VITA

Associate Professor of Organization Development
Benedictine University
5700 College Rd.
Lisle, IL 60532
Phone: 630.829.6229
Fax: 630.829.6211
Email: jludema@compuserve.com

Organization development and change, global OD, appreciative inquiry, business and sustainable development, the dynamics of hope in organizational life, organizational storytelling, large group interventions, qualitative research methods.

Organization development and change, global OD, organizational behavior, , organizational analysis and design, organizational theory, social change theory, leadership development and education, and group dynamics.

WORKING PAPERS AND RESEARCH IN PROGRESS

RESEARCH REPORTS & EVALUATIONS

REVIEWS FOR PROFESSIONAL JOURNALS AND CONFERENCES

• Human Relations (1999, 2000).
• Journal of Organization Change Management (2000).
• Organization Development Journal (2000).
• Journal of Management Education (1999, 2000).
• Academy of Management Annual Meeting (1999, 2000).
• Midwest Academy of Management Meeting (1999. 2000).
• Handbook of Action Research (1999).
  
  

This project involves training a team of senior internal OD consultants at John Deere in appreciative inquiry to create new participatory ways of working in their manufacturing plants. In April, an appreciative inquiry summit was held with a John Deere plant in Moline, IL that involved the whole system in organization change and redesign. The event had a dramatic effect on improving relationships within the plant and on unleashing product and organizational innovation. Results in terms of quality, cost, product innovation, absenteeism and turnover are being tracked, and additional interventions are being planned.

This project involves training a team of internal HR managers to use appreciative inquiry to help McDonald’s advance its "people first" agenda (i.e., attracting, educating and retaining the very best employees; becoming an employer of choice; and becoming an admired member of the local and global communities in which they work). During the first half of 1999, a round of appreciative interviews with HR specialists and restaurant owners in the Midwest region culminated with a summit meeting in June 1999 at which the HR function was redesigned in significant ways to further the "people first." During the last quarter of 1999 and the first quarter of 2000, a round of appreciative interviews into "becoming the best employer in communities around the world" set the stage for a global leadership symposium of over 350 people who shared best practices and launched initiatives to enhance staffing and retention worldwide.

This project involves a series of large group meetings with about 150 members of the Credit Union System in the state of Illinois. Over the last 20 years the credit union movement has been in decline both nationally and in Illinois. The senior administration of the Credit Union League want to revitalize the movement statewide. An appreciative inquiry summit was held with the group in March designed to help them create and operationalize a plan for growth over the next five years. Projects are now underway, and similar large group gatherings are scheduled each year for the next four years.

This project involves a nationwide initiative called "Images and Voices of Hope" designed to influence public image makers and storytellers (TV, print media, "new" media, advertisers, etc.) to generate and disseminate images and stories that empower rather than enfeeble society. Large group meetings of media executives, writers, broadcasters, artists, and others have been held to establish a direction for the initiative in multiple cities around the US, including Chicago. Formed a local team of about 20 people to design and facilitate the Chicago conversation using appreciative inquiry. Activity will continue at both the local and national levels.

This project involves a global process designed to refocus the mission, vision, values, and structure of the American Baptist International Ministries (ABIM). The process included over 1200 interviews and a series of large group future search conferences with ABIM partners around the world. The project involves a global two-year research and development process designed to refocus the mission, vision, values, and structure of the American Baptist International Ministries (ABIM). Using a widely participatory appreciative inquiry format, to date the process has included over 1200 interviews and a series of large group appreciative inquiry summit meetings with ABIM partners worldwide. It has resulted in a strategic plan and organization re-design for ABIM the first ten years of the New Millennium. An article based on the project was published in the Organization Development Journal.

Principle investigator on a multi-year "Vision Cities" initiative studying the emergence and growth of interorganizational collaborative alliances committed to urban transformation and renewal in major cities across the US. The project began in Chicago in 1993 and expanded to include other cities around the country including Los Angeles, Seattle, and Minneapolis/St. Paul, Detroit, New York, and Washington DC. Organization redesign work is now being done with World Vision regionalize its domestic operations to support Vision Cities. A team of researchers is conducting the studies, and an appreciative inquiry methodology is being used. In addition to manuscripts being prepared for publication, my doctoral dissertation was based on this project. Funded by World Vision.

The project involved the strategic redesign of a division of Square D that has grew over 300% in sales in two years. Using a whole system appreciative inquiry approach, the process will involved multiple stakeholders in helping the Channel Management Division to reorganize itself to manage its growth and to continue to expand into new markets.

The project involved advising a team of Premier’s senior OD consultants on the use of appreciative inquiry and large group interventions as on-going methods for values clarification and organizational change and renewal.

In collaboration with the Taos Institute (Taos, NM), designed and delivered annually a week-long "leadership development institute" given to "high potential" employees of the City of Minneapolis focused on large scale organizational change using the appreciative inquiry methodology.

SIGMA was formally inaugurated in 1989 as a decade-long program of research dedicated to the development of world-class organizations capable of addressing the most pressing global issues of our time -- transnational concerns such as world peace, development, human rights, and environmental health. As Executive Director duties included establishing a research agenda for the center, personal research and publishing, teaching, advising doctoral dissertation research, designing advanced degree programs in the Organization Dimensions of Global Change, and building working relationships with other departments and schools at Case Western and with other Universities worldwide.

Led a series of conferences and field-level consultations with organizations throughout East Africa to form a capacity building network. The network is dedicated to research, training, and consultation for strengthening the social, economic, and ecological capacity of the East Africa Region.

Part of a team of instructors that led executive teams from PVOs and NGOs in a multi-phase, residential institute focused on managing change, sharing best practices, and creating strategic alliances among their organizations. The Organizational Excellence program involved over 100 individuals representing ten voluntary organizations from around the world, including Africa, Asia, North America, South America, and the Middle East.

Principal investigator on a three-year study examining the dynamics of sustainable development and organizational capacity building with some 120 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and North America. The research project was conducted by team of three university-based researchers (including myself) and 37 participant-researchers from around the world. An appreciative inquiry methodology was used. The study resulted in a book, Partnering to Build and Measure Organizational Capacity: Lessons from NGOs Around the World, and two doctoral dissertations were written based on the research. The project was sponsored by CRWRC and funded by USAID.

Part of a team of two that designed and led an Executive Certificate Program in Social Innovations and Global Change Management. The program is an advanced educational program targeted at experienced senior-level executives from around the world who are leading global change organizations. Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Research associate on a study examining the development of an inter-organizational "knowledge alliance" that formed to support the short- and long-term strengthening of Romania's health care system. The alliance was organized by World Vision and was comprised of more than 100 organizations from around the world, including universities, government offices, businesses, churches, professional associations, and non-profit organizations. An appreciative inquiry methodology was used, and a variety of publications were produced.

Designed and conducted a strategic visioning and planning program for the company. The purpose of the project was to assist the company in expanding into new product and geographic markets and to strengthen the organization's internal management capacity.

Designed and conducted a project exploring the use of appreciative inquiry in the high-tech electronic information industry. The purpose of the project was to help the organization to move beyond a problem-solving mindset and to unleash a process of social and technical innovation.

Designed and conducted a study examining the dynamics of collective efficacy in self-directed work teams. The purpose of the research was to contribute to the organizational literature on self-directed work teams and to assist the company in developing strategies to boost team leadership, decision-making, innovation and performance. The study included designing and administering a survey instrument that measured group internal dialogue patterns and collective efficacy. The research served as the basis of my qualifying thesis.

Facilitated a series of teambuilding workshops with the company's administrative staff and advised the administrative group on a socio-technical redesign of its referrals department in preparation for a joint venture with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Participated with a team of researchers and consultants in designing and conducting socio-technical systems re-design of the company's nation-wide operations.

Conducted research in BP's ProCare division (automotive maintenance and repair services) in sites throughout the State of Ohio and in cooperatively-owned businesses throughout the United States regarding the philosophy and design principles of high performing cooperative systems. A participatory action research approach was used in which two executives and six automotive technicians themselves became the researchers and used their inquiry to create their own cooperative franchise organizational design.

Also assisted in developing and conducting a leadership development program for ProCare franchisees.

Lead a variety of outdoor team building initiatives with organizations from the profit, non-profit and government sectors, including BP America, Northern Telecom, Eaton, Essef Corporation, Bell and Howell, and the Cuyahoga County Department of Human Services.

Directed the work of the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (an international relief and development organization) in Central America. Responsibilities included managing a team of eight organizational consultants (expatriate and national) who provided consultation and training to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) throughout Central America in the areas of strategic planning, management for results, leadership development, and organizational change and development.

Directed CRWRC programs in Nicaragua and El Salvador, including initiating, funding, and consulting with a variety of local NGOs.

Managed a group home for developmentally disabled adult males.

Top

TEACHING

• Advanced Topics: Large Group Interventions.
• Organization Change and Design
• The Theory and Practice of Organizational Consultation
• Advanced Research Seminar

• Global OD: The Human and Organization Dimensions of Global Change.
• Group Dynamics.
• Organizational Strategy..
• Advanced Research Seminar.
  

PERSONAL

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