

Evidence-Based Management
Center for Evidence-Based Management
This podcast is a study companion to the course on Evidence-Based Management from the Center for Evidence Based Management and Carnegie Mellon University. Hosted by CEBMa Fellow and 20 year change management veteran Karen Plum, each episode is dedicated to exploring some of the challenges, opportunities, issues, frustrations and lightbulb moments associated with learning to be more evidenced-based in organisational decision making.
Episodes
Mentioned books

21 snips
Dec 15, 2025 • 29min
Module 12 Aggregate - Weigh and pull together the evidence
Discover how aggregating evidence can significantly reduce bias and uncertainty in decision-making. Explore the power of Bayesian thinking, where beliefs shift as new evidence emerges. Learn the importance of questioning the strength of gathered evidence and considering alternative explanations. Understand the human struggle with probabilities and how it can lead to biases. Dive into practical examples from real-world applications and see how framing beliefs as probabilities can enhance your decision-making process.

13 snips
Aug 19, 2025 • 48min
Ask the experts
Denise Rousseau, a leading professor at Carnegie Mellon known for her work in evidence-based management, joins organizational psychology expert Rob Briner and Eric Barends from the Center for Evidence-Based Management. They discuss the importance of identifying the right problems before rushing to solutions. The panel highlights how critical thinking and AI can enhance decision-making, but caution against biases that cloud judgment. They stress cultivating evidence-based practices through local influence, fostering supportive environments to promote collective insight.

22 snips
Jul 1, 2025 • 37min
Module 5 Acquire evidence from the scientific literature
Eric Barends, Managing Director of the Centre for Evidence-Based Management, and Denise Rousseau, H J Heinz University Professor at Carnegie Mellon University, dive into the importance of systematic searches in academic literature. They discuss translating managerial terms into academic constructs, the role of peer review in ensuring study quality, and how AI tools like ChatGPT can enhance search effectiveness. The duo also contrasts quick AI searches with rigorous methods necessary for high-stakes decisions, providing listeners with practical tips for navigating academic databases.

17 snips
Jun 1, 2022 • 30min
Module 15 Building the capacity for evidence-based management
Join Eric Barends, Denise Rousseau, Jonny Gifford, and Steven ten Have as they dive into the essence of building evidence-based management capacity. Barends outlines three critical levels of influence: individual, peer, and organizational. Rousseau emphasizes the importance of transparency and adequate metrics for continuous learning. Gifford discusses how CIPD enhances HR practices through research. Ten Have highlights the role of data in challenging assumptions, advocating for smarter decision-making in management.

20 snips
May 25, 2022 • 29min
Module 14 Assess - evaluate the outcome of the decision taken
In a thought-provoking discussion, Eric Barends, Managing Director of the Center for Evidence-Based Management, focuses on the importance of evaluating outcomes to enhance decision-making. Denise Rousseau, H. J. Heinz University Professor, highlights the value of problem definition before action. Stefanie Nickel, Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion at Sandoz, shares insights from randomized trials, illustrating how simple interventions improved psychological safety. Together, they advocate for routine assessments to foster organizational learning and elevate decision quality.

15 snips
May 25, 2022 • 31min
Module 13 Apply - incorporating evidence into decision-making
Join Eric Barends, David Creelman, Stefanie Nickel, and Jonny Gifford as they dive into the complexities of incorporating evidence into decision-making. Eric discusses how to translate research findings into actionable steps, while David emphasizes the importance of early stakeholder buy-in to prevent implementation failures. Stefanie shares insights from Sandoz's trials to enhance psychological safety, demonstrating that simple prompts can make a big difference. Together, they explore the interplay between data and practical application, urging a focus on clarity and impactful interventions.

14 snips
Apr 25, 2022 • 33min
Module 11 Appraise evidence from stakeholders
Eric Barends, Managing Director at the Center for Evidence-Based Management, discusses the importance of understanding both practitioner evidence and stakeholder emotions. Denise Rousseau from Carnegie Mellon emphasizes that stakeholder opinions reflect social realities. Steven ten Have analyzes effective stakeholder grouping for balanced decision-making, while Dr. Lisa J Griffiths shares successful partnership examples with Aboriginal leaders. The group underscores the ethical responsibility of engaging stakeholders early to uncover hidden harms and reshape project goals.

17 snips
Apr 24, 2022 • 34min
Module 10 Acquire evidence from stakeholders
Eric Barends, an expert in evidence-based decision making, joins Denise Rousseau, a leading organizational behavior researcher, Dr. Lisa J Griffiths, CEO of OzChild, and Steven ten Have, a professor of strategy and change. They discuss the vital importance of engaging stakeholders to inform better decision-making processes. From identifying power dynamics among stakeholders to the risks of overlooking their input, they emphasize the need for respectful communication and building relationships ahead of changes. Stakeholders can either enrich or obstruct decisions, showing the necessity of listening to diverse viewpoints.

15 snips
Mar 24, 2022 • 32min
Module 9 Appraise evidence from the organisation
Join Martin Walker, a Banking & Finance Director, Eric Barends, Managing Director at the Center for Evidence-Based Management, Jeroen Stouten, a Professor of Organisational Psychology, and Ravishanker Jonnalagadda, a Data Science expert at Novartis. They delve into the pitfalls of over-relying on organisational data and the hype surrounding big data. The importance of distinguishing meaningful KPIs from misleading metrics is emphasized, alongside the necessity of using multiple evidence sources. Their insights highlight the critical need for transparency and ongoing validation in data analytics.

19 snips
Mar 23, 2022 • 30min
Module 8 Acquire evidence from the organisation
Eric Barends, Managing Director at the Center for Evidence-Based Management, and Martin Walker, Director for Banking & Finance at the same center, dive into evidence-based decision-making. They discuss the crucial differences between data, information, and evidence, and the pitfalls of overtrusting organizational data. Martin highlights how poor system design and siloed data can sabotage decisions. The duo emphasizes ethical concerns in data use and advises on measuring the right metrics rather than just the easy ones. Their insights encourage questioning and appraising evidence more critically.


