David A. Cowan

Developing a Classification Structure of Organizational Problems: An Empirical Investigation

Many conceptual frameworks have been proposed that identify categories of organizational problems, but none have been empirically developed. In response, this study elicited examples of problems fr...

Rhythms of Learning Patterns that Bridge Individuals and Organizations

Most studies that examine patterns of individual and organizational learning stem from similar European American epistemological assumptions. To enrich this approach, this article begins with a considerably different foundation-the Native American medicine wheel- and constructs a learning framework that has distinct advantages for contexts that are dynamic, diverse, and interconnected. The frame work encourages us to perceive, to think, and to create in ways that are multifarious rather than dichotomous, circular rather than linear, longitudinal rather than cross-sectional, and integrative rather than compartmental. We are only beginning to understand how different perspectives may all contribute legitimate insight about the same phenomena; this article celebrates this growing realization.

Artistic undertones of humanistic leadership education

Leaders are increasingly called on to function in ways that demand creative smarts as much as book smarts and street smarts. Consequently, more attention is being given to artistic potentialities of leadership. To help create relevant educational opportunities, the author responds in three ways. First is to identify a framework of characteristics that provide an artistic context for leadership in action. Second is to establish an integrative foundation for such characteristics and to translate the resultant pattern into an integral array of leadership competencies. Third is to develop a diverse array of artistic catalysts and activities to promote these competencies.

In-basket exercises as a methodology for studying information processing

In-basket exercises have the potential to be an important research tool for examing how managers allocate attention and respond to information in their environment. This article describes the in-basket methodology outlines various issues in organizational information processing and decision making to which this methodology might be applicable, and discusses some of the advantages and disadvantages of using in-baskets to examine information processing in a simulated organizational context.

Understanding Leadership through Art, History, and Arts Administration.

This article presents an interdisciplinary model that weaves leadership concepts into the contextual richness of history by employing the visual arts as catalysts. An implementation of the model follows its description to highlight ways in which it can enable students to traverse conceptual boundaries among commonly diverse disciplines. The article includes an assessment of the effectiveness of this strategy by examining comments from involved students.

Learning to Diversify Yourself

In response to increasing calls to realize more potential from diversity in organizations, Frances Hesselbein, CEO of Peter Drucker Leadership Institute, challenged management scholars to enrich the understanding of diversity. Her challenge contains descriptive and normative elements, and extends beyond learning only “about” others, toward “diversifying oneself.” With this purpose in mind, this two-stage study develops a framework of divergent learning. The first stage describes a philosophical foundation grounded in literature that orients its key concepts toward divergent learning. The second stage adds a layer of practical insights, gathered from professionals in eight different fields, providing channels of access and application within organizational contexts.

Relevance of nearness or proximity of lines in the perception of objects

A study by Egon Brunswik and Joe Kamiya was partially replicated to test if “nearness” of parallel lines for mechanical units is closer than for open passages. In contrast to Brunswik and Kamiya’s study, a representative sample of actual life situations was taken and the distances between parallel lines on five enlarged photographs were measured. It was found that the mean distance of parallel lines for mechanical units was smaller than the mean distance of parallel lines for passages. Brunswik and Kamiya’s original hypothesis was supported: The organism might learn to discriminate between objects and open spaces because the mean distances between boundaries of objects are smaller than those of open spaces.