Useful Research


Book Description

Features a who's who of leading management scholars Takes a stand on a major controversy in academia: should organizational research aspire to be relevant to practitioners? A sequel to the seminal book, Doing Research That is Useful for Theory and Practice, also edited by Ed Lawler, Susan Mohrman, and Associates For decades there has been an ongoing, at times heated, debate over how relevant to real-world organizational concerns academic organizational research should be. The contributors to this book argue that in order to keep organizational research relevant to both theory and practice, research must deviate from the orthodoxy of traditional positivistic research. The true test of whether knowledge is useful to practice is not whether it is “theoretically” impactful but whether it is theoretically impactful and results in improved organizational effectiveness. The contributing authors were selected for their demonstrated ability to conduct useful research and their distinguished academic careers. Part I of the book features active scholars who describe the choices they make and the tactics they employ to ensure that their work advances both theory and practice. In part II, four highly respected researchers reflect on how they approached their careers so that they could have a broad impact on practice and still maintain academic rigor. Part III describes pathways to bring academic knowledge to practice—working with consultancies, executive PhD programs, OD specialists, and professional associations, as well as framing academic concepts in ways that are attention-grabbing, memorable, and credible to practitioners. Part IV looks at institutional constraints and enablers: the prospects for useful research in traditional academic settings like business schools, peer-reviewed journals, and the Academy of Management. Finally, part V sums up the themes of the book and the challenges and opportunities facing researchers who aspire to do research that advances both theory and practice. Contributors: Jean Bartunek, Michael Beer, George Benson, John Boudreau, Wayne Cascio, Thomas Cummings, Amy Edmondson, Lynda Gratton, J. Richard Hackman, Gary Latham, Phillip Mirvis, Allan M. Mohrman, David Nadler, James O’Toole, C. K. Prahalad, Denise Rousseau, Sara Rynes, Edgar Schein, Ramakrishnan V. Tenkasi, Michael Tushman, Andrew Van de Ven, Ruth Wageman, Ian Ziskin




Designing Effective Organizations


Book Description

Many organizational designs are possible, and some are better than others. An effective organization produces excellent results by any standard measure while enhancing the energy and commitment of its members. In the past 40 years, sociotechnical organizational development has proven more successful than any other system in improving bottom-line organizational effectiveness while also paying attention to human values. This book brings together information found scattered throughout the literature and in unpublished documents. Presenting a coherent, jargon-free account of successful sociotechnical design of organizations, it addresses the often difficult prospect of organizational change and presents numerous real-life examples.




Institution is a Verb: A Panoply Performance Lab Compilation


Book Description

INSTITUTION IS A VERB is a compendium of community-contributed texts, scores, notes, and documentation culminating and indexing 7 years of collaboration, para-capitalist research, and performative institution during Panoply Performance Laboratory's operations as a laboratory site at 104 Meserole Street in Brooklyn, NY. Gathering texts, documentation, scores, notes, and recollections from the community of performance makers, witnesses, and others who actualized PPL's operation as a lab site at 104 Meserole Street 2012-2018, this project echoes, recognizes, and critically reflects upon (p)articular performances, forms of gathering, collective ideation procedures, and (for)bearances of witness practiced across the site, its situations, and multiplicit envisaging processes. To presence, to difference, to practical, performative resilience, descriptions of what was seen, how some felt, what one did and why are dedicated in documentary formats. In context, for history, in substantiation of the value of each other, PPL (in lab iteration) culminates 7 years of collaboration, para-capitalist research, and performative institution (institution as a verb).




Strategic Thinking


Book Description

"This book is basic and straightforward. It provides both the fundamentals for defining and achieving success and a toolkit that offers some practical guidance ... This book will help you take control of the future and help shape it instead of always asking, "What happened?" and "How do we fix our problems?"--Page iv




Homicide


Book Description

Forensic psychology plays an increasingly important role in criminal investigations and legal decision-making. Homicide: A Forensic Psychology Casebook guides readers through the practical aspects of homicide cases across the entire criminal justice system, from the investigative process to the criminal trial process, and beyond. Each chapter contains a description and analysis of selected cases and offenders, and provides a crime narrative and offender narrative to illustrate the underlying theory and practical considerations of homicide investigations. Criminal justice students and practitioners alike will benefit from the comprehensive scope of this text. In order to ensure fair and efficient criminal justice practices in the field of forensic investigation, there is still a need for conformity and standardization of sound protocols and approaches based on improved knowledge and education. This book is part of that effort to understand homicidal behavior and offenders better in order to prevent similar crimes.




Deception


Book Description

The ‘Russiagate’ affair is one of the most far-reaching political events of recent years. But what exactly was the nature and extent of Russian interference in the campaign that led to the presidency of Donald J. Trump? Richard Sakwa sets out the dramatic series of events that combined to create Russiagate and examines whether together they form a persuasive account of Russia’s role in the extraordinary 2016 American election. Offering a meticulous account of the multiple layers in play, his authoritative analysis challenges the claims of Russian interference and collusion. As we enter into a new cold war, this myth-busting, accessible and balanced account is essential reading to understand contemporary East-West relations.




Strategic Planning Plus


Book Description

Describes in detail how to create a strategic plan to identify and meet the requirements of any organization. A solid survey of the techniques of the subject. --Long Range Planning "I′ve finally had an opportunity to read through (this) remarkable guide to strategic planning. (It has) indeed captured the critical elements of this important if messy process. All of this is, of course, applicable to universities, and some of it could even be done without causing riots and revolutions. Every one of us who does university administration should probably read your book, if only to recognize what we are not able to do for lack of good data and good analytical tools." --John V. Lombardi, President, University of Florida "Dr. Kaufman′s approach to strategic planning is new, different, and innovative . . . the target audience of middle managers and executives should find the book an important informational source for achieving organizational and societal objectives. Furthermore, it will probably provide some interesting dialogue at strategic planning sessions." --Melvin T. Stith, Ph.D., Dean, College of Business, Florida State University "Just when the detrimental effects of trendy, short-term, process-oriented management practices are beginning to dramatically weaken altogether too many organizations, along comes Strategic Planning Plus. This book is a solid, reality-based management guide. It is filled with helpful advice and procedures that can improve your odds of doing the right things and doing them well. Reading it will give you a new perspective on the importance and value of planning for organizational success. Putting it to work in your organization can be a driving force in your long-term success." --Wess Roberts, Ph.D., Author, Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun "A fresh approach to a timeworn subject . . . I believe planning is something all managers would like to do better." --Peter Economy, Director of Administration Horizons Technology, Inc., San Diego, California Current strategic planning and development is often too myopic, and much more must be considered before practical planning is accomplished. Filled with fresh, new ideas and proven methods, Strategic Planning Plus covers strategic planning at three levels--micro, macro, and mega--and describes, in detail, how to create a strategic plan to identify and meet the requirements of any organization. This book shows how to identify the direction an organization must take, gives a six-step process for identifying and solving organizational problems, and provides methods for evaluating progress and revising strategic plans. Strategic Planning Plus also contains handy checklists, flowcharts, procedures, and case studies.




Leading Continuous Change


Book Description

Change has become constant, complex, multifaceted, and overwhelming. To meet this challenge, Bill Pasmore presents four keys to help leaders decide where and how to most effectively focus their change initiatives.




Mastering the Instructional Design Process


Book Description

A comprehensive framework for effective real-world instructional design Mastering the Instructional Design Process provides step-by-step guidance on the design and development of an engaging, effective training program. The focus on core competencies of instructional system design helps you develop your skills in a way that's immediately applicable to real-world settings, and this newly updated fifth edition has been revised to reflect the new IBSTPI Competencies and Standards for Instructional Design. With a solid foundation of researched and validated standards, this invaluable guide provides useful insight and a flexible framework for approaching instructional design from a practical perspective. Coverage includes the full range of design considerations concerning the learners, objectives, setting, and more, and ancillaries include design templates, PowerPoint slides, lecture notes, and a test bank help you bring these competencies to the classroom. Instructional design is always evolving, and new trends are emerging to meet the ever-changing needs of learners and exploit the newest tools at our disposal. This book brings together the latest developments and the most effective best practices to give you a foolproof framework for successfully managing instructional design projects. Detect and solve human performance problems Analyze needs, learners, work settings, and work Establish performance objectives and measurements Deliver effective instruction in a variety of scenarios Effective training programs don't just happen. Instructional design is a complex field, and practitioners must be skilled in very specific areas to deliver a training program that engages learners and makes the learning 'stick.' Mastering the Instructional Design Process is a comprehensive handbook for developing the skillset that facilitates positive training outcomes.