James B. Thomas
Emeritus Professor of Risk Management
The William Elliott Professorship of Risk and Management of Risk Management
Dr. James B. Thomas is the Elliott Professor of Risk and Management in Smeal's Department of Risk Management. Previously from 2006-2012, he was the dean of the Smeal College of Business, holder of the Surma Dean's Chair, and professor of information sciences and management. From 1999 to 2006, he was the College of Information Sciences and Technology's (IST) founding dean and oversaw the college's growth and development across the Commonwealth, as well as the construction of the landmark IST Building at University Park. Prior to that, Thomas served as Smeal's senior associate dean. He began his career at Penn State as an assistant professor. His publications have appeared in Administration Science Quarterly, Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, Organization Science, and Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, among other top journals. Thomas also has received several research grants, including support to study "Industry Structure and the Role of Information Technology", and "Strategic Alignment". Previously he served as the director responsible for information technology strategic planning for the Office of the Texas Secretary of State, and earlier was the director responsible for information management systems for the Florida Department of State. He is a frequent speaker on education policy and programs appearing before the U.S. Congress and Pennsylvania Legislatures among many other venues. A graduate from Penn State in pre-law, Thomas received a master's degree in government from Florida State University and a doctorate in strategic management from the University of Texas at Austin.
Expertise
Sensemaking, Identity, Learning, Culture
Education
Ph D in Strategic Management, The University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business, Austin, TX, 1988-06-01 MS in Government, Florida State University, College of Social Sciences, Tallahassee, FL, 1979-06-01 BS in Pre-Law/Political Science, The Pennsylvania State University, College of Liberal Arts, University Park, PA, 1974-01-01
Courses Taught
B A 496 – Independent Studies
Creative projects, including research and design, which are supervised on an individual basis and which fall outside the scope of formal courses.
B A 596 – Individual Studies
Creative projects, including nonthesis research, which are supervised on an individual basis and which fall outside the scope of formal courses.
B A 597A – Leadership and Decision Making (A)
In this course, we first look at the characteristics of the problems and opportunities faced by leaders. We then explore these decision making events from the perspective of the human cognition and behaviors used to deal with these decision characteristic
B A 597K – Business Government and International Economics (K)
Formal courses given on a topical or special interest subject which may be offered infrequently.
BA 597 – Special Topics
Formal courses given on a topical or special interest subject which may be offered infrequently.
FIN 496 – Indep Studies
Creative projects, including research and design, which are supervised on an individual basis and which fall outside the scope of formal courses.
I B 496 – Independent Studies
Creative projects, including research and design, which are supervised on an individual basis and which fall outside the scope of formal courses.
IST 296 – Independent Studies
Creative projects, including research and design, that are supervised on an individual basis and that fall outside the scope of formal courses.
IST 397A – Visual BASIC Database Programming (A)
Special topics course.
IST 496 – Independent Studies
Creative projects, including research and design, that are supervised on an individual basis and that fall outside the scope of formal courses.
MGMT 301H – Basic Management Concepts (Honors) (H)
Study of fundamental principles and processes available to the understanding of management.
MGMT 301H – Honors Mgmt (H)
Study of fundamental principles and processes applicable to the understanding of management.
MGMT 399 – Foreign Studies
Courses offered in foreign countries by individual or group instruction.
MGMT 494H – Honors Research Project (H)
Supervised student activities on research projects identified on an individual or small-group basis.
MGMT 496 – Independent Studies
Creative projects, including research and design, which are supervised on an individual basis and which fall outside the scope of formal courses.
MGMT 861 – GLOBAL STRAT & ORG
Course focuses on three major aspects of international business: competitive strategy, organization design, and management processes. MGMT 561 Global Strategy and Organization (2) The course focuses on three major aspects of international business: competitive strategy, organization design, and management processes. As multinational companies globalize, they rely on a variety of managerial and organizational arrangements to accomplish their strategic objectives. We will examine those arrangements according to several major corporate decisions: the decision to go abroad, doing business in a particular country or region, transforming a multinational firm into a global firm and so on.
R M 496 – Independent Studies
Creative Projects, including research and design, which are supervised on an individual basis and which fall outside the scope of formal courses.
R M 497B – Risk, Strategy, and Decision Making (B)
One of the key ways that a business attempts to manage the risk it anticipates in markets is through its business strategy. Strategy, in turn, emerges from a series of decisions guided by the insights and biases of people as well as various forces/factors
RM 440 – Risk and Strategy
One of the key ways that a business attempts to manage risk it anticipates and confronts in markets is through organizational-level elements such as its business strategy, structure, and culture. These elements emerge from a series of decisions guided by the insights and biases of individuals. As such, the management of enterprise risk must also include an understanding of how individuals (e.g. managers) approach risk through their decisions and decision making processes. In this course, we look at some of these critical elements separately and then together as they integrate to guide and define enterprise risk management. The basic course objectives are to come away with an understanding of the following: Forms of strategic risk - From market to internally-driven risk; from emotional to economic-driven, how does strategic risk present itself? How do executives recognize/assess and respond to the "portfolio of risk" that they must address to make the business successful? Business strategy and structure - One way risk is addressed and articulated is through a business strategy. What is strategy? What are the key decisions that comprise a business strategy? How are organizations structured to implement these strategies and move information across the firm? Where and how is risk assessed in these processes and structures, and incorporated into a strategic risk plan? Decision making - Decision making around strategy and risk management plays out in various forms and across different levels (i.e., individuals and groups). What goes right and wrong? How are these processes systematically linked to perceptions and actions associated with risk management. Organizational culture - Perhaps one of the most critical elements in enterprise risk management is the role played by organizational culture (or simply "How we do things around here and my role as an organizational member doing it.") We examine the roots of organizational culture and how it is aligned to perspectives of risk and its management. Descriptive vs. prescriptive perspectives - Once we "described" what does/could go on, we need to engage in looking at ways that organizations can prevent pitfalls and correct suboptimal practices.
Selected Publications
Gioia D. A., Price K. N., Hamilton A. L., Thomas J. B. "Forging an Identity: An Insider-Outsider Study of Processes Involved in Organizational Identity Formation" Administrative Science Quarterly, vol. 55, 2010-03-01
Clark S. M., Gioia D. A., Ketchen D., Thomas J. B. "Transitional Identity as a Facilitator of Organizational Identity Change during a Merger" Administrative Science Quarterly, vol. 55, 2010-01-01
Thomas J. B., von Dran R. "The Emerging Information Field: Issues and Opportunities" MIT Press, 2006-06-01
Thomas J. B., Sawyer S. "i-School Academic Life" Bulletin of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 2006-03-01
Thomas J. B., Sawyer S., von Dran R. "The i-Field Transformation Ahead" Bulletin of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 2006-03-01
McNeese M., Purao S., Thomas J. B., Yen J. "Where No One has Gone Before..." Decision Line, vol. 35, 2004-01-01
Labianca G., Fairbank J. F., Thomas J. B., Gioia D. A., Umphress E. E. "Emulation in Academia: Balancing Structure and Identity" Organization Science, vol. 3, 2001-01-01
Thomas J. B., Sussman S. W., Henderson J. C. "Understanding Strategic Learning: Linking Organizational Learning, Knowledge Management, and Sensemaking" Organization Science, vol. 12, 2001-01-01
Thomas J. B., Gioia D., Ketchen D. "Strategic sensemaking: Learning through scanning, interpretation, action, and performance" Advances in Strategic Management, 1997-01-01
Thomas J. B., Ketchen D. J., Trevino L. K., McDaniel R. R. "Developing interorganizational relationships in the health sector: A multi-case study" Integrated health care delivery: Theory, practice, evaluation and prognosis, 1996-01-01
Gioia D. A., Thomas J. B. "Institutional Identity, Image, and Issue Interpretation: Sensemaking During Strategic Change in Academia" Administrative Science Quarterly, vol. 41, 1996-01-01
Ketchen D. C., Thomas J. B., McDaniel, Jr. R. R. "Process, Content, and Context: Synerfistic Effects on Organizational Performance" Journal of Management, vol. 22, 1996-01-01
Thomas J. B., DeWitt R. "Strategic Alignment research and practice: A review and agenda" Strategic Alighment in Practice, 1996-01-01
Lindsley D. H., Brass D. J., Thomas J. B. "Efficacy-performance Spirals: A Multilvel Perspective" Academy of Management Review, vol. 20, 1995-01-01
Thomas J. B., Shankster L. J., Mathieu J. E. "Antecedents to Organizational Issue Interpretation: The Role of Single-level, Cross-level, and Content Cues" Academy of Management Journal, vol. 37, 1994-01-01
Snow C. C., Thomas J. B. "Field Research Methods in Strategic Management: Contributions to Theory Building and Testing" Journal of Management Studies, vol. 31, 1994-01-01
Ketchen D., Thomas J. B. "Organization Theory" Montgomery Hospital, 1994-01-01
Gioia D. A., Thomas J. B., Clark S. M., Chittipeddi K. "Symbolism and strategic change in Academia: The dynamics of sensemaking and influence" Cognition within and between organizations, 1994-01-01
Gioia D. A., Thomas J. B., Clark S. M., Chittipeddi K. "Symbolism and Strategic Change in Academia: The Dynamics of Sensemaking and Influence" Organization Science-Special Issue on Cognition, vol. 5, 1994-01-01
Snow C. C., Thomas J. B. "Building Networks: Broker Roles and Behaviors" Strategic Processes: Learning, Adaptation and Innovation, 1993-01-01
Thomas J. B., Trevino L. K. "Information Processing in Strategic Alliance Building: A Multiple-Case Approach" Journal of Management Studies, vol. 30, 1993-01-01
Ketchen D. J., Thomas J. B., Snow C. C. "Organizational Configuration and Performance: A Comparison of Theoretical Approaches" Academy of Management Journal--Special Issues on Configuration, vol. 36, 1993-01-01
Thomas J. B., Clark S. M., Gioia D. A. "Strategic Sensemaking and Organizational Performance: Linkages Among Scanning, Interpretation, Action, and Outcomes" Academy of Management Journal, vol. 36, 1993-01-01
Thomas J. B., Ketchen, Jr. D. J., Trevino L. K., McDaniel R. R. "Developing Interorganizational Relationships in the Health Sector" Health Care Management Review, vol. 17, 1992-01-01
Henderson J. C., Thomas J. B. "The Alignment of Business and Information Technology Domains: Perspectives of Strategic Planning in Hospitals" Hospital and Health Services Administration, vol. 37, 1992-01-01
Thomas J. B., McDaniel R. R. "Hospitals as Interpretation Systems" Health Services Research, vol. 25, 1991-01-01
Thomas J. B. "Process/Outcome Linkages: The Art of Problem Solving" Contemporary Psychology, vol. 36, 1991-01-01
Anderson R. A., Thomas J. B. "The Thinking Hospital" Health Progress, vol. 72, 1991-01-01
Ketchen, Jr. D. J., Thomas J. B. "Dividing and Conquering Strategic Issues" Health Progress, vol. 71, 1990-01-01
Thomas J. B., McDaniel R. R. "Interpreting Strategic Issues: Effects of Strategy and Top Management Team Information Processing Structure" Academy of Management Journal, vol. 33, 1990-01-01
Thomas J. B., Trevino L. K., Cramer J. S., Lafferty, Jr. W. J. "Organization Theory" Midwest Health System, 1990-01-01
Elam J. J., Thomas J. B. "Evaluating the Productivity of Information System Organizations in State Government" Public Productivity Review, vol. 12, 1989-01-01
Carsrud A. L., Olm K. W., Thomas J. B. "Predicting Entrepreneurial Success: Achievement Motivastion, Personality Traits, and Contextual Factors" Jornal of Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, vol. 1, 1989-01-01
Thomas J. B., McDaniel R. R., Dooris M. L. "Strategic Issues Analysis: NGT + Decision Analysis for Resolving Strategic Issues" Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, vol. 25, 1989-01-01
Kleinmuntz D. N., Thomas J. B. "The Value of Action and Inference in Dynamic Decision Making" Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, vol. 39, 1987-04-01
McDaniel, Jr. R. R., Thomas J. B., Ashmos D. P., Smith J. P. "The Use of Decision Analysis for Organizational Design: Reorganizing a Community Hospital" Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, vol. 23, 1987-01-01
Olm K. W., Eddy G., Thomas J. B. "The Southland Corporation--Formulating an Acquisition Strategy and The Southland Corporation--Implementing an Acquisition Strategy" Management Policy and Strategy, 1986-01-01
Dinitto D. M., McDaniel, Jr. R. R., Ruefli T. W., Thomas J. B. "The Use of Ordinal Time Series Analysis in Assessing Policy Inputs and Impacts" Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, vol. 22, 1986-01-01