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Robert M. Yawson, Ph.D., is a Professor of Management and the Chair of the Entrepreneurship, International Business, and Strategy Department at the School of Business, Quinnipiac University, CT. He is also the Faculty Coordinator for the MS in Organizational Leadership Program. Robert is the recipient of the prestigious Center for Excellence in Teaching Award in 2018. He was named the 2018 Faculty Scholar of the Year, and the recipient of the 2020 James Marshall Award for Service.

Prior to joining QU, he worked as Quality Control Officer of S. C. Johnson Wax (Ghana) Ltd.; General Manager of Animens Industries Limited, Ghana; Scientific Secretary and later as Head of Administration (HR) of the Food Research Institute (FRI), Ghana; a Research Analyst for the BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota (BBAM); Instructor at the University of MN; and a Senior Research Fellow with the International Consulting firm, pfc Social Impact Advisors. Robert has consulted for the World Bank and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and has worked on several multilateral and bilateral projects in Africa. As a Research Analyst for the BBAM, Robert worked with a team of Consultants from Deloitte, LLC on the Destination 2025 project: a state-wide 20-year visioning initiative and roadmap to help give clarity to the nature and timing of investments that are needed for MN to sustain a long-term competitive position in the biosciences industry.

Robert is Co-Editor-In-Chief of the Organization Management Journal, Editor, the Business and Management Section of SAGE Open, Associate Editor of Human Resource Development International, and Associate Editor of the International Journal of Business and Systems Research. Robert served as an Associate Editor for the Human Resource Development Quarterly (HRDQ) from 2019 – 2021. Robert also serves on the Editorial Board of the following journals: Advances in Developing Human Resources, Human Resource Development Quarterly, Industrial and Commercial Training, and Human Resource Development Review.

Robert has over 130 publications, including peer-reviewed papers in several leading academic journals. His current research focuses on using the "wicked problem construct" for organizational effectiveness and change, as well as applying systems approaches to human resource development for emerging technologies.

Education

  • BS, University of Ghana
  • MS, University Minnesota Minneapolis
  • MPHIL, University of Ghana
  • PHD, University Minnesota Minneapolis

Areas of Expertise

  • Organizational Leadership
  • Organizational Behavior
  • Public & Non profit
  • Human Resource Management
  • Management Education and Development

Organization

  • Entrepreneurship & Strategy

Office Location

  • Lender School of Business 230

Mail Drop

  • SB-DNF

Selected Publications

Peer Reviewed Journal

The Catalytic Effect of Organizational Learning on Ambidexterity for Firm Performance.

Al-Husban, H., Yawson, R.

Ahead of Print European Journal of Training and Development. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJTD-03-2024-0040 (2024)

Peer Reviewed Journal

Advancing management scholarship: from athletics to ethics and CEO compensation

Yawson, R. M., Lewis, V. J

21(3) Organization Management Journal 89 - 91 (2024)

Peer Reviewed Journal

Perspectives on the promise and perils of generative AI in academia

Yawson, R., M.

Human Resource Development International https://doi.org/10.1080/13678868.2024.2334983 (2024)

Peer Reviewed Journal

Systems Perspective of the Use of the Balanced Scorecard for Organization Development and Change

Yawson, R. M., Paros, A. K. B.

13 (4) SAGE Open 10.1177/21582440231218064 (2023)

Peer Reviewed Journal

Navigating the intersection of organizational justice, trust, emotional intelligence, work location decisions, and work outcomes

Yawson, R., Lewis, V.

20 (1) Organization Management Journal 2 - 3 (2023)

Peer Reviewed Journal

An examination of Leapfrog safety measures and Magnet designation

Tai, Teresa Wai Chi Mattie, Angela Miller, Stephanie Monteiro Yawson, Robert M.

42 (3-4) Journal of Healthcare Risk Management 21-29 (2023)

Peer Reviewed Journal

The OMJ at 20: bridging theory and practice for 20 years and counting

Yawson, R., Lewis, V.

20(5) Organization Management Journal 182–185. https://doi.org/10.1108/OMJ-10-2023-974 (2023)

Peer Reviewed Journal

Exploring the progressive facets of modern management: virtual reality, universal design, and inclusive workplace practices.

Yawson, R., Lewis, V.

20(3) Organization Management Journal 90–92. https://doi.org/10.1108/OMJ-07-2023-972 (2023)

Peer Reviewed Proceedings

Community Engagement as a Human Resource Development Function

Osafo, E., Wallace, M., Yawson, R. M., & Deringer, N.

In: HRD in Societal and Digital Transformation - Relating, Reconnecting and Advocating. The30th Annual International Research Conference of the the Academy of Human Resource Development, 33. Minneapolis, MN. March 1 – 4, 2023, Minneapolis, MN, USA, (2023)

Peer Reviewed Proceedings

Storytelling: Generational Losses in Translation of IDEA Concepts and Terminologies.

Sprinkle, T. A., Yawson, R. M.

50th Annual Conference of the Management and Organization Behavior Teaching Society (MOBTS). June 12 - 14. https://doi.org/10.31124/advance.25047629.v1 , Jacksonville, FL, USA. (2023)

Peer Reviewed Proceedings

Trusting the Fall: Repetitive Obstacle Performance Evaluation System (ROPES) Course as Organization Development and Change Intervention.

Dombroski, A., Yawson, R. M

Risk, Resilience and Recovery in Turbulent Business Environments. Proceedings of the 52nd Annual Conference of the Northeast Decision Sciences Institute, 10. , Washington, DC (2023)

Peer Reviewed Proceedings

Utilizing Innovation Management Tools for Developing the Creative Capabilities of the Workforce in Sub-Sahara Africa. An HRD Function.

Asiama, B. A., Osafo, E., Yawson, R. M.

In: HRD in Societal and Digital Transformation - Relating, Reconnecting and Advocating. The 30th Annual International Research Conference of the Academy of Human Resource Development, 33. March 1 – 4, 2023. , Minneapolis, MN. (2023)

Peer Reviewed Proceedings

The Knowledge Café as a Case Method in Synchronous Online Classroom – “The OD Consultant at Animens” Case Study.

Yawson, R. M., Osafo, E., Berko, O. D., Yarney, L.

Management & Organizational Behavior Teaching Society (MOBTS) International Conference, 2–12. July 23 -26, 2023. https://doi.org/10.31124/advance.23709255.v1 , St. Andrews, Scotland, UK. (2023)

Peer Reviewed Journal

Developing leaders for disruptive change: An inclusive leadership approach.

Simmons, S. B., & Yawson, R. M.

24(4) Advances in Developing Human Resources, http://doi.org/10.1177/15234223221114359 2022 (2022)

Peer Reviewed Journal

The Future of Work and Becoming an Employer of Choice.

Yawson, R.

19 (3), Organization Management Journal. 86 – 87, https://doi.org/10.1108/OMJ-05-2022-970 2022 (2022)

Peer Reviewed Journal

Healthcare System Innovation. The Case of Adoption of Telemedicine in Ghana

Asare, A., Bannor, R., Yawson, R. M., & Bawole, J. N.

International Journal of Business and Systems Research https://doi.org/10.1504/IJBSR.2022.10040286 2022 (2022)

Peer Reviewed Journal

The promise of artificial intelligence in combating public corruption in the emerging economies-A conceptual framework.

Adobor, H., Yawson, R.

https://doi.org/10.1093/scipol/scac068 Science and Public Policy 2022 (2022)

Peer Reviewed Presentations

System Dynamics Modeling of Effective Social Sector and HRD Strategies for Social Change.

Yawson, R. M., Osafo, E.

In: Rethinking the Meaning of Work. Proceedings of the 29th Annual Academy of Human Resource Development International Research Conference in the Americas., Virtual Conference, April 19 – 21, 2022 (2022)

Peer Reviewed Journal

Valence–Instrumentality–Expectancy Model of Motivation as an Alternative Model for Examining Ethical Leadership Behaviors

Osafo, E., Paros, A., Yawson, R. M

11(2) SAGE Open https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440211021896 (2021)

Peer Reviewed Journal

The Dead Goat Syndrome in Organisations.

Osafo, E., Yawson, R. M.

15(2) International Journal of Business and Systems Research 143-162. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJBSR.2021.10026528 (2021)

Peer Reviewed Journal

Transformativism - A Paradigm whose time has come

Yawson, R. M

32(1) Human Resource Development Quarterly 7-9. https://doi.org/10.1002/HRDQ.21422 (2021)

Peer Reviewed Proceedings

Understanding the Theories and Interventions of Motivation in Organization Development.

Marczak, E. L., & Yawson, R.

In, Responsible Management: Opportunities and Challenges. Proceedings of 58th Annual Conference of the Eastern Academy of Management., Virtual, May 19 - 21. https://doi.org/10.31124/advance.14610291.v1 (2021)

Peer Reviewed Proceedings

Re-examining the Philosophical Underpinnings of the Melting Pot vs. Multiculturalism in the Current Immigration Debate.

Woldeab D., Yawson, R. M., & Woldeab, I.

In: Harnessing Analytics for Enhancing Healthcare & Business. Proceedings of the 50th NEDSI Annual Meeting., Virtual Conference, March 26-27, 2021. https://doi.org/10.31124/advance.14749101.v1 (2021)

Peer Reviewed Proceedings

Corporate - Nonprofits Partnerships to Improve Social Innovation and Corporate Social Responsibility.

Castagnola, L., & Yawson, R. M.

In: Harnessing Analytics for Enhancing Healthcare & Business. Proceedings of the 50th NEDSI Annual Meeting., Virtual Conference, March 26-27, 2021. https://doi.org/10.31124/advance.14680938 (2021)

What Makes A Great Scholarly Contribution to HRD Journals? Meet the Editors Panel on “Outstanding Qualities of Accepted Articles”

Yawson, R. M., Reio, T., Cho, Y., Li, J., & Byrd, M. Y.

(2021)

Peer Reviewed Proceedings

Systematic Reviews of HRD Research: Are We Doing It Right?

Yawson, R. M., Osafo, E., Paros, A., & Woldeab D.

In: Innovating and Leading in Times of Rapid and Unplanned Change. Proceedings of the 28th Annual Academy of Human Resource Development International Research Conference in the Americas. , Virtual Conference, February 17 – 19, 2021 (2021)

Peer Reviewed Proceedings

Volunteer Development as an HRD Function

Osafo, E., Yawson, R. M.

In: Innovating and Leading in Times of Rapid and Unplanned Change. Proceedings of the 28th Annual Academy of Human Resource Development International Research Conference in the Americas. , Virtual Conference, February 17 – 19, 2021 (2021)

Peer Reviewed Journal

A Systematic Meta-Analytic Review of Thinking beyond the Comparison of Online Versus Traditional Learning

Woldeab, D., Yawson, R. M., Osafo, E.

14(1) e-Journal of Business Education & Scholarship of Teaching (e-JBEST) 1-24 Twice a Year (2020)

Books

Navigating Big Finance and Big Technology for Global Change. The Impact of Social Finance on the World’s Poor. Palgrave Studies in Impact Finance

Peterson, G., Yawson, R., JK, E., & Nicholls, J.

1st 1-193 (Springer International Publishing 2020)

Peer Reviewed Proceedings

The use of the Balanced Scorecard as a Tool for Organizational Development and Change.

Yawson, R. M. & Paros, A.

In: Improving Business Decisions with 20/20 Foresight. Proceedings of the 49th Northeast Decision Sciences Institute (NEDSI) Annual Conference. Cambridge, MA, USA, Cambridge, MA, USA (2020)

Peer Reviewed Proceedings

An Empirical Case for Culture Change in Healthcare Delivery

Osafo, E., & Yawson, R. M.

Proceedings of the 27th Annual Academy of Human Resource Development International Research Conference in the Americas, Atlanta, GA (2020)

Peer Reviewed Proceedings

HRD and the Emergence of Social Finance as a Driver for Social Change

Yawson, R. M.

Proceedings of the 27th Annual Academy of Human Resource Development International Research Conference in the Americas, Atlanta, GA (2020)

Peer Reviewed Presentations

Assessing World Cafe: A Unique Classroom Discussion Tool to Increase Student Engagement.

Sprinkle, T. A., Urick, M., & Yawson, R.

80th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Virtual Conference (2020)

Peer Reviewed Presentations

Designing an Accelerated Classroom: Sharing Best Practices

Elcik, J., Knapp, J., Park, S., Peat, D., Sprinkle, T., and Yawson, R.

80th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Virtual (2020)

Peer Reviewed Journal

Strategic flexibility analysis of HRD research and practice post COVID-19 pandemic

Yawson, R

23(4) Human Resource Development International 406 - 417. doi:10.1080/13678868.2020.1779169 Quarter (2020)

Peer Reviewed Journal

Tempered Radicalism as an Approach to Revisiting Indigenous Forms of Critical Human Resource Development

Osafo, E., Yawson., R.

EarlyCite European Journal of Training and Development. doi: 10.1108/EJTD-03-2020-0049 Quarter (2020)

Peer Reviewed Journal

Enhancing student understanding of networks using experiential learning

Paros, A., Taylor, M., Yawson, R. M

17 (4/5) Organization Management Journal 173 -183. doi: 10.1108/OMJ-05-2020-0930 2020 (2020)

Professional Designation

Databases