions,” Ton wrote.

“Kent didn’t just create programs. He created ways of thinking that replicate across generations,” she added.

Bowen’s interest in manufacturing — which stemmed from his interest in ceramics — led him to the automotive industry, where he worked as a consultant for Lee Iacocca, the executive behind the creation of the Mustang at Ford.

After more than two decades at MIT, Bowen headed across the Charles River to sit in on HBS classes after being invited by several HBS professors to help bolster the school’s Technology and Operations group. He joined the school as a professor of technology and operations soon after in 1992.

While teaching at HBS, Bowen published an article with MIT Professor Steven J. Spear — titled “Decoding the DNA of the Toyota Production System” — which explored why Toyota’s lean manufacturing process became successful. The article would go on to win the Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing Research, which BusinessWeek magazine called the “Nobel Prize of Manufacturing.”

“He and Steve Spear spent years studying the Toyota Production System, decoding its principles, and sharing them with the world,” Ton wrote. “Kent believed in the power of direct observation so he took many of us to Toyota’s Georgetown plant so we could see with our own eyes engaged production workers solving problems and improving performance.”

HBS Professor emeritus Steven C. Wheelwright, who knew Bowen for 55 years, lauded his ability to draw students into the field of engineering through close mentorship.

“He loved to help budding engineers develop the skills and tools that could enable them to become outstanding contributors in the development and discovery of new knowledge,” Wheelwright wrote. “Because he was such an excellent mentor and teacher, he always attracted the best students.”

While Bowen enjoyed academic success, colleagues also remembered Bowen for his strong commitment to his family.

“Kent cared deeply about his family, as did I, and because our children were the same ages, we decided we should take our teenage kids on some summer horse trips in Wyoming and Montana where they could learn a whole new set of skills,” Wheelwright wrote. “Our families loved learning and being taught by Kent and each other in those settings.”

Bowen maintained a lifelong membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He also served as the president of the Boston Latter-day Saints temple from 2012 to 2015.

“Kent was instrumental in having the church buy a large piece of property on Belmont Hill which subsequently was used by the Church to build a chapel for use by three congregations in the Belmont-Arlington area,” Wheelwright wrote.

“Kent not only helped get the permits needed to build the Temple but directed the logistics for the open house which attracted 80,000 guests,” he added.

Bowen’s colleagues said they would remember his career for both his intellect and generosity.

“From Kent, I learned that you can be a renowned MIT scientist, a distinguished HBS professor, and still be kind and loving to everyone,” Ton wrote.

—Staff writer Evan H.C. Epstein can be reached at evan.epstein@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X at @Evan_HC_Epstein.

—Staff writer Graham W. Lee can be reached at graham.lee@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @grahamwonlee.