Evidence-Based Management

Denise Rousseau is an expert in organizational research at Carnegie Mellon University, while Rob Briner teaches Organizational Psychology at Queen Mary University, and Eric Barends leads the Center for Evidence-Based Management. They explore how academics choose research topics based on interest and practicality. The guests discuss reading academic papers effectively, the significance of effect sizes, and the importance of comparing lab versus field studies. They also emphasize the need for control groups to differentiate between real and placebo effects in research.

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.

Eric Barends, Managing Director at the Center for Evidence-Based Management, and Dr. Christina Rader, Associate Professor of Economics and Business, dive into the complexities of practitioner evidence. They highlight key biases like confirmation bias and outcome bias, stressing the importance of critical questioning. Eric outlines three criteria for assessing evidence reliability: experience volume, objective feedback, and stable environments. The duo also discusses how to distinguish evidence from opinion to improve decision-making in dynamic work settings.

Eric Barends, Managing Director at the Center for Evidence Based Management, emphasizes the importance of selecting practitioners with real experience over mere opinions. Denise Rousseau, a distinguished professor at Carnegie Mellon, offers practical tips on designing effective questionnaires and focus groups. Dr. Christina Rader from Colorado College shares the challenges students face in questioning authority figures and the importance of clear communication. Together, they explore techniques for avoiding biases and gathering reliable practitioner evidence.

In this insightful discussion, Eric Barends, Managing Director at CEBMa, emphasizes the necessity of asking critical questions in decision-making. Denise Rousseau, a renowned professor at Carnegie Mellon, explores how to cultivate a culture of inquiry to improve organizational outcomes. They share techniques for framing problems accurately and avoiding premature solutions, advocating for respectful questioning to build trust. The conversation also covers the importance of engaging stakeholders for context and using logic models to clarify interventions, making a strong case for evidence-informed practices.

In this enlightening discussion, Eric Barends, Managing Director at the Center for Evidence-Based Management, emphasizes the importance of utilizing multiple reliable evidence sources in decision-making. Rob Briner, a Professor of Organizational Psychology, delves into the pitfalls of biases and the allure of management fads that often misguide organizations. They tackle how structured approaches can be daunting for leaders and urge a shift towards critically appraising claims from both practitioners and academics. Ultimately, they advocate for an evidence-based strategy to enhance decision quality.

Join Eric Barends, Managing Director at the Center for Evidence-Based Management, Denise Rousseau, H. J. Heinz University Professor, and Erin Czerwinski, Learning Engineering Manager at Carnegie Mellon University, as they explore innovative learning strategies. They discuss how the course emphasizes reflective practice over performance, the importance of learning by doing, and how diverse student experiences enhance understanding. Discover the ICAP framework's role in evidence-based design and how to apply skills effectively in real-world situations.

The podcast introduces the contributors who have been promoting evidence-based management for 20 years. They discuss their motivations, frustrations in academia, challenges in practicing evidence-based management, and the progress made in closing the research practice gap.