Ronald Fry

Professor, Organizational Behavior at Weatherhead School of Management

Professor, Organizational Behavior. Distinguished Guest Faculty, Center for Values Driven Leadership - Benedictine University at Weatherhead School of Management

Schools

Weatherhead School of Management

Expertise

Biography

Weatherhead School of Management

Ron Fry is a Professor in the Department of Organizational Behavior at the Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University. He holds a BS in Engineering at the University of California at Los Angeles (1969), and an SM in Management from the Alfred P. Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1971) where he also received a PhD in Organizational Psychology (1978).

A co-creator of Appreciative Inquiry, Fry has conducted research and consulted with industrial, service and public sector organizations in the areas of human resource development and organizational change for more than twenty-five years. His work with such organizations as Ford, General Electric, Northern Telecom, Mittal Steel, and the Greater Houston Mental Health Association has focused on projects related to employee involvement, participatory management systems, fundamental cultural change, team building and executive development, and strategic planning.

Fry joined the faculty of the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University in 1978 and was tenured in 1984. Fry directed the redesign and launch of the new Masters Program in Positive Organizational Development and Change, after having directed the Executive MBA Program for fifteen years. Both programs have consistently earned high national and international rankings in their respective areas.

Fry is widely published in the areas of Organizational Development, Appreciative Inquiry, Team Building, Change Management, Executive Development and the role and functions of the CEO. He continues to both apply and study the applications of AI in the field. His books include Appreciative Inquiry: A Positive Approach to Building Cooperative Capacity, with Frank Barrett and Appreciative Team Building (with Diana Whitney, Amanda Trosten-Bloom, and Jay Cherney). He also co-edited Appreciative Inquiry and Organizational Transformation: Reports from the Field (Quorum, 2001).

He has developed and conducted a Certificate Program in Appreciative Leadership and Organizational Capacity Building for over 150 leaders of voluntary social change organizations in more than 30 countries. With David Cooperrider, he co-directs the Case Weatherhead Certificate Program in Appreciative Inquiry in Positive Business and Society Change. He is Editor and Chief of the Case Center for Business as Agent of World Benefit’s global inquiry and directs the Center’s Institute for Advances in Appreciative Inquiry. He currently oversees AI applications in a variety of systems including World Vision, Lubrizol, Roadway Express, and the US Navy.

Publications

Fry, R. (2018). In David Szabla, William Pasmore, Mary Barnes, and Asha Gipson (Ed.), Richard Beckhard: Pioneer Thinker in Organization Development New York, NY: Palgrave - Macmillan.

Fry, R. (2017). In Wick van der Vaart and David Cooperrider (Ed.), An Appreciative Inquiry into Business as an Agent of World Benefit (vol. 19, issue 2, pp. 9-16). Instituut voor Interventiekunde nathalie@instituutvoorinterventiekunde.nl: The Appreciative Inquiry Practitioner.

Grieten, S., Lambrechts, F., Bouwen, R., Huybrechts, J., Fry, R., , D. (2017). Inquiring Into Appreciative Inquiry: A Conversation With David Cooperrider and Ronald Fry (vol. 1-15, ). Sage Publications: Journal of Management Inquiry.

Fry, R. (2014). In Katrin Huff (Ed.), Setting the Right Tone: The Principles of Appreciative Inquiry (pp. 92-100). Sheffield: Greenleaf Publishers.

Fry, R. (2014). In David Coghlan and Mary Brydon-Miller (Ed.), Appreciative Inquiry (vol. 1, pp. 44-48). SAGE: SAGE.

Bright, D. S., Fry, R., Cooperrider, D. L. (2014). Exploring Transformative Innovation Through a World Inquiry (pp. 341-359). Emerald Publishing:

Bright, D. S., Powley, E. H., Fry, R., Barrett, F. J. (2014). In Zandee, D., Cooperrider, D. L., Avital, M. (Eds.) (Ed.), The Generative Potential of Cynical Conversations (pp. 136-157). Emerald Publishing:

Fry, R., Sharma, G. (2013). In Henn, Rebecca and Hoffman, Andrew (Eds.) (Ed.), Generativity: Reconceptualizing the Benefits of Green Buildings (pp. 239-259). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

Cooperrider, D. L., Fry, R. (2013). In David Cooperrider and Ronald Fry (Ed.), The Positive Psychology of Sustainablility (vol. 46, ). London: Journal of Corporate Citizenship.

Cooperrider, D. L., Fry, R. (2013). In David L Cooperrider & Ronald E Fry (Ed.), Mirror Flourishing and the Positive Psychology of Sustainability+ (issue 46, pp. 3-12). Sheffield: Journal of Corporate Citizenship.

Fry, R., Verma, N., Seb, W. O. (2013). In Neena Verma, Ronald Fry & Zeb Waturuocha (Ed.), India and Appreciative Inquiry: A Generative Connection (vol. 15, issue 1, pp. 4-7). London: AI Practitioner.

Cooperrider, D. L., Fry, R. (2012). In David L Cooperrider & Ronald E Fry (Ed.), What Might They Call Our Generation? (issue 44, pp. 3-7). Sheffield: Journal of Corporate Citizenship.

Fry, R., Cooperrider, D. L. (2012). In David L Cooperrider & Ronald E. Fry (Ed.), Tied into a Single Garment of Destiny (vol. 45, issue Spring, pp. 3-5). Sheffield: Journal of Corporate Citizenship.

Bright, D. S., Fry, R. (2012). In David s Bright & Ronald E Fry (Ed.), Introduction: Building Ethical, Virtuous Organizations (vol. 49, issue 1, pp. 5-12). Thousand Oaks, CA: Journal of Applies Behavioral Science.

Cooperrider, D. L., Fry, R., , . (2012). In David Cooperrider and Ronald Fry (Ed.), Corporate Citizenship is a Matter of World Affairs (issue 41, pp. 3-6). Sheffield: Journal of Corporate Citizenship/Greenleaf.

Fry, R. (2012). In Ken Shelton (Ed.), Managing Continuity (vol. 29, issue 3, pp. 8). Provo, Utah: Leadership Excellence.

Fry, R. (2012). In Ken Shelton (Ed.), Words Create Worlds (vol. 29, issue 3, pp. 12). Provo, Utah: Leadership Excellence.

Cooperrider, D. L., Fry, R. (2011). In David L Cooperrider & Ronald E Fry (Ed.), the Power of Self-Synchronising Expectations: Realities Are Not What They Used to Be (issue 43, pp. 3-6). Sheffield: Journal of Corporate Citizenship.

Fry, R. (2011). In Carol Bafi-Dugan (Ed.), Leveraging Strengths to Bring Out the Best in Human Systems (vol. September, issue Fall, 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 (issue 41, pp. 3-5). Sheffield: Journal of Corporate Citizenship/Greenleaf.

Fry, R., Cooperrider, D. L., , . (2011). In David Cooperrider and Ronald Fry (Ed.), Editorial: Facing the Complexities of Corporate Responsibility and Accountability (issue 40, 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 (vol. 20, issue 1, 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 (issue 39, 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? (issue 38, 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 (issue 37, 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? (vol. Autumn 2009, issue 35, 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 (vol. 4, issue 3, 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) (vol. 1, issue 13, ). HR Cleveland; Cleveland Society for HR Management.

Fry, R. (2000). Appreciative Inquiry: Towards a Revolution in Positive Change (Invited) NZ Management.

Weatherhead School of Management

As a co-creator of the Appreciative Inquiry (AI) theory and method, Ronald Fry, PhD, 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. His research interests focus on the factors and dynamics that foster system-wide, positive change, and he continues to develop insights on large group dynamics, appreciative leadership, multi-stakeholder strategic planning, and business as an agent for world benefit.

His books include APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY: A POSITIVE APPROACH TO BUILDING COOPERATIVE CAPACITY, with Frank Barrett, and APPRECIATIVE TEAM BUILDING, with Diana Whitney, Amanda Trosten-Bloom and Jay Cherney. He also co-edited APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY AND ORGANIZATIONAL TRANSFORMATION: REPORTS FROM THE FIELD (Quorum, 2001). Fry’s work also appears in such journals as JOURNAL OF CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP, AI PRACTITIONER, JOURNAL OF APPLIED BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE, NZ MANAGEMENT, and QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN HEALTHCARE.

Fry has developed and conducted a Certificate Program in Appreciative Leadership and Organizational Capacity Building for over 150 leaders of voluntary social change organizations from more than 30 countries. With David Cooperrider, he co-directs the Weatherhead School of Management Certificate Program in Appreciative Inquiry in Positive Business and Society Change. He is an advisory board member and chief editor of the Fowler Center for Business as Agent of Work Benefit’s AIM2Flourish global inquiry into business innovations for business and society benefit. He has facilitated AI applications in a variety of systems including World Vision, Lubrizol, Roadway Express, US Navy, Genesis Health System, and Mid-Ohio Foodbank.

Fry has served as a visiting faculty to Canterbury University in Christchurch, New Zealand, Katholieke University in Leuven, Belgium and to the Administrative Staff College of India. He has been honored with the Case Western Reserve University Award for Outstanding Teacher in the Professional Schools. In 2004, he was awarded the Weatherhead School’s Lifetime Service Award. He is the chair and faculty director of the Master of Positive Organization Development and Change (MPOD)-India Program. He also facilitates the annual summits for Sustainable Cleveland 2019.

Fry received both his doctorate and MS from the A.P. Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Since joining the faculty at Case Western Reserve in 1978, he has taught courses on organizational behavior, organization change and development; group dynamics; sustainable enterprise; leading change; appreciative inquiry; and team building.

The Weatherhead School of Management is different from other business schools. We are bold in our ideas, creative in our approach, and adaptive in our interactions within a changing business environment. We''ve enhanced traditional management education by integrating the fundamentals of business with ideas and practices that change individuals, organizations and societies. At Weatherhead, we develop leaders as good global citizens who innovate to create sustainable value.

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 Committee, 2017 - Present
Committee Member, IoT Collaborative, 2017 - Present
Program Organizer, MOOC Course on Appreciative Inquiry, 2015 - 2016
Committee Chair, T Alfred Distinguished Service Award Committee, 2014
Committee Chair, Weatherhead Outstanding PhD Research Award, 2014
Reviewer, Journal Article, International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 2014
Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, International Management Review, 2014
Committee Chair, India-MPOD Program Faculty Director, 2012 - 2016
Editorial Review Board Member, Journal of Corporate Citizenship, 2012 - Present
Workshop Organizer, Sustainable Cleveland 2019, Cleveland, OH, 2012
Committee Chair, Dean Search Committee, 2011 - 2012
Chairperson, Weatherhead School Dean Search Committee, 2011 - 2012
Committee Member, Fowler Center Advisory Board, 2010 - Present
Committee Chair, Appointments, 2010 - 2015
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 - Special Issue, 2010 - 2012
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
Committee Chair, India-MPOD, 2009 - 2016
Program Organizer, Global Forum for Business As Agent for World Benefit, 2009
Workshop Organizer, Sustainable Cleveland 2019, Cleveland, Ohio, 2009 - Present
Workshop Organizer, Jewish Community Federation, Cleveland, Ohio, 2009 - 2010
Editor, Journal Editor, Journal of Corporate Citizenship, 2008 - 2012
Program Organizer, Academy of Mgt,, ODC Division Program Chair, 2008 - 2009
Chair, Department Chairman, 2007 - 2013
Committee Chair, Department of Organizational Behavior, 2007 - 2013
Officer, President/Elect/Past, Academy of Management, ODC Division , 2006 - 2010