Organization design is a theory-led discipline where research and empirical evidence inform leadership and design. Organization design is a creative and context-dependent process that is enhanced when informed by the empirical evidence – what we know works, what we know doesn’t work, and in what situations. The Leading Transformation and Design Frameworks were developed from both practice and award-winning peer-reviewed research studies.
Leading Transformation
My focus is on the leader as an organization designer and builder of the organization and systems. The leadership aspects of the framework are divided into three key areas: the individual characteristics, the leadership style (behaviors), and the leadership system (activities). The individual leader characteristics include concepts such as personality, attitudes, motivations, worldview, talents, abilities, spiritual life, purpose, and meaning, so on and so forth. These individual characteristics influence the leader’s behaviors which combine to create a particular leadership style. The individual leader and their style influence the activities the leader chooses to do, how they do them, and how well they do them. This leadership triangle influences the organizational environment and the people who occupy that environment. | Leading Transformation Research
Selected publications:
Latham, J. R. (2013). A Framework for Leading the Transformation to Performance Excellence Part I: CEO Perspectives on Forces, Facilitators, and Strategic Leadership Systems. Quality Management Journal, 20(2), 22.
Latham, J. R. (2013). A Framework for Leading the Transformation to Performance Excellence Part II: CEO Perspectives on Leadership Behaviors, Individual Leader Characteristics, and Organizational Culture. Quality Management Journal, 20(3), 22. | 2014 ASQ Gryna Award Paper – Quality Management Paper of the Year
Larson, M. D., Latham, J. R., Appleby, C. A., and Harshman, C. L. (2012). CEO Attitudes and Motivations: Are They Different for High Performing Organizations? Quality Management Journal, 19(4), 15.
Fry, L. W., Latham, J. R., Clinebell, S. K. & Krahnke, K. (2017). Spiritual Leadership as a Model for Performance Excellence: A Study of Baldrige Award Recipients. Journal of Management, Spirituality, and Religion.
Management Design
Leaders, whether they like it or not, wield power (position and personal) that influences the organizational environment and the degree to which it facilitates the creation of value for multiple stakeholders. The organizational environment is composed of the organization systems, the organizational culture, and the individuals who interact with the systems and culture. Much of my focus in this area has been on developing design methods, principles, and considerations related to organization and management design methods and understanding how the design of specific management systems and models create value for multiple stakeholders or sustainable excellence. | Management Design Research
Selected publications:
Latham, J. R. (2013). How Much Does Your Organization Weigh? Innovation, 32(2), 4. Journal of the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA)
Latham, J. R. (2012). Management System Design for Sustainable Excellence: Framework, Practices, and Considerations. Quality Management Journal, 19(2), 15. | 2013 ASQ Gryna Award Paper – Quality Management Paper of the Year
Latham, J. R. (2012). Latham’s Response to Commentaries [Response to commentaries on the 2012 Management System Design paper]. Quality Management Journal, 19(2), 3.
Latham, J. R. (2009). Complex system design: Creating Sustainable Change in the Mortgage-Finance System [Commentary]. Quality Management Journal, 16(3), 7.
Research Agenda
My research agenda is focused on three inter-related areas of leading transformation, management systems design, and sustainable excellence models. It has been shaped by my professional interests, the research literature, and collaboration with other researchers. The three articles below provide additional insights into my research interests. | Research Agenda
Selected publications:
Latham, J. R. (2008). Building Bridges between Researchers and Practitioners: A Collaborative Approach to Research in Performance Excellence. Quality Management Journal, 15(1), 20.
Evans, J. R., & QMJ Editorial Board. (2013). Insights on the Future of Quality Management Research. Quality Management Journal, 20(1), 8.
Latham, J. R. (2014). Leadership for Quality and Innovation: Challenges, Theories, and a Framework for Future Research [Perspectives Paper]. Quality Management Journal, 21(1). 5.
