Center for Cooperative Problem Solving

Thanks to everyone who presented, led a roundtable discussion, or a panel discussion. It was an amazing Symposium, with some of the best people around the world.

Congratulations to Hannah Poush, a superb Leadership Development Consultant, for becoming a KAI accredited practitioner! Laura comes from an agricultural background in the tree fruit industry in Washington state. Her roles have all centered around organizational development, employee and leader development, and shaping the workplace culture. Currently, Hannah has started her own consulting business focused on leadership development and culture. I’m so pleased to see another business owner achieve their accreditation, especially in the business consulting sector. I hope you found the course useful and welcome to the community of KAI practitioners! ? #congratulations #welcome #consulting #leadership #development

One of our esteemed practitioners and colleagues, Benjamin Atkinson, has been featured in all the TechDay Australia platforms across the world, explaining how cognitive diversity can be a catalyst for creating “change that matters”. Ben maps out a pathway from “Underdog” to “Unicorn”, and how critical it is to identify where your employees excel and leverage that to find sustainable solutions. Ben is not only an experienced KAI practitioner, but also is a veteran of many senior roles relating to innovation, value management, and strategy. His insights are certainly worth listening to! Click here to read the full article: https://lnkd.in/eSjPwH2Q #cognitivediversity #innovation #change #problemsolving

What can be learned from one of the most famous business “failure” stories of our time? Not long ago, Kodak ruled the roost. They were the most well-respected name in cameras and technology. But fast forward to the present-day, and you won’t find Kodak anywhere on your local high street (apart from in collectables stores!) This is a classic example of an industry-leading organization failing to move with the times… For a business to remain at the lead for a long time, if needs to continually reinvent itself, whilst being efficient. Getting the balance right is tough - which is why so few businesses remain the leader of the pack for more than a few decades at best. All products can, and do, become obsolete. If a business is to survive long-term, it needs to be aware of this and plan for when their ‘cash-cow’ products are no longer what the market wants. I’m pleased to share a new article that I’ve authored on the KAI Foundation website, focusing on “The Fall of Kodak” and other related stories. All these anecdotes go to show that patterns repeat (human nature doesn't change!) – so history can be your friend if you're willing to learn the lessons. Click here to read the full article: https://lnkd.in/eCWvWVZ9 Michael Ohler #kodak #cameras #cameraindustry #businessgrowth #businessdecline

After months of hard work and preparation, it was marvellous to co-host the KAI Annual Symposium last week. The Foundation was honoured to be introducing such a wide variety of experts from around the world. Over two days, experts gathered from to listen and discuss problem-solving, teamwork, leadership, and change share their insights on creating effective teams and partnerships. This included latest research, plans moving forward, and application of Adaption-Innovation theory. There were many stand-outs from the two days, including: Keynote speakers Dr?Karen Bridbord, Ph.D.,?Gregg Ward, and?Guido Prato Previde?shared unique insights about the importance of relationships, respect and making small changes for great effect. Anne Collier?introduced a panel who shared with us how understanding their problem-solving style had revolutionised their working (and home) lives for the better – many thanks to?Cynthia S.,?Lisa Centeno?and?Jennifer Ratcliff?for their contributions to this! KAI Circle of Practice active networking session – sharing best practice and experience - was hosted by the wonderful?Dr. Anika Davis, MAIOP?and?Jessica Prater, PHR, ACC. Plenty more excellent discussions and presentations from Dr?James C. Anderson II,?Abigail Cheng, Dr?Iwan Jenkins, Dr?Megan Seibel, PhD, RN?and many more! Abby share with us her research to date, on the interaction between problem-solving style and autism – we shall be supporting her in her research and look forward to her paper being released later in the year. Thank you to all the colleagues who made this event possible – including our partners over at?Virginia Tech?and the?Center for Cooperative Problem Solving. Here’s to another superb showcase in 2026! #symposium #showcase #event #problemsolving #research #discussion #thekaifoundation

Congratulations and well done to Tyler Foote, M.S. who has become an accredited KAI practitioner and joined our wonderful community! Tyler is currently a PhD student at The University of Georgia. He’s studying Agricultural Leadership, Education, & Communication focusing on cultural and academic diversity in urban classrooms. He studies and works alongside Dr James C. Anderson II, another valued member of our community. In fact, it was James who first got Tyler interested in collaborative problem solving and preferences for change! James is one of our esteemed course tutors and researchers. I am so pleased to see new people joining the KAI community and learning about Adaption-Innovation. Congratulations, Tyler, for becoming accredited and welcome to the KAI community. #PHD #Studying #Georgia #UniversityOfGeorgia #Qualification #Congratulations #Community #WellDone

I was recently invited by @Candid Insights to write an article on the retention challenges facing U.S. not for profits. ? The article explores recent trends in volunteer engagement, offers some simple tactics for boosting volunteer retention, and mentions how utilizing the KAI theory and instrument can assist volunteer managers in discovering and leveraging volunteers' interests and motivations. When we understand volunteers' preferences, it is easier for volunteer managers to match individual volunteer's skills to specific volunteer opportunities benefiting everyone in the process. ? Interested in learning more, check out the full article below.

Are you an autistic adult in the US? I’m seeking participants for my thesis research on autism and problem-solving styles, focusing on how these insights can support more inclusive workplaces and team environments. Eligible participants will: ?? Gain valuable insights into their preferred problem-solving style ?? Receive a 9-page KAI feedback report (valued at $200) Formal autism diagnosis isn’t required—the first step is completing the AQ questionnaire. Take the survey here:?https://lnkd.in/gYzDQJMj #AutismResearch #WorkplaceInclusion #Neurodiversity #ProblemSolving #KAI

I’m very pleased to welcome Benita Bannis to the KAI community, after recently becoming accredited. Benita works at the University of Florida Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences as the Director of Workforce Development. She collaborates with senior leaders to improve the organizational climate and support the academic, career, and professional development of the UF/IFAS community in Gainesville, Florida, and all 67 Florida counties. Florida was a place of major significance to my father, who often worked there, so I’m very pleased to another person in the gorgeous Sunshine State joining our community. Congratulations, Benita! We’re thrilled to see how Kirton’s Adaption-Innovation theory proves useful. #congratulations #welcome #florida #agriculture #gainesville

The upcoming KAI Symposium 2025 will have lots of outstanding presentations – including a roundtable discussion on “Measuring and Evaluating KAI Training Impact on Stress in the Workplace”. This session will be hosted by Dr Sarah Bush, Dr Megan Seibel, PhD, RN & Dr Lauren Cline. It will discuss how KAI training is currently proposed to reduce stress in the workplace by increasing understanding between colleagues and coping strategies. We will discuss proposed means of solidifying KAI training as a tool for reducing overall workplace stress through data-driven outcomes. You don’t want to miss out on this! And I’m very grateful to these three wonderful contributors for sharing their insights. Click here to signup for the symposium: https://lnkd.in/efZ8CzU5 #symposium #presentation #experts #stress #workstress #stressinwork #stressatwork #workplacestress #workplace