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ADJUNCT PROFESSOR & RESEARCH

Columbia University, Adjunct Assistant Professor

Program in Social-Organizational Psychology

Master's Courses:

ORLJ 5199: Organizational Culture: Theory, Research & Practice, Fall 2022. Spring, 2023. Adjunct Assistant Professor. Design and teach new course.

ORLJ 6342: Practicum in Change & Consultation in Organizations, Spring 2022. Teaching Assistant to Professor William Pasmore

George Washington University, Adjunct Professor

Organizational Leadership and Learning Master’s Program

Master's Courses:

HOL 6704: Leadership in Organizations, Spring 2021. Professor

HOL 6704: Leadership in Organizations, Fall 2020. Professor

HOL 6100: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Summer 2020. Teaching Assistant to Professor Shaista E. Khilji

Member of OLL Courageous Conversations implemented in June 2020.

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Guest Lecturer

Human and Organizational Learning, Masters Program: Organizational Dynamics - Organizational Identity and History Research Methods and Analysis (Summer 2022)

Human and Organizational Learning, Executive Leadership Doctoral Program: Organizational Dynamics - Organizational Identity and History Research Methods and Analysis (Fall 2020)

GW Athletics LEAPP: Leadership Excellence Acquired Practice Perform - The Leader in You (Fall 2020)

Organizational Culture and Identity Research

“Organizational identity presents an original collage of the experiences and expectations of a wide array of people who view the organization from a multiplicity of perspectives and approach it with a variety of motives.” —Hatch and Schultz (2004, p.1)

During a 2-year period for her dissertation research, under the direction of organizational memory scholar, Dr. Andrea Casey, Rita explored the role of organizational history within the organizational identity dynamics of the Sherwin-Williams Company, a 152-year-old American-based global company, following its acquisition of Valspar, which closed on June 1, 2017.

Research findings

1. Five identity claims: (1) care, (2) growth, (3) competition, (4) paint and coatings company, and (5) financial performance.

2. Five value statements: (1) growing people from within, (2) customer, (3) conservative business practices, (4) integrity, and (5) senior leadership and connectivity to people.

3. Three critical events: (1) the Code of Principles written by Walter Cottingham and published in 1907; (2) the Sherwin-Williams financial crisis of 1977 and the appointment of seventh president John “Jack” Breen in 1979; and (3) the acquisition of Valspar in 2017.

4. Three traditional cultural practices: (1) setting medium-term goals; (2) communicating medium-term goals; and (3) using the Culture of Excellence framework.

5. One memory form: 1907 Code of Principles (featured in the Sherwin-Williams Center of Excellence).

6. Interconnection between identity claims and values and between them the organizational history (e.g., critical events, founders, traditional cultural practices, and memory forms).

All findings can be accessed here.

References: Hatch, M., & Schultz, M. (2004). Introduction. In M. J. Hatch & M. Schultz (Eds.), Organizational identity: A reader (pp. 1-6). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

Academic Conferences and Peer-Reviewed Publications

Denison, D., Pasmore, W., Katz, J., Miller, F., Pemer, F., Preston, J., Abdelaziz, W., Mulloli, D., Szabla, D., Buono, A.,Gorman, M., & Meyerson, R. (2021, August 2). Management consulting in the era of the digital organization. Presented at the 81st Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management virtual conference.

Meyerson, R. D. (2020). Managerial and organizational cognition in the rough [Roundtable]. Presented at the Academy of Management virtual conference.

Meyerson, R.D (forthcoming). Organizational history in the digital age. In D. B. Szabla & M. Gorman (Eds.) Management consulting in the era of the digital organization. Charlotte, NC: Information Age.

Meyerson, R. D. (2020). Managerial and organizational cognition in the rough [Roundtable]. Presented at the Academy of Management virtual conference.

Meyerson, R. D. (2019). Historically speaking: A case study of the organizational identity dynamics of an iconic American brand after acquisition [ProQuest #13895825]. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, The George Washington University, Washington, DC.