About Ed
Who is Ed Lawler?
Edward E. Lawler III is a Distinguished Professor of Business at the University of Southern California (USC) Marshall School of Business and the founder and Director Emeritus of the Center for Effective Organizations (CEO). He is widely recognized as a pivotal figure in the fields of human resources management, organizational development, and organizational effectiveness, contributing significantly to both academic theory and practical application within organizations worldwide.
His illustrious career spans decades, marked by deep academic research, extensive publication, and impactful consulting work with numerous global organizations. Lawler's insights have been instrumental in shaping modern workplace strategies and promoting practices that lead to sustainable organizational success. He is celebrated for his ability to bridge the gap between rigorous academic research and actionable business strategies, making complex organizational challenges accessible and manageable for leaders.
What is Ed Lawler known for?
Edward E. Lawler III is globally recognized as an authority on organizational effectiveness and human resources. He has been hailed as one of the top management gurus by BusinessWeek and identified by Human Resource Executive as one of HR's most influential figures. Workforce magazine also acknowledged him as one of 25 visionaries who have profoundly shaped the contemporary workplace over the last century.
Lawler’s expertise encompasses a broad spectrum of critical areas, including compensation strategies, organizational design, and corporate governance. His work consistently emphasizes the strategic importance of human capital and effective management practices in driving organizational performance and adaptability. Through his leadership at the Center for Effective Organizations, he has fostered a unique environment where academic research directly informs and improves organizational practices, influencing countless companies to adopt more effective strategies.
What is Ed Lawler's background and experience?
Dr. Edward E. Lawler III earned his Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley. His academic journey began at Yale University in 1964, where he quickly rose to the rank of Associate Professor. In 1972, he joined the University of Michigan as a Professor of Psychology and Program Director at the Survey Research Center within the Institute for Social Research.
In 1978, Lawler brought his considerable expertise to the University of Southern California, where he founded the Center for Effective Organizations (CEO) in 1979. He has served as its Director and currently holds the title of Director Emeritus. In recognition of his outstanding contributions, USC appointed him Distinguished Professor of Business in 1999, an honor reserved for faculty whose exceptional achievements bring significant renown to the university. Throughout his career, Lawler has consulted with over one hundred organizations, including many Fortune 100 companies and government agencies, guiding them through complex challenges related to employee involvement, organizational change, and compensation systems.
What topics does Ed Lawler speak and write about?
Dr. Lawler is a prolific author and co-author, with an impressive bibliography of over 50 books and more than 400 articles published in prestigious outlets such as Harvard Business Review and the Financial Times. His extensive body of work covers a wide array of topics crucial to modern organizational success. Key themes in his publications include the strategic design of compensation systems, effective corporate governance, strategies for building high-performing and adaptable organizations, and leveraging talent as a competitive advantage.
Notable books by Lawler include Rewarding Excellence (2000), Corporate Boards: New Strategies for Adding Value at the Top (2001), Organizing for High Performance (2001), Built to Change (2006), and Talent: Making People Your Competitive Advantage (2008). His more recent works, such as Management Reset: Organizing for Sustainable Effectiveness (2011) and Effective Human Resource Management: A Global Assessment (2012), continue to provide timely insights into current challenges facing leaders and organizations. He regularly addresses executive and managerial audiences globally, sharing his research and practical wisdom on these vital subjects.
How does Ed Lawler contribute to the Best Practice Institute?
Edward E. Lawler III plays an invaluable role in the Best Practice Institute (BPI) as an esteemed expert, contributing his profound knowledge and extensive research to BPI's community of leaders and practitioners. His engagement with BPI exemplifies his commitment to disseminating best practices and fostering continuous learning in the fields of organizational development and human resources. Through platforms such as BPI’s learning sessions, Dr. Lawler shares his expertise on topics critical to today’s dynamic business environment. His session on "Built to Change" highlights the essential need for organizations to evolve beyond mere performance orientation to embrace adaptability, a core tenet of his philosophy. This contribution enables BPI members to gain insights into building resilient, change-ready organizations, directly benefiting from his decades of research and practical experience in driving organizational effectiveness and transformative change.