OLS to host two fall conferences

The Department of Organizational Leadership and Supervision will host two conferences on campus this fall.

Conference on Collaboration and Innovation
In September, the second annual Conference on Collaboration and Innovation (CCI) will feature keynote speakers Orlando Ashford and Victoria Marsick and author Gina O’Connor.

Ashford is senior vice president and chief HR officer for Marsh & McLennan Companies (MMC), a global professional services firm which provides advice and solutions in the areas of risk, strategy, and human capital. A 1991 graduate of Purdue University, he was the 2006 Distinguished Technology Alumni award winner for Organizational Leadership and Supervision. He earned his master’s degree from Purdue in 1993.

Marsick is professor of education and co-director of the J. M. Huber Institute at Columbia University in New York City.

O'Connor will present two sessions: "Assessing your capability for breakthrough innovation" and "The innovation function-career paths for innovation experts". She is the academic director for the Radical Innovation Research Project, associate director of the Severino Center for Technological Entrepreneurship, and an associate professor in the Lally School of Management and Technology at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. The majority of her research efforts focus on how firms link advanced technology development to market opportunities.

CCI focuses on three subject areas: Teams and Collaboration, Innovation and Creativity, and Leadership and Ethics.

Read more about CCI.

Deming Institute Conference
The 2009 Fall Conference of The W. Edwards Deming Institute is designed to foster a better understanding of the Deming System of Profound Knowledge and its applications. The program will focus on theory and applications of "Transformation -- Bring Back The Individual".

In addition to a variety of session speakers, the conference will feature three keynote addresses:

Mike Tveite will provide a "Deming 101" overview
David Langford will describe how Deming's work can transform the way learning can be addressed in schools
Andrew McKeon will offer insights about how Deming's theories can be used in business, climate change, and creating a sustainable future.

The conference will also feature a panel of recent Purdue University graduates who will talk about their experiences in industry and the issues they face.

Read more about the conference.