ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University Assistant Professor of Management Dr. Daniel Shannahan has published a scholarly article in the journal, Organization Science.
Shannahan’s article, “The Theory and Measurement of Expertise-Based Problem Solving in Organizational Teams: Revisiting Demonstrability,” appeared in the journal’s online “Articles in Advance” feature on Oct. 6. It will appear in a future print edition as well.
The article by Shannahan and his co-authors examines the concept of task demonstrability, seeking to present it in a way that is more directly applicable to the complex problems faced by managers and teams in modern organizations. They believe the paper can be a valuable resource for managers seeking to better understand the factors that enable working groups to produce superior work products.
Shannahan, who started at NSU in August 2020, said before working in academia, he managed a team of financial aid counselors at Grand Valley State University in Michigan. He enjoyed the ongoing challenge of helping his team produce high-quality work outcomes for various projects.
“I was often curious about the factors that might lead my team to produce exceptional work products for some of the projects I assigned to them, but less than stellar outcomes in other cases,” Shannahan said.
This question ultimately became the subject of his dissertation when pursuing a doctorate in Organizational Behavior at the Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah – namely, how can managers of working teams better understand the managerial techniques and group processes that are likely to improve their employees’ ability to produce excellent group work?
“Group problem-solving processes remains the primary focus area of my current research,” Shannahan said, “and it is one of my favorite topics to teach in my management classes at Northern!”
About Northern State University
Northern State University is a student-centered institution that provides an outstanding educational experience, preparing students through the liberal arts and professional education for their future endeavors. A regional university, Northern offers rigorous academics; diverse civic, social and cultural opportunities; and a commitment to building an inclusive environment for all points of view. Northern also offers a broad-based athletics program, sponsoring 15 NCAA Division II intercollegiate varsity sports that compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NSIC). The university strives to enrich the community through partnerships such as its Educational Impact Campaign, which opened a new South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired; new athletic and recreation fields; and an on-campus regional sports complex. With the $55 million campaign, NSU has been the recipient of more than $150 million in privately funded building projects and scholarships within a decade. To learn more, visit NSU Admissions.