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Faculty - Ronald Fry

Department Chair, Organizational Behavior
Professor, Organizational Behavior

Ph D, A.P. Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1978
M.S., A.P. Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1971
BS, University of California at Los Angeles, 1969

Ronald Fry’s research interests focus on the factors and dynamics that foster system-wide, positive change. As a co-creator of the Appreciative Inquiry theory and method, he works with groups, organizations and institutions around the world to increase their cooperative capacity in order to engage the whole system in strategic thinking, planning and change. Through his research, he continues to develop insights on large group dynamics, appreciative leadership, multi-stakeholder stratgic planning, and business as an agent for world benefit.

Interests

Teaching

organization change & development
group dynamics
sustainable enterprise
leading change
appreciative inquiry
team building

Research

large systems change
strength-based change methodology
group dynamics
positive affect in group and system change
business as agent for world benefit

Selected Publications

  • Cooperrider, D. L., Fry, R., , . (2012). In David Cooperrider and Ronald Fry (Ed.), Corporate Citizenship is a Matter of World Affairs (41 ed., pp. 3-6). Sheffield: Journal of Corporate Citizenship/Greenleaf.
  • Fry, R. (2012). In Ken Shelton (Ed.), Managing Continuity (3 ed., vol. 29, pp. 8). Provo, Utah: Leadership Excellence.
  • Fry, R. (2012). In Ken Shelton (Ed.), Words Create Worlds (3 ed., vol. 29, pp. 12). Provo, Utah: Leadership Excellence.
  • Fry, R. (2011). In Carol Bafi-Dugan (Ed.), Leveraging Strengths to Bring Out the Best in Human Systems (Fall ed., vol. September, pp. 8-12). Medford, MA: National Association of Advisors for the Health Professionals, Inc..
  • Fry, R., Cooperrider, D. L., , . (2011). In David Cooperrider and Ronald Fry (Ed.), Socially Responsible Communication: Shifting from Access and Informing to Engaging and Interacting (41 ed., pp. 3-5). Sheffield: Journal of Corporate Citizenship/Greenleaf.
  • Fry, R., Cooperrider, D. L., , . (2011). In David Cooperrider and Ronald Fry (Ed.), Facing the Complexities of Corporate Responsibility and Accountability (40 ed., pp. 3-6). Sheffield: Journal of Corporate Citizenship/Greenleaf.
  • Fry, R., Ruhe, M. C., Bobiak, S. N., Carter, C., Fry, R. E., Wu, L., ZyZanski, S., Litaker, D., Weyer, S., Weiner, J., Stange, K. (2011). In Carroll, Jean Gayton PhD (Ed.), Appreciative Inquiry for Quality Improvement in Primary Care Practices (1 ed., vol. 20, pp. 30-36). Philadelphia, PA: Quality Management in Healthcare/Lipincott Williams & Wilkins.
  • Fry, R., Cooperrider, D. L., , . (2010). In David cooperrider and Ronald Fry (Ed.), Developing Tomorow's Business Leaders to Enact Corporate Citizenship (39 ed., pp. 3-6). Sheffield: Journal of Corporate Citizenship/Greenleaf.
  • Fry, R., Cooperrider, D. L. (2010). In David cooperrider and Ronald Fry (Ed.), Can Stakeholder Engagement be Generative? (38 ed., pp. 3-6). Sheffield: Journal of Corporate Citizenship/Greenleaf.
  • Fry, R., Hovelynck, J. (2010). In Chris Steyaert & Bart Van Looy (Ed.), Developing Space for Diversity: An Appreciative Stance (pp. 139-154). London: Emerald Group Publishing, Ltd.
  • Cooperrider, D. L., Fry, R. (2010). In David L Cooperrider and Ronald E. Fry (Ed.), Design Inspired Corporate Citizenship (37 ed., pp. 3-6). Sheffield: Journal of Corporate Citizenship.
  • Fry, R. (2010). In Griet Bouwen (Ed.), Developing the Whole Person through Generative Relationships (pp. 13-15). Leuven: Lanoo Campus.
  • Cooperrider, D. L., Fry, R., , . (2010). In Cooperrider and Fry (Ed.), A Peter Drucker Moment: Harnessing the Innovation Producing Potential of a Shareholder and Stakeholder Theory of the Firm (vol. 36, pp. 3-6). sheffield: Journal of Corporate Citizenship.
  • Cooperrider, D. L., Fry, R., , . (2009). In Cooperrider and Fry (Ed.), Is Corporate Citizenship Spreading and Shrinking? (35 ed., vol. Autumn 2009, pp. 3-6). Sheffield: Journal of Corporate Citizenship.
  • Fry, R. (2008). In Frank Lambrechts, Styn Grieten, Luk Verheijen (Ed.), Business as an Agent for World Benefit: Transformative Innovations for Mutual Benefit (3 ed., vol. 4, pp. 8-21). Rotterdam, Netherlands: Develop: Kwartaaltijdschrift Over Human Resources Development/ HRD Fond.
  • Fry, R. (2002). Appreciating Your Past in Order to Transform the Future, (Invited) (13 ed., vol. 1, ). HR Cleveland; Cleveland Society for HR Management.
  • Fry, R. (2000). Appreciative Inquiry: Towards a Revolution in Positive Change (Invited) NZ Management.

Presentations

  • Fry, R. World Appreciative Inquiry conference, "Generative Engagement: Going beyond the Positive for Transformational Change", Network of AI Professional, Ghent, Belgium. (2012).
  • Fry, R. (Presenter & Author) Hathaway Brown School's Eduction Innovation Summit 2011, "Sustainability Through Strength", Hathaway Brown School, Shaker Heights, OH. (2011).
  • Fry, R. (Presenter Only) Lubrizol/Weatherhead Alumni Breakfast, "Igniting Positive Change through leveraging Strengths", WSOM & Lubrizol, Wickliffe, OH. (2011).
  • Fry, R. (Presenter Only) University Hospitals Faculty Enrichment Program, "Leveraging Strengths to Build Individual and Organizational Capacity", University Hospitals, Cleveland, OH. (2011).
  • Fry, R. (Presenter & Author) Academy of Management Annual Meeting, "Designing a Green Sity on a Blue Lake: Cleveland's Sustainability Journey", Academy of Management, San Antonio, TX. (2011).
  • Fry, R. (Presenter & Author) Cleveland Clinic Leading in Health Care Program, "Building Cooperative Capacity through Strengths-Based Change", Cleveland clinic, Cleveland, OH. (2011).
  • Fry, R. Provost Leadership Retreat, "Building Cooperative Capacity in Academic Departments", CWRU Office of the Provost, Cleveland, Ohio. (2010).
  • Fry, R. E uropean Appreciative Inquiry Network, "Appreciative Inquiry and Strength-based Change: Where To Next?", BLED School of Management, Bled, Slovenia. (2010).
  • Fry, R. Resilient Thinking, "Driving Positive Change through the Questions We Ask", Flemish Quality Management Center, Gent, Belgium. (2009).
  • Fry, R. (Presenter & Author) 16th Annual Northwest Dispute Resolution Conference, "Strength-based Stakeholder Engagement through Appreciative Inquiry", Washington Law School, Washington Mediation Association, Seattle. (2009).
  • Fry, R. Global Forum Latin America, "Business Engagement for a Sustainable Future: Lessons from the BAWB World Inquiry", Federation of Industries, Parana, Brazil, Curitiba, Parana., Brazil. (2009).
  • Fry, R. International Institute of Municiple Clerks, "High Engagement through Strength-based Leadership: Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry", Institute of Municiple Clerks, Chicago. (2009).
  • Fry, R. (Presenter & Author), Sharma, G. (Presenter & Author) Leading Ways to Social Responsibility & Sustainability, "the World Inquiry Project: Analyses of Impct of Innovations to Create Mutual Benefit for Business and Society", Mandel Center, WSOM & Fowler Center, Cleveland, Ohio. (2009).

Academic and Professional Activities

  • Executive Board and Program Chair, ODC Division, Academy of Management. 2005 - Present
  • Advisory Board and Visiting Faculty, New Zealand Institute of Management. 1981 - Present
  • Committee Chair, Appointments, 2010 - Present
  • Committee Member, Fowler Center Advisory Committee, 2010 - Present
  • Committee Member, Provost committee on Corporate Engagement, 2010
  • Editorial Review Board Member, Journal of Applied Behavioral Sciences, 2010 - Present
  • Editor, Journal Editor, Journal of Applied behavioral Sciences, 2010 - Present
  • Guest Speaker, Hathaway Brown School: Education Innovation Summit, Shaker Heights, OH, 2010
  • Program Organizer, Belgium Learning network for Talent Development, Genk, 2010
  • Guest Speaker, Global Forum Latin America, Curitiba, 2010
  • Workshop Organizer, Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE), Cleveland, Ohio, 2010
  • Program Organizer, Global Forum for Business As Agent for World Benefit, 2009
  • Workshop Organizer, Jewish Community Federation, Cleveland, Ohio, 2009 - 2010
  • Editor, Journal Editor, Journal of Corporate Citizenship, 2008 - Present
  • Program Organizer, Academy of Mgt,, ODC Division Program Chair, 2008 - 2009
  • Committee Chair, Department Chairman, 2007 - Present
  • Committee Chair, Department of Organizational Behavior, 2007 - Present
  • Officer, President/Elect/Past, Academy of Management, ODC Division , 2006 - 2010