Karen Golden-Biddle

Karen Golden-Biddle is Questrom Professor in Management and Professor of Management and Organizations at the Questrom School of Business at Boston University. She received her BA degree from Denison University and MBA and PhD degrees from Case Western Reserve University.

She served as Senior Associate Dean from 2011 – 2015, with responsibilities for faculty and school-level curricular change. She served as Department Chair of Management and Organizations from 2018 – 2021.

Professionally she is active in the Academy of Management, where she has been inducted as a Fellow.

Karen conducts research and teaches at the graduate level in the areas of cultural change and qualitative methodology. She has published three books and authored more than sixty articles and book chapters in management journals such as the Academy of Management Journal and Organization Science.

Karen has a forthcoming book, The Untapped Power of Discovery (2024, Routledge/Taylor & Francis) for leaders at all levels in organizations and communities.

Recognition for Karen’s scholarship includes the 2022 Award (Organizational Research Methods) for her paper on coding practices and iterativity, the 2013 Douglas McGregor Award (Journal of Applied Behavioral Science) for her paper on cultural change and organizational identity in mergers, and the Academy of Management’s Robert McDonald Award for the Advancement of Organizational Research Methodology for her study of constructing contribution in analyzing and writing qualitative research.

Her co-authored book, Composing Qualitative Research, has been used in doctoral programs in top business schools across the world, including Stanford, University of Michigan, Northwestern, Cambridge, INSEAD, and Columbia. Her current work focuses on: The critical role of the discovery process in creating successful cultural change; How seasoned insiders create and sustain cultural change that makes a positive difference within and beyond their organization.

Education

• Ph.D. Case Western Reserve University, Managerial and Policy Studies
• MBA Case Western Reserve University, Human Resource Management
• B.A. Denison University, German Studies

Academic Appointments

• 2013 – Present Inaugural Holder, Questrom Professorship in Management, Boston University
• 2007 – Present Professor of Management and Organizations, Boston University
• 2014 – Present Faculty Fellow, Center for the Advancement of Research Methods and Analysis (CARMA – Short Course: Craft of Writing Qualitative Research)
• 2018 – Present Chair, Department of Management & Organizations Department, Questrom School of Business, Boston University. Responsibilities: Departmental leadership; Faculty development; Curricular enhancement and innovation; Development of new department mission and strategy. Proposed and secured departmental name change to align with mission.
• 2011 – 2015 Senior Associate Dean, Questrom School of Business, Boston University. Responsibilities: Academic leadership; School-level vision, mission & strategy development in collaboration with Dean, faculty and senior staff; Curriculum innovation at undergraduate and graduate levels; Faculty development.
• 2013 Visiting Professor, University of Zurich, Chair of Organization and Management, Switzerland
• 2013 Visiting Professor, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, Chair of Organisation Theory and Information Systems, Great Britain
• 2007 – 2013 Everett W. Lord Distinguished Faculty Scholar, School of Management, Boston University
• 2005 International Visiting Fellow, Advanced Institute of Management Research (AIM), Lancaster University, Great Britain
• 2004 – 2006 Professor of Strategic Management and Organization, University of Alberta
• 2000 – 2006 Faculty Director, Health Organization Studies Group, University of Alberta
• 1998 – 2003 Associate Professor of Strategic Management and Organization, University of Alberta (Tenure granted AY1998-99)
• 1996 – 1997 Affiliate Faculty, Emory University Business School and Medical School Healthcare Leadership Centre
• 1988 – 1995 Assistant Professor of Organization and Management, Emory University
• 1994 Visiting Professor, Linz University, Austria
• 1986 – 1987 Lecturer, Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University

Selected Publications

• Locke, K., Feldman, M., Golden-Biddle, K. (In Press). "Coding Practices and Iterativity: Beyond Templates for Analyzing Qualitative Data", Organizational Research Methods 109442812094860-109442812094860
• Golden-Biddle, K., Bartunek, J. (In Press). Responsible Research for Better Business."Responsible Research for Better Business", Springer Nature
• Gioia, D., Corley, K., Eisenhardt, K., Feldman, M., Langley, A., Lê, J., Golden-Biddle, K., Locke, K., Mees-Buss, J., Piekkari, R., Ravasi, D., Rerup, C., Schmid, T., Silverman, D., Welch, C. (2022). "A Curated Debate: On Using “Templates” in Qualitative Research", Journal of Management Inquiry, 31 (3), 231-252
• Golden-Biddle, K., Bartunek, J. (2020). Responsible Research for Better Business: Creating Useful and Credible Knowledge for Business and Society. In MJ, Thompson., L, Zsolnai. (Eds.), "Responsible Research for Better Business: Creating Useful and Credible Knowledge for Business and Society", Palgrave Macmillan 47-68
• Golden-Biddle, K. (2019). "Discovery as Abductive Mechanism for Reorienting Habits within Organizational Change", Academy of Management Journal
• Bhakoo, V., Koehler, T., Smith, A., Cilesiz, S., Cornelissen, J., Feldman, M., Golden-Biddle, K., Greckhamer, T., Harley, B., Ketokivi, M., Locke, K., Mantere, S., Pratt, M., Sonenshein, S. (2019). "Templates in Qualitative Research Methods: How Have We Got Here and How Do We Get Out?", Academy of Management Proceedings, 2019 (1), 14900-14900
• Golden-Biddle, K. (2017). "PDW. Coding in the Trenches: Discovery Processes",
• Golden-Biddle, K., Reay, T., GermAnn, K., Casebeer, A., Hinings, C. (2016). Mobilizing Knowledge in Health Care: Challenges for Management and Organization."Mobilizing Knowledge in Health Care: Challenges for Management and Organization", Oxford University Press
• Golden-Biddle, K., Locke, K., Feldman, M. (2015). The Handbook of Qualitative Organizational Research."The Handbook of Qualitative Organizational Research", Taylor & Francis
• Golden-Biddle, K. (2014). How to Be a Positive Leader: Small Actions, Big Impact."How to Be a Positive Leader: Small Actions, Big Impact", Berrett-Koehler Publishers
• Golden-Biddle, K. (2013). "How to Change an Organization Without Blowing It Up", Sloan Management Review, 54 (2), 35-41
• Reay, T., Chreim, S., Golden-Biddle, K., Goodrick, E., Williams, B., Casebeer, A., Pablo, A., Hinings, C. (2013). "Transforming New Ideas into Practice: An Activity Based Perspective on the Institutionalization of Practices", Journal of Management Studies, 50 (6), 963-990
• Langley, A., Golden-Biddle, K., Reay, T., Denis, J., Hebert, Y., Lamothe, L., Gervais, J. (2012). "Identity Struggles in Merging Organizations: Renegotiating the Sameness-Difference Dialectic", Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 48 (2), 135-167
• Howard-Grenville, J., Golden-Biddle, K., Irwin, J., Mao, J. (2011). "Liminality as Cultural Process for Cultural Change", Organization Science, 22 (2), 522-539
• Golden-Biddle, K. (2011). Research Alive: Exploring Generative Moments in Doing Qualitative Research."Research Alive: Exploring Generative Moments in Doing Qualitative Research", Copenhagen Business School Press DK
• Golden-Biddle, K., Azuma, J. (2010). Cambridge Handbook of Strategy as Practice."Cambridge Handbook of Strategy as Practice",
• Golden-Biddle, K., Casebeer, A., Reay, T., Hinings, C., GermaAnn, K. (2009). Culture and Climate in Health Care Organizations."Culture and Climate in Health Care Organizations", Springer
• Locke, K., Golden-Biddle, K., Feldman, M. (2008). "Making Doubt Generative: Rethinking the Role of Doubt in the Research Process", Organization Science, 19 (6), 907-918
• Sonpar, K., Golden-Biddle, K. (2008). "Using content analysis to elaborate adolescent theories of organization", Organizational Research Methods, 11 (4), 795-814
• Golden-Biddle, K., GermAnn, K., Reay, T., Procyshen, G. (2007). "Creating and sustaining positive organizational relationships: A cultural perspective", Exploring Positive Relationships at Work: Building a Theoretical and Research Foundation 289-305
• Golden-Biddle, K., Reay, T. (2007). Change in Health Care."Change in Health Care", Palgrave Macmillan
• Reay, T., Golden-Biddle, K., Germann, K. (2006). "Legitimizing a new role: Small wins and microprocesses of change", Academy of Management Journal, 49 (5), 977-998
• Golden-Biddle, K., Locke, K., Reay, T. (2006). "Using knowledge in management studies - An investigation of how we cite prior work", Journal of Management Inquiry, 15 (3), 237-254
• Golden-Biddle, K., GermAnn, K., Reay, T., Procyshen, G. (2006). Exploring Positive Relationships at Work: Building a Theoretical and Research Foundation. In Jane, Dutton., Belle Rose, Ragins. (Eds.), "Exploring Positive Relationships at Work: Building a Theoretical and Research Foundation", Lawrence Erlbaum Press
• Scott-Findlay, S., Golden-Biddle, K. (2005). "Understanding how organizational culture shapes research use", Journal of Nursing Administration, 35 (7-8), 359-365
• Golden-Biddle, K., Wiebe, E., Locke, K. (2005). Handbook of Organizational Change and Learning."Handbook of Organizational Change and Learning",
• Golden-Biddle, K., Thomson, D., Bzdel, L., Reay, T., Estabrooks, C. (2005). "Central questions of anonymization: A case study of secondary use of qualitative data", Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 6 (1)
• Reay, T., Golden-Biddle, K., Germann, K. (2003). "Challenges and leadership strategies for managers of nurse practitioners.", J Nurs Manag, 11 (6), 396-403
• Golden-Biddle, K., Reay, T., Petz, S., Witt, C., Casebeer, A., Pablo, A., Hinings, C. (2003). "Toward a communicative perspective of collaborating in research: the case of the researcher-decision-maker partnership.", J Health Serv Res Policy, 8 Suppl 2 20-25
• Golden-Biddle, K. (2003). "Editor's introduction - "Doing what feels right: The influence of CEO character and emotions on TMT dynamics"' by Veronika Kisfalvi and Patricia Pitcher", Sage Publications Inc, 12 (1), 41-41
• Golden-Biddle, K., Casebeer, A., Besner, J., Reay, T. (2003). The researcher-decision maker partnership: A collaborative journey."The researcher-decision maker partnership: A collaborative journey",
• Golden-Biddle, K. (2002). "Editor's introduction - Anne Smith, "From process data to publication: A personal sensemaking,"", Journal of Management Inquiry, 11 (4), 381-382
• Golden-Biddle, K. (2002). "Editor's introduction", Journal of Management Inquiry, 11 (2), 102-103
• Golden-Biddle, K., Greenwood, R. (2001). "Nontraditional research - Editors' introduction", Journal of Management Inquiry, 10 (4), 339-339
• Greenwood, R., Golden-Biddle, K. (2001). "Nontraditional research - Editors' introduction", Journal of Management Inquiry, 10 (2), 150-150
• Golden-Biddle, K., Greenwood, R. (2001). "Nontraditional research - Editors' introduction", Journal of Management Inquiry, 10 (1), 39-39
• Golden-Biddle, K., Greenwood, R. (2000). "Editors' introduction", Journal of Management Inquiry, 9 (4), 374-375
• Golden-Biddle, K., Greenwood, R. (2000). "Editors' Introduction", Journal of Management Inquiry, 9 (2), 146-146
• Golden-Biddle, K., Greenwood, R. (2000). "Editors' choice", Journal of Management Inquiry, 9 (1), 55-56
• Greenwood, R., Golden-Biddle, K. (1999). "Nontraditional research - Editors' introduction", Journal of Management Inquiry, 8 (4), 339-339
• Greenwood, R., Golden-Biddle, K. (1999). "Nontraditional research - Introduction", Journal of Management Inquiry, 8 (3), 298-298
• Greenwood, R., Golden-Biddle, K., Bartunek, J. (1999). "Editors' introduction", Journal of Management Inquiry, 8 (2), 166-167
• Golden-Biddle, K., Greenwood, R. (1999). "Editors' introduction", Journal of Management Inquiry, 8 (1), 32-33
• Golden-Biddle, K., Biddle, R. (1999). Healthcare Leadership in the New Millenium. In R, Gilkey. (Eds.), "Healthcare Leadership in the New Millenium", Jossey-Bass
• Golden-Biddle, K., Dougherty, D. (1998). "Editors' introduction", Journal of Management Inquiry, 7 (3), 213-214
• Golden-Biddle, K., Bartunek, J., Greenwood, R. (1998). "Editors' Introduction", Journal of Management Inquiry, 7 (1), 3-3
• Golden-Biddle, K., Fiol, M., Hatch, M. (1998). Identity in Organizations: Developing Theory through Conversations. In David, Whetten. (Eds.), "Identity in Organizations: Developing Theory through Conversations", Sage Publications
• Golden-Biddle, K., Gioia, D., Fiol, M., Rao, H., Schulz, M. (1998). Identity in Conversations: Developing Theory through Conversations. In David, Whetten. (Eds.), "Identity in Conversations: Developing Theory through Conversations", Sage Publications
• Golden-Biddle, K., Rao, H. (1997). "Breaches in the boardroom: Organizational identity and conflicts of commitment in a nonprofit organization", Organization Science, 8 (6), 593-611
• Locke, K., Golden-Biddle, K. (1997). "Constructing Opportunities for Contribution: Structuring Intertextual Coherence and “Problematizing” in Organizational Studies", Academy of Management Journal, 40 (5), 1023-1062
• Golden-Biddle, K., Barr, P., Rao, H., Thomas, H. (1997). Strategy, Structure and Style. In D, O'Neal., Howard, Thomas. (Eds.), "Strategy, Structure and Style", John Wiley and Sons
• Salipante, P., Golden-Biddle, K. (1995). "Managing traditionality and strategic change in nonprofit organizations", Nonprofit Management and Leadership, 6 (1), 3-20
• Golden-Biddle, K., Linduff, H. (1994). "Culture and human resources management: Selecting leadership in a nonprofit organization", Nonprofit Management and Leadership, 4 (3), 301-315
• Golden-Biddle, K., Locke, K. (1993). "Appealing Work: An Investigation of How Ethnographic Texts Convince",
• Golden-Biddle, K. (1993). "Organizational Dramas and Dramatic Stagings about them", Journal of Management Education, 17 (1), 39-49
• Golden, K. (1992). "The Individual and Organizational Culture: Strategies for Action in Highly-Ordered Contexts", Journal of Management Studies, 29 (1), 1-21
• Golden, K., Ramanujam, V. (1985). "Between a dream and a nightmare: On the integration of the human resource management and strategic business planning processes", Human Resource Management, 24 (4), 429-452
• Golden-Biddle, K., Salipante, P., Buck, F. (1985). "A partnership for deriving meaning from human resources data", The Personnel administrator

Awards And Honors

• 2018, Fellow, Academy of Management
• 2013, Douglas McGregor Best Paper Award, Journal of Applied Behavioral Science