Evidence-Based Management
How to Use Evidence to Make Better Organizational Decisions
Decisions in businesses and organizations are too often based on fads, fashions and the success stories of famous CEOs. At the same time, traditional models and new cutting-edge solutions often fail to deliver on what they promise. This situation leaves managers, business leaders, consultants and policymakers with a profound challenge: how can we stay away from trends and quick fixes, and instead use valid and reliable evidence to support the organization?
In response to this problem, evidence-based management has evolved with the goal of improving the quality of decision-making by using critically evaluated evidence from multiple sources – organizational data, professional expertise, stakeholder values and scientific literature. This book sets out and explains the specific skills needed to gather, understand and use evidence to make better-informed organizational decisions.
Evidence-Based Management is a comprehensive guide that provides current and future managers, consultants and organizational leaders with the knowledge and practical skills to improve the quality and outcome of their decision-making. It is used as a textbook at universities and business schools worldwide.
Praise for ‘Evidence Based Management’
Laszlo Bock, CEO of Humu and former SVP of People Operations at Google
“Evidence-Based Management is another way of saying ‘we deal in facts, in reality’. The differentiating factor in Google’s people strategy was that we relied on evidence-based management to separate what we ‘hoped would be true’ from reality. This superb book gives you the tools to build your own roadmap to excellence.”
Sherron Watkins, Enron Whistleblower, Time Person of the Year 2002
“Evidence-Based Management seeks to improve the decision making lessons taught in our business schools as well as the decision frameworks business managers and leaders use routinely. If Enron’s board, its risk management department, its accounting, finance and legal teams had adopted the principles and practices described in this book, Enron would be alive and well today.”
Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Give and Take, Originals, and Option B
“As we leave the age of intuition and enter the era of evidence, leaders need a guide for data-driven decision-making. This book is that guide: an accessible, immediately actionable manual from some of the great pioneers of evidence-based management.”
About the authors
Eric Barends
Eric Barends is Managing Director of the Center for Evidence-Based Management and advises management teams and boards of directors on evidence-based management and decision making. He is also a visiting lecturer at New York University, Australian National University and the VU University of Amsterdam.
Denise M. Rousseau
Denise M. Rousseau is the H.J. Heinz II University Professor of Organizational Behavior and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College and the Tepper School of Business. She was formerly the President of the Academy of Management and is an adviser to numerous social enterprises, professional associations, governmental and for-profit organizations.
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