Dr. Bill Judge is the author of one of the newest Business Expert Press books, Building Organizational Capacity for Change: The Strategic Leader's New Mandate. Additionally, Dr. Judge is the E.V. Williams Chair of Strategic Leadership and Professor of Strategic Management in the Management Department at the College of Business & Public Administration at Old Dominion University. Dr. Judge’s teaching, research, and consulting expertise is in the area of strategic leadership and organizational change. Dr. Judge currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief of "Corporate Governance: An International Review."
BEP: Can you tell us a bit about your latest book?
Judge: Very little is known about the future except that change will be required. Unfortunately, our organizations are built for stability, not change. As a result, the strategic leader’s new mandate is to help increase their organization’s capacity for change for the future. This book provides a comprehensive roadmap for doing this.
BEP: What are the top trends in your area(s)?
Judge: My area of expertise is strategic leadership. Strategic leaders are upper echelon executives who are responsible for the long-term success and effectiveness of their organizations. Strategic leaders who are succeeding today are the ones who can balance competing imperatives – producing in the short-term while preparing for the long-term, hitting the numbers while honoring the organization values, and making sure that everyone is held accountable for their actions and results while permitting the freedom to be innovative and creative. There are many dilemmas and paradoxes that today’s leaders need to transcend.
BEP: What do you like best about using e-books? Do you own an e-book reader?
Judge: There are four things that I like about ebooks. First, I can gain access to the ebook faster than a hardcopy. Second, it usually costs less than the printed version. Third, ebooks more environmentally friendly. And fourth, ebooks are more compact to carry around than a stack of books.
I currently own an ipad. It was given to me by a former student who knew that I might enjoy using it. I do enjoy using it, but my kids sometimes use it more than I do!
BEP: What made you decide to publish with Business Expert Press?
I liked the concept of shorter, more concise books that can be read on a long plane ride by busy executives. I have a long and deep respect for Mason Carpenter, the strategic management collection editor and a growing respect for David Parker, the President of the operation. Finally, I talked with an author who had worked with BEP previously and he had a glowing report of his experience with BEP.
BEP: Have you read any other Business Expert Press books, and if so, which one was your favorite?
Judge: I have read three other BEP books previously. My favorite was written by Mason Carpenter entitled, “An Executive’s Primer on the Strategy of Social Networks.” I found the book to be very readable, concise, and chock full of practical insights.
BEP: What prompted you to write this book?
Judge: This book summarizes over ten years of research and teaching that I have done regarding organizational capacity for change for MBA and Executive MBA students. I will use this book in my consulting with executives and teaching of MBA students, and I hope that it may be of some value to other instructors or executives interested in strategic leadership and change.
BEP: What were your favorite business courses when you were in school?
Judge: My favorite business courses in my MBA program were my strategic management courses. Perhaps that is why I became a strategy professor! Prior to getting an MBA, I worked at a Fortune 200 firm as a strategic planning analyst. I find the classic strategy problem to be complex and fascinating - where do we want to go, and how do we get there? In my experience, the ‘how we get there’ part is the hardest and where I have devoted my life to studying and and understanding.
BEP: What do you like to do when you're not working?
Judge: My passion is sailing. When at home, I sail on the Chesapeake Bay. Last summer, I ticked an item off my ‘bucket list’ by sailing across the Atlantic Ocean.
BEP: What was the best non-business book you read recently?
Judge: There are so many! I guess one of the most recent books was written by James Hansen entitled "Storms of my Grandchildren.” I learned a lot about global warming, the politics and misinformation behind our inaction, and some practical policy options for averting a global catastrophe. In addition, I deeply admired how Hansen stepped out of his comfort zone to try to do his part to wake everyone up to the looming disaster that confronts us all.
Check out Dr. Bill Judge's book today!
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