Needs Assessment as a Learning Tool: Three Findings
Needs assessment can be used to determine what factors are causing a problem. Can it also be used to improve organizational learning? With my colleague, Dr. Denise Cumberland, I was involved in a project that sought to understand if needs assessment could be used as an organizational learning tool, in addition to identifying causes of a problem. We worked with a Fortune 200 quick service restaurant chain and their “broken” new product development process. Data were gathered from multiple stakeholder groups using interviews and a survey questionnaire. Rod GithensRod specializes in innovation, design,… Read More
Organizational Change in Franchises through Advisory Boards
How do franchise organizations build momentum around change and an atmosphere of trust with their advisory boards? With my colleague and former doctoral student, Dr. Denise Cumberland, we published an article presenting a framework for these boards. Basically, the model considers the competing emphases affecting the franchisor–franchisee relationship and the roles for human resources and organization development (HROD) professionals.
Five Barriers to Knowledge Sharing in Franchising Organizations
The flow or transfer of knowledge is critical in a decentralized franchisee organization. In these organizations, innovation often happens at the local, franchisee level. Tacit knowledge is the informal implicit knowledge Rod GithensRod specializes in innovation, design, and strategy through his consulting work and as a professor at University of the Pacific. He helps leaders get results through using innovation and creativity processes, strategy development and strategic planning, group facilitation and action planning, and program and initiative development. More… rodgithens.com