Faculty & Research

Profile:

Brad Morrison is fascinated with the challenges people face in accomplishing what they set out to do in organizations. His research focuses on implementation, which he as studied in several contexts, such as process improvement settings and firms adopting the practices of lean manufacturing. He examines the paradoxes of building organizational capability and implementing innovations. For example, why do the actions some managers take foster the very problems they are attempting to solve? His methods blend organization theory with tools of system dynamics, feedback theory, mathematical modeling and computer simulation to elucidate the relationships between structure in systems and the patterns of dynamic behavior they exhibit over time.

Brad has previously taught at the Sloan School at M.I.T. and in executive education in a variety of settings. He has been a partner at a leading global management consulting firm and has more than 15 years of consulting experience in the retail and consumer products and healthcare industries. He has assisted dozens of organizations wrestling with change in areas such as product development, sourcing, and supply chain management. He has extensive experience in Asia where he has worked in 11 countries for his clients from North America, Asia, and Europe. He has also worked in cancer research and in banking.

Publications:

• Morrison, J. B., Rudolph, J. W. and Carroll, J. S.. "Dynamic Modeling as a Multidiscipline Collaborative Journey." System Dynamics Review (2013). (forthcoming)
• Morrison, J. Bradley. "Managing the Dynamics of Process Improvement: Production, Improvement, and Learning." Presented at the Academy of Management, Boston, MA. 2013.
• Morrison, J. B.. "Process Improvement Dynamics Under Constrained Resources: Managing the Work Harder versus Work Smarter Balance." System Dynamics Review 28. 4 (2012): 329-350.
• Morrison, J. Bradley. "Managing the Dynamics of Process Improvement: Production, Improvement, and Learning." Presented at the 23nd Annual Production and Operations Management Society Conference, Chicago. IL.. 2012.
• Morrison, J. Bradley. "The Efficiency Trap in Process Improvement and the Critical Role of Learning by Doing." Presented at the 29th International System Dynamics Conference, St. Gallen, Switzerland. 2012.
• Morrison, J.B., Rudolph, J. W., & Carroll, J. S.. "Doing System Dynamics Collaboratively with Social Scientists, J.W. Forrester Award Reception Talk.." Presented at the 29th International System Dynamics Conference, St. Gallen, Switzerland. 2012.
• Christopher Fee , Kendall Hall, J. Bradley Morrison, Robert Stephens, Karen Cosby, Rollin (Terry) J. Fairbanks, Barbara Youngberg, Gail Lenehan, Jameel Abualenain, Kevin O’Connor, Robert Wears. "Consensus-Based Recommendations for Research Priorities Related to Interventions to Safeguard Patient Safety in the Crowded Emergency Department." Academic Emergency Medicine 18. 12 (2011): 1283-1288.
• Morrison, J. B., Rudolph, J. W.. "Fixation or Vagabonding -€“ The Two Faces of Self-fulfilling Interpretation." Focus on Patient Safety 14. 4 (2011).
• Morrison, J. B., Rudolph, J. W.. "Learning from Accident and Error:Avoiding the Hazards of Workload, Stress, and Routine Interruptions in the ED." Academic Emergency Medicine (18). 12 (2011): 1246-1254.
• Morrison, J. B., Wears, R. L.. "Emergency Department Crowding." Presented at The 28th International Conference of the System Dynamics Society, Washington, DC. 2011.
• Morrison, J. B., Wears, R. L.. "Emergency Department Crowding: Vicious Cycles in the ED." Paper presented at the 4th Annual Mayo Clinic Conference on Systems Engineering and Operations Research in Health Care., Rochester, MN. . 2011.
• Morrison, J. B., Wears, R. L.. "Emergency Department Crowding: Vicious Cycles in the ED." Paper presented at the Academy of Management, San Antonio, TX. 2011.
• Morrison, J. B., Wears, R. L.. "Overcrowding in the Emergency Department." Invited paper presented at the System Dynamics Winter Camp, Austin, TX. 2011.
• Morrison, J. Bradley and Wears, R.L.. "Managing Emergency Room Crowding: Workplace Constraints versus Human Capabilities." 22nd Annual Production and Operations Management Science Conference, Reno, NV. 2011.
• Morrison, J. Bradley and Wears, Robert L.. "Overcrowding in the Emergency Department." System Dynamics Winter Camp, Austin, TX. January, 2011.
• Morrison, J. Bradley. "The Transition Challenge in the Implementation of Process Improvement." 22nd Annual Production and Operations Management Science Conference, Reno, NV. May, 2011.
• Morrison, J. Bradley. "Simulation Modelling for Grounded Theory Building: Why Do Chronic Resource Shortages Persist?." European Operations Management Association, Porto, Portugal. 2010.
• Morrison, J. Bradley. "The Problem with Workarounds is that They Work." Academy of Management, Montreal, Canada. 2010.
• Morrison, J. Bradley. Managing the Dynamics of Process Improvement: Production, Improvement, and Learning. Proc. of 2010 International System Dynamics Conference. Seoul, Korea: 2010.
• Morrison, J. Bradley. The Problem with Workarounds is that They Work. Proc. of 2009 International System Dynamics Conference. Albuquerque, NM: 2010.
• Sturtevant, Daniel, Morrison, J. Bradley. America Disrupted: Dynamics of the Technical Capability Crisis. Proc. of 2009 International System Dynamics Conference. Albuquerque, NM.: 2010.
• Rudolph, Jenny, Morrison, J. Bradley, and Carroll, John. "The Dynamics of Action-Oriented Problem Solving: Linking Interpretation and Choice." Academy of Management Review 34. 4 (2009): 733-758.
• Morrison, J. Bradley, Goldsmith, Daniel and Siegel, Michael. Dynamic Complexity in Military Planning: A Role for System Dynamics. Proc. of 2008 International System Dynamics Conference. Athens, Greece: 2008.
• Morrison, J. Bradley, Rudolph, Jenny and Carroll, John. The Dynamics of Diagnosing: Virtuous and Vicious Cycles in the Operating Room. Proc. of 2008 International System Dynamics Conference. Athens, Greece: 2008.
• Morrison, J. Bradley. "Putting the Learning Curve in Context." Journal of Business Research 61. 11 (2008): 1182-1190.
• Rudolph, Jenny W. and Morrison, J. Bradley. "Sidestepping Superstitious Learning, Ambiguity, and Other Roadblocks: A Feedback Model of Diagnostic Problem Solving." American Journal of Medicine 121. 5A (2008): 534-537.
• Morrison, J. Bradley, Rudolph, Jenny W., and Caroll, John C.. "Modeling the Dynamics of Time-pressured Diagnostic Sensemaking." Proceedings of the 2007 International System Dynamics Conference, Boston, MA. 2007.
• Morrison, J. Bradley. "Modeling the Dynamics of Process Improvement: Stretch Goals that Fail." Academy of Management, Philadelphia, PA. 2007.
• Rudolph, Jenny W. and Morrison, J. Bradley. "Confidence, Error, and Ingenuity in Diagnostic Problem Solving: Clarifying the Role of Exploration and Exploitation." Best Paper Proceedings of the Sixty-Seventh Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Philadelphia, PA (2007).
• Choucri, N., Electris, C., Goldsmith, D, Mistree, D, Mandinck, S.E., Morrison, Bradley J., Siegel, M. and Sweitzer-Hamilton, M.. Understanding & Modeling State Stability: Exploiting System Dynamics. Proc. of 2006 Institue of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Aerospace Conference. Big Sky, MT: IEEE, 2006.
• Morrison, Bradley J.. "Applying Learning Curve Theory to Implementation of Process Change." Academy of Mangement, Atlanta, GA. August, 2006.
• Morrison, J. Bradley. Implementation as Learning: An Extension of Learning Curve Theory. Proc. of 2005 International System Dynamics Conference. Boston, MA: 2005.
• Morrison, J. Bradley. Dynamics of Learning by Doing under Constraints: Analysis of the Tipping Point. Proc. of 2004 International System Dynamics Conference. Oxford, England: 2004.
• Morrison, J. Bradley. "The Right Shock to Initiate Change: A Sensemaking Perspective." Best Paper Proceedings of the Academy of Management, Denver, CO (2002).

Awards & Honors:

• (2012) Jay W. Forrester Award (Best work in the field of system dynamics in the previous five years)
• (2011) Academy of Management, Nominee for Best Paper in the Healthcare Management Division
• (2009) Invited Speaker, "Masterful Classes," International Conference of the System Dynamics Society
• (2007) Best Paper Selection, Academy of Management
• (2002) Best Paper Selection, Academy of Management