Methodology

Our Methodology to Find and Profile Exemplary Business Leaders and Organizations that Support Them

Our research approach is inspired by the work of communication scholar Carl Larson,  and his books such as Teamwork: What Must Go Right/What Can Go Wrong and Collaborative Leadership: How Citizens and Civic Leaders Can Make A Difference. In order to identify high-impact business engagement examples, we are starting with concrete outputs achieved by business leaders and by organizations that support these leaders:  Did the work of the business leader (or organization) achieve substantial and sustained results at the community, state or national level? We are using the following baseline criteria to guide our research:

  Criteria for Champions - High Impact Change
Focus Area for Impact

More people are learning skills and earning credentials and degrees after high school that have genuine economic value in the labor market.

Employers are getting the workforce they need to compete.
Scale

Included: 
Change has impact on focus area at the community, state or national level.

Excluded:
Change to programs.
Change limited to a single employer's practice (with no impact on community, other employers, or public institutions).
Definition of Impact

Lasting changes are producing benefits for thousands of individuals, and includes changes in systemic-level incentives, rewards for leadership, collaborative capacity, or financing structures. Impact on community college systems, workforce development systems.
Time frame

2001 - Present
Organizational base

Diverse: may include employer association, higher education commission, not-for-profit organization, workforce board, community college board, think-tank, foundation board, etc.
Sample

We are deliberately seeking a diverse sample in terms of geography, sector, organizational base, model of engagement.

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