Welcome to the research section. The research section provides a look “behind the scenes” into my research interests and activities. My research agenda focuses on a variety of topics related to the research agenda and formula: Leadership + Design = Sustainable Excellence. Research projects provide new insights that further develop, and inform that application of, both the leading transformation framework and management design framework. While the original CEO study and the management design methods research projects were primarily solo endeavors, most of my research projects are collaborative efforts with other researchers. For more on how I design research projects visit the research methods framework.
Leading Transformation
Originally, my research agenda was focused on organization design and systems that create sustainable value for multiple stakeholders. However, as Dr. Deming used to point out, leaders are the only ones with the authority and power to change the system. Consequently, I became interested in leaders as “architects” of their organizations and how they successfully lead the transformation of their organization to achieve and sustain high performance. My Leading Transformation CEO study focused on five questions related to transforming organizations to achieve sustainable excellence. This study resulted in the leading transformation to performance excellence (LTPE) framework. | Visit the Leading Transformation Research
Management Design
A key component of my research agenda is focused on the methods and considerations used to design management methods, processes, and systems. I am constantly working on developing better design methodologies and practices and exploring considerations for design. Much of this “research” is based on practice and either action research or case studies. My research on management design integrates ideas and concepts from product and service designers, appreciative inquiry, systems thinking, social construction, into the process and framework for designing leadership and management systems. | Visit the Management Design Research
Sustainable Excellence
As part of my research agenda, I continue to be involved in research projects that are related to the design of a variety of leadership and management frameworks, models, and systems. While my management “design” research focuses on the methods of the design process, the research on management systems is focused on the specifics of the designs for a variety of management models (e.g., Baldrige and derivatives) and management systems (e.g., strategic management, leadership, operations…). The goal is to understand better how to design management systems so that they create ever-improving value for multiple stakeholders or sustainable excellence. | Visit the Sustainable Excellence Research
