The Management Theory Toolbox
Imagine boldly navigating the complex world of management with a broad range of management theories at your disposal. The Management Theory Toolbox promises you a mind-expanding experience. Prepare to think, rethink, and discover the theory that underlies management practices.
This isn't your typical management podcast. Yes, there are plenty of resources out there that will give you the ABCs of how to run a meeting, hire someone, or even how to fake a sick day without getting caught, but here we like to talk about the behind-the-scenes topics, those concepts and ideas which transcend specific management practices, the ideas which give birth to good management and business practices, rather than simply restate them. We aren’t going to give you specific tips and tricks for becoming an effective manager. Here at The Management Theory Toolbox, we’re interested in the why behind it all, the discoveries of behavioral science, psychology, business, and economics that will open our eyes to what’s happening behind the scenes.
If you're a manager, team leader, aspiring entrepreneur, business student or simply someone toying around with the idea of starting a business and you’re interested in a scientifically rooted discussion of management and business, one which systematically discusses the ideas behind the specific practices you’ve probably already heard a lot about, then this podcast is for you. One thing you’ll be able to count on in this podcast is that every statement is supported by research, and you’ll be able to download the show notes for each episode to find links and references to the source material for everything taught in each episode.
- Update frequency
- every 10 days
- Average duration
- 30 minutes
- Episodes
- 18
- Years Active
- 2023 - 2025
Episode 17: Employee-Generated Learning with Kasper Spiro
In this action-packed episode of The Management Theory Toolbox, host Travis Mallett and guest Kasper Spiro, Chief Learning Strategist & Co-founder of EasyGenerator, dive deep into the paradigm shift …
Episode 16: Don't Learn Alone—How Real-Time Connection Supercharges Your Brain with Dr. Sara De Felice
Key Topics & Takeaways:
- Learning in a Social Context:
- Social vs. Solo Learning: Understand the critical differences between learning “from” others (e.g., recorded lectures) and learning “with” others (…
Episode 15: Shaping Behavior—The Unique Power of Each Reinforcement Schedule with Dr. Hank Schlinger, Jr.
Ever wonder why your team behaves the way they do? In this episode of The Management Theory Toolbox, we pull back the curtain on the psychology of reinforcement schedules—techniques that could be the…
Episode 14: Mastering Extinction: How to Stop Reinforcing Bad Behavior at Work with Dr. Michael Domjan
Episode Highlights:
- Introduction to the concept of extinction in behavioral psychology.
- Explanation of operant conditioning and its application in the workplace.
- Examples from "The Big Bang Theory" illu…
Episode 13: How to Blame and Punish Employees Like a Pro (But Really, Don’t) with Dr. Bertram Malle
Key Topics:
- Blame and Punishment:
- Examination of blame and punishment as tools for maintaining organizational balance.
- Discussion on the psychological and organizational impacts of these mechanisms.
- Norm…
Episode 12: Carrots and Sticks 2.0 with Dr. Richard (Dick) Malott
Key Points:
- Operant Conditioning and Behavior:
- Explore the basics of operant conditioning and its relevance to management.
- Discussion of Jeremy Bentham's Panopticon and its implications for behavior man…
Episode 11: Leading Through Operant Conditioning and Evolutionary Psychology with Dr. Max Krasnow
Key Discussion Points:
- Understanding Mechanisms for Institutional Change: How different mechanisms influence behavior and the importance of choosing the right one to avoid unintended results.
- Broad Def…
Episode 10: Merging Minds—The Dance of Individual and Organizational Learning (Part 2) with Dr. James McKenna
Unlock the secrets to a thriving learning culture within your organization as Dr. James McKenna peels back the layers on why traditional training methods often fall short. With a focus on creating en…
Episode 9: Merging Minds—The Dance of Individual and Organizational Learning (Part 1) with Dr. Ryan Smerek
Unlock the secrets of a thriving workplace where innovation flourishes and competitive edges are sharpened. Join us as we sit down with cognitive science aficionado Dr. Ryan Smerek to dissect the fas…
Episode 8: High-Involvement Management—Beyond the Hype and into the Evidence with Dr. Alex Bryson
Uncover the transformative power of high involvement management as we dissect its role in shaping dynamic workplaces. Engaging employees has become an art, and with Dr. Alex Bryson at the helm of our…
Episode 7: Redefining Resource Value—Why People Matter Most in High-Involvement Management with Robert Lopez, Jr.
Ready to unlock the transformative power of High Involvement Management? Prepare yourself for an intense journey through management practices that prioritize value for people and their growth. Our ex…
Episode 6: Trust and Triumph—The Role of Positive Psychology in Leadership with Ryan McCreedy
Looking to dramatically elevate your organization’s performance metrics? Brace yourselves as we embark on a deep-dive into the riveting world of Positive Organizational Behavior (POB). We'll unravel …
Episode 5: Unleashing the Power of Human Capital for Competitive Advantage with Dr. Ken Baylor
Ever thought of business strategy as just an elaborate chess match? Think again. Join us as we dive into the heart of strategy and execution, revealing the true force driving your business success: t…
Episode 4: Organizational Behavior—Unlocking Workplace Dynamics with Ryan McCreedy
Ever wondered about the invisible threads that weave together the fabric of an organization? Today, we unravel those threads, traversing the labyrinth of Organizational Behavior (OB). Our journey map…
Episode 3: Navigating Complexity with Dr. Harold Langlois
Experience the transformation of leadership and management with us as we trace the lineage of these concepts from the divine right of kings to the nuanced interplay of today’s corporate strategies. W…
Episode 2: Organizations, Emergence, and Living Systems (Part 2) with Dr. Werner van Zyl and Ryan McCreedy
What does management theory have to do with Jurassic Park? Or quantum physics? Join Dr. Werner van Zyl and Ryan McCreedy on this episode of The Management Theory Toolbox where we explore the idea of …
Episode 1: Organizations, Emergence, and Living Systems (Part 1) with Kati Livingston
Are you ready to have your perspective on organizations fundamentally transformed? This episode promises to do just that as we traverse through cosmic evolution to the intricate dynamics of modern or…
Episode 0: Introduction to The Management Theory Toolbox with Ryan McCreedy
Imagine boldly navigating the complex world of management with a broad range of management theories at your disposal. We promise you a mind-expanding experience as we introduce The Management Theory …