Research Experience

Business Research Experience

Research Team Leader - 1997 to present

• The University of the Future, LLC (aka FutureU™)
  
  Conduct numerous research projects for clients and for purposes internal to FutureU. Manage pool of associates who make up our research team. You can learn more about our approach to research here and here.

Research Design Consultant and Project Analyst - 2003-2004

• Center for Safe Energy (An Earth Island Institute Project)


Kazakhstan Women's Political Participation, a project of Human Rights and Democratization: Initiatives in Countries with Significant Moslem Populations Program funded by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Department of State.

Executive Summary (9K PDF)

Primary Investigator - 2003

• FutureU Press Industry Report
  
  Free Executive Summary: Comparative Features Analysis of Leading Virtual Collaboration Software
  
  

Co-Investigator - 2001

• FutureU Press Industry Report
  
  Report: The Role of Information Technology in the Congressional Response to Anthrax on Capitol Hill - December 7, 2001 (102K PDF)
  
  

Primary Investigator - 2000

• FutureU Press Industry Report
  
  Report: Comparative Features Analysis of Leading Course Management Software
  
  

Consultant, Research Team Co-Leader - 2000-2003

• NASA Astrobiology Institute
  
  Report: "Overcoming the Social and Technical Challenges to Virtual Scientific Collaboration." (164K PDF)
  
  Co-led an investigation into the social and technical challenges of creating a virtual institute. Charged with determining the need for technology-mediated communication among 500+ scientists from 200+ academic, government and private organization. Engaged in full design-cycle from initial needs assessment through identification of commercial solutins, demoing, testing, and choosing best-of-class solutions and planning and carrying out roll-out including training and coaching in the use of the chosen tools. Pre and Post analysis of technology readiness and use and qualitative analysis of organizational culture and its role in determining adoption rates.

Consultant - 1996

• University of Phoenix Online
  
  Consulted to marketing director conducting market research including interviews, focus groups, and assiting in the design and analysis of data collected from a study of 63 corporations readiness for the delivery of training online.

Social Weaver - 1996

• Awakening Technology, Lake Oswego, Oregon
  
  Report: On-Line Community of Inquiry and Practice: Meaning and Wholeness in the Virtual Workplace,
  
  Working with a group of 50 corporate managers and consultants from around the country to experiment with deepening the connections possible through the computer-mediated medium of the Internet. Responsibility for getting to know participants, helping them feel safe and welcome, acknowledged, expected. And after they are comfortable, helping them connect with each other in powerful ways that support their individual and group quests.

Associate Professor - 1993-1996

• Master of Arts in Business Program, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, California.
  
  Conducted ongoing research into the teaching and learning practices of transformative learning utilizing the qualitative research tools of action inquiry, empowerment evaluation, ethnographic auditing, and ethnography. Designed and participated in self-evaluation studies of faculty and director roles, programs, and school, applying empowerment evaluation as the primary data gathering tool.

Network Coordinator - 1984 to present

• Briarpatch, San Francisco, California
  
  Conduct periodic financial and demographic survey of membership. Designed and implemented a qualitative study to measure characteristics of success. Supervised five apprentices in the collection and analysis of data.

Partner - 1986-1987

• Research & Planning for Business, San Francisco, California.
  
  Conducted qualitative market research for corporations such as Apple Computer, Fujitsu America, Hibernia Bank, Pacific Bell, Southland Corporation. Participated fully in proposal preparation, research, and reports. Produced special promotional events with built-in market research component. Developed computerized survey analysis tools. Supervised one employee in the operation of the business and various subcontractors in the execution of projects.

Consultant - 1985-1986

• Research & Planning for Business, San Francisco
  
  Same as "Partner" above. Initially acted as outside consultant then joined our two efforts to form a partnership.

Other Business Research

• Numerous reports on various kinds of research including industry analysis, market research, technology readiness and needs assessments, attitude to change assessments and internal commuications audits, for client organizations, such as California Pacific Medical Center, Columbia College of California, Dominican University of California, Fujitsu America, Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, Madduck Technologies, Missouri State University, Modesto Community College, NASA Astsrobiology Institute, Pacific Bell, and Southland Corporation, to name a few.

Ancient Academic Research Experience

Research Assistant - 1965-1974

• Dr. Robert Lockhard, Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle
  
  Conducted primary research on Animaì Behavior (See UNPUBLISHED RESEARCH for detail) Supervised two undergraduate assistants.

• Dr. Robert Tarte, Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
  
  Supervised 1-3 undergraduate research assistants in studies of the preference for free vs. earned rewards.

• Deptartment of Biology, UCLA Research Station at the Nevada Test Site of the Atomic Energy Commission, Mercury, Nevada
  
  Assisted in collection of specimens and data as part of ecological study of the effects of radiation on desert wildlife.

• Dr. James Deacon, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
  
  Assisted in collection and preparation of data and specimens as part of various ecological field studies in Nevada and California. Had primary responsibilities for supervising laboratory studies in limnology of freshwater ponds, managment of artificial ponds and aquaria (for which I receive a scholarship), temperature tolerance and anaerobic respiration in desert fishes and reptiles, ecology of desert aquatic beetles. Assisted in computer analysis of ecological data f mammals of the Southwest. Curated limnological research collections.