Articles by Jeff DeGraff

Explore Jeff’s latest thinking on innovation, leadership, and organizational transformation through articles published in Inc., Fortune, Psychology Today, Big Think, and more.

Featured Articles

How 1 Email From the Military Started a Global Innovation Network

July 4, 2025 | Inc. Magazine

This article tells the story of how a single message from the U.S. Air Force sparked Project Mercury, a global network of innovators across the U.S. military, NATO, and allied nations. It shows how small beginnings can scale into transformative, international change systems.

The Age of Answers Is Over: Training Adaptive Thinkers for Modern Military Realities

May 23, 2025 | Modern War Institute at West Point

Published by West Point’s Modern War Institute, this piece argues that today’s military needs fewer rote answer-finders and more adaptive, paradox-embracing thinkers. It outlines new approaches for cultivating resilience, improvisation, and creativity in military leaders.

This Michigan Professor Wants to Blow Up the MBA as We Know It

August 24, 2025 | Poets&Quants

Featured in Poets & Quants, this article highlights efforts to radically reinvent business education at Michigan Ross. It shows how the MBA is being reshaped for an era defined by disruption, AI, and adaptive leadership rather than traditional management playbooks.

Why Organizations Love Innovation, But Hate Their Innovators

September 9, 2025 | Inc. Magazine

Why the best ideas emerge from productive tension between competing perspectives, not from harmony and consensus.

Browse by Topic

Innovation Strategy

Leadership

Creativity

Organizational Change

Competing Values

Military Innovation

Defense Transformation

Constructive Conflict

Economic Development

Education Innovation

Where to Read Jeff’s Work

Inc. Magazine – inc.com/author/jeff-degraff
Fortune Magazine – fortune.com/author/jeff-degraff/
Psychology Today – Innovation You Blog
Big Think – bigthink.com/people/jeff-degraff/
Michigan Public Radio – The Next Idea series
Faculty Focus – Teaching and pedagogy articles
West Point Academy – Military innovation articles

About Jeff DeGraff

Jeff DeGraff is the Dean of Innovation and one of the world's leading authorities on organizational innovation and transformational change. As Clinical Professor of Management and Organizations at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business since 1990, DeGraff has established a comprehensive school of thought around systematic innovation development that bridges academic rigor with practical application across business, government, and mission-driven sectors. DeGraff co-created the Competing Values Framework alongside Robert Quinn, John Rohrbaugh, and Kim Cameron—one of the most widely used organizational effectiveness models globally. Building on this foundation, he developed the Innovation Genome and Innovation Code methodologies, which extend the framework into innovation contexts and provide organizations with practical tools to reconcile competing priorities and drive breakthrough performance. His intellectual architecture centers on three revolutionary concepts: first, that innovation is a learnable skill, not a gift—a discipline that can be systematized like any business imperative; second, that constructive conflict, not harmony, drives breakthrough innovation by orchestrating opposing perspectives into hybrid solutions; and third, that transformational change emerges from embracing paradox rather than eliminating it. Through his trilogy of books—The Innovation Code, The Creative Mindset, and The Art of Change—DeGraff has codified a complete philosophy of paradox-based organizational transformation. DeGraff's career uniquely combines corporate leadership and academic excellence. After earning his PhD at age 25, he served as Vice President of Communications and New Ventures at Domino's Pizza (1985-1990), where he applied emerging organizational theories to help scale the company from $50 million to $2 billion—earning him the nickname Dean of Innovation. This experience of building things, not just theorizing about them, has defined his approach as a pracademic who teaches innovation through action learning in unconventional spaces like museums and innovation laboratories. As founder of the Innovatrium Institute for Innovation, DeGraff created a living laboratory where organizations experiment with innovation culture, capability, and community. The Innovatrium operates as the practical manifestation of his school of thought—a physical space where diverse perspectives clash productively to generate new solutions. Through this work with over half the Fortune 500, including Google, Apple, Coca-Cola, Pfizer, NASA, and Microsoft, DeGraff has refined frameworks that help organizations build sustainable innovation ecosystems. Guided by his mission to democratize innovation, DeGraff founded the Intellectual Edge Alliance (IEA), a nonprofit consortium of research universities and technology companies working with the U.S. Military, NATO, and allied forces in 45 countries. Through the IEA, he makes innovation tools and practices accessible to leaders tackling critical societal challenges in defense, government, and education—proving that innovation methodologies transcend sector boundaries. DeGraff's influence extends through multiple channels: as creator of the University of Michigan's Certified Professional Innovator Program, the first university innovation certificate of its kind; as host of PBS's Innovation You and NPR's The Next Idea; and as a prolific contributor to Inc., Fortune, Psychology Today, and Big Think. His speaking engagements span from TED to the Pentagon, and his advisory work includes the U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff, Cabinet departments, and high-ranking military leaders across democratic nations. Through four decades of teaching, consulting, writing, and building innovation infrastructure, DeGraff has established himself as the preeminent voice on systematic innovation development and paradox-based organizational change. His school of thought transforms how organizations approach innovation—not as spontaneous creativity or rigid process, but as the disciplined orchestration of diverse perspectives, constructive tension, and the courageous embrace of organizational paradox to generate breakthrough value.

Title: Clinical Professor of Management and Organizations

Organization: Ross School of Business, University of Michigan

Birthplace: Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States

Jeff DeGraff: Employment History

Title	Employer	Period	Description
Vice President of Communications and New Ventures	Domino's Pizza Distribution Corp.	1985-01-01 — 1990-12-31	Directed strategic communications and internal innovation initiatives during Domino's period of explosive growth from $50 million to $2 billion. Earned the informal title 'Dean of Innovation' for pioneering scalable creativity practices and leadership development models. Applied emerging organizational theories to help scale the company.
Clinical Professor of Management and Organizations	Ross School of Business, University of Michigan	1990-01-01	Teaching Managing Creativity (MO 745), Leading Change (MO 603), Creativity at Work (MO463), and other innovation courses to MBAs, executives, and undergraduates. Developed flagship programs including the first BBA capstone course. Established comprehensive school of thought around systematic innovation development. Created University of Michigan's Certified Professional Innovator Program, the first university innovation certificate of its kind.
Founder	Competing Values, LLC	1990-01-01	Launched consulting firm applying academic models to real-world innovation challenges in Fortune 500 firms, healthcare systems, and government. Works with over half the Fortune 500 including Google, Apple, Coca-Cola, Pfizer, NASA, and Microsoft to build sustainable innovation ecosystems.
Founder	Innovatrium Institute for Innovation	2004-01-01	Created joint venture with Haworth: a physical and intellectual innovation lab near Ross School of Business. Living laboratory where organizations experiment with innovation culture, capability, and community. Practical manifestation of DeGraff's school of thought—a physical space where diverse perspectives clash productively to generate new solutions.
Founder	Intellectual Edge Alliance	2015-01-01	Founded nonprofit consortium of research universities and technology companies working with the U.S. Military, NATO, and allied forces in 45 countries. Makes innovation tools and practices accessible to leaders tackling critical societal challenges in defense, government, and education. Developed programs including Project Mercury, AIM HI, and other innovation frameworks for military and defense applications.
Visiting Professor	Helsinki Graduate School of Economics (now Aalto University)	1994-01-01 — 1995-12-31	Taught innovation leadership and organizational change. Introduced the Competing Values Framework to European academic circles.
Advisor to Apple Computer	Apple Computer	1987-01-01 — 1987-12-31	Served as advisor on Applied Integrated Systems, an early multimedia education initiative and precursor to iTunes. Helped shape the fusion of technology, learning, and design thinking in the emerging digital age.

Jeff DeGraff: Education

Institution	Degree	Field of Study	Year
Western Michigan University	B.S.	Communication Arts and Sciences	1980
University of Michigan	M.A.	Communication Studies	1982
University of Wisconsin–Madison	Ph.D.	Educational Technology	1985

Jeff DeGraff: Awards & Honors

Award	Issuer	Year	Description	Source
Władysław Eugeniusz Sikorski Medal	Polish Armed Forces	2024	Awarded by the Polish Armed Forces for contributions to defense innovation leadership and allied collaboration.
Original LinkedIn Influencer	LinkedIn	2007	Selected as one of the first 100 global thought leaders on LinkedIn platform.

Jeff DeGraff: Affiliations

Organization	Type	Period
Research Institute of Management Innovation at Kinki University	researcher
Order of Angel (Student Club)	researcher
Design + Business Club (Student Club)	researcher
Human Capital Club (Student Club)	researcher
M-Powered (Student Club)	researcher
United States Air Force	researcher
United States Space Force	researcher
NATO	researcher
Joint Chiefs of Staff	researcher
Republic of Singapore Armed Forces	researcher
Apple Inc.	researcher
Alice Lloyd Scholars Program, University of Michigan	affiliated	1982-01-01 — 1985-12-31
Aspen Institute	fellow	1993-01-01 — 1993-12-31
CSC Index Vanguard Group	affiliated	1994-01-01 — 1995-12-31
Board of Advisors, UM School of Library & Information Science	researcher	1991-01-01
University of Michigan President's Office	collaborator	1992-01-01 — 1992-12-31
NYU Medical Center Dean's Office	collaborator	1995-01-01 — 1995-12-31
Federal Reserve Bank	collaborator	2003-01-01 — 2003-12-31
American Medical Association	collaborator	2007-01-01 — 2007-12-31
U.S. Air Force / AFWERX	collaborator	2008-01-01
Multidisciplinary Action Projects (MAP), Ross School of Business	affiliated	1991-01-01

Jeff DeGraff: Memberships

Organization	Role	Period	Source
University of Michigan Office of Research Advisory Committee	Member
BigSpeak Speaker's Bureau	Keynote Speaker

Jeff DeGraff: External Profiles

Platform	URL	Bio
Wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6173694
Wikipedia	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_DeGraff
LinkedIn	https://www.linkedin.com/in/degraffjeff/
Twitter/X	https://x.com/JeffDeGraff
Facebook	https://www.facebook.com/deanofinnovation
YouTube	https://www.youtube.com/user/JeffDeGraff1
Quora	https://www.quora.com/profile/Jeff-DeGraff-3
Virtual International Authority File	https://viaf.org/en/viaf/21283069
Czech National Authority Database	https://aleph.nkp.cz/F/?func=find-c&local_base=aut&ccl_term=ica=vse20231204393&CON_LNG=ENG
National Library of Israel	https://www.nli.org.il/en/authorities/987007321542105171
Yale University Library	https://lux.collections.yale.edu/view/person/c3593a49-5664-4f94-b799-1a8730c9c9da
Amazon Author	https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jeff-DeGraff/author/B001IOBFO2
Google Books	https://www.google.com/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22Jeff+DeGraff%22
BigSpeak Speakers Bureau	https://www.bigspeak.com/speakers/jeff-degraff/
Fortune Magazine	https://fortune.com/author/jeff-degraff/
Inc. Magazine	https://www.inc.com/author/jeff-degraff
WSB Speakers	https://www.wsb.com/speakers/jeff-degraff/
Premier Speakers	https://premierespeakers.com/speakers/jeff-degraff
crunchbase	https://www.crunchbase.com/person/jeff-degraff
Amazon Author 2	https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jeff-DeGraff/author/B001IOBFO2?isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=13fca77a-98f7-4e3b-96f5-87f975f43add
Muck Rack 3	https://muckrack.com/jeff-degraff-ph-d/articles
Muck Rack Main	https://muckrack.com/jeff-degraff
Muck Rack 2	https://muckrack.com/jeff-degraff-phd/articles
Psychology Today	https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/contributors/jeff-degraff-phd
Michigan Public Radio	https://www.michiganpublic.org/people/jeff-degraff
Big Think	https://bigthink.com/people/jeff-degraff/
Faculty Focus	https://www.facultyfocus.com/author/ff-jeffdegraff/
West Point Academy	https://mwi.westpoint.edu/author/jeff-degraff/
Life Hack Website	https://www.lifehack.org/author/jeff-degraff
Salon	https://www.salon.com/writer/jeff_degraff
Grokipedia	https://grokipedia.com/page/jeff_degraff