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Clinical Professor of Management and Organizations at Ross School of Business, University of Michigan
Jeff DeGraff is the Dean of Innovation and one of the world's leading authorities on organizational innovation and transformational change. He is an author, speaker, and consultant to the Fortune 500 and mission-driven organizations worldwide. Jeff DeGraff is also the Founder of Innovatrium, Founder of Intellectual Edge Alliance, and Clinical Professor of Management and Organizations at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. Jeff co-created the Competing Values Framework and developed the Innovation Code and Innovation Genome methodologies which provide organizations with practical tools to reconcile competing priorities and drive breakthrough performance. His mission is the democratization of innovation: making systematic innovation accessible to everyone, everywhere, every day.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Dissertation integrated systems theory, creativity, and educational innovation, establishing the conceptual foundation for his later work on the Competing Values Framework and Innovation Code. Completed at age 25.
Completed M.A. in Communication Studies emphasizing inquiry and learning systems that bridge the arts and sciences. Served as Alice Lloyd Scholar and Graduate Assistant to Rudolf Arnheim, teaching Art and Visual Perception.
Earned B.S. in Communication Arts and Sciences with a focus on semiotics and media theory. Began integrating visual perception and communication into emerging theories of creativity.
Jeff DeGraff: Awards & Honors
Award, Issuing Organization, Description
Award
Issuing Organization
Description
Władysław Eugeniusz Sikorski Medal
Polish Armed Forces
Awarded by the Polish Armed Forces for contributions to defense innovation leadership and allied collaboration.
Original LinkedIn Influencer
LinkedIn
Selected as one of the first 100 global thought leaders on LinkedIn platform.
Jeff DeGraff: Affiliations
Organization, Role, Dates, Description
Organization
Role
Dates
Description
U.S. Air Force / AFWERX
collaborator
2008-01-01 – Present
Began enduring partnership with U.S. Air Force, leading to AFWERX and NATO collaborations. Selected to lead highly selective seminar for U.S. Air Force Fellows in 2022, training rising military leaders in adaptive innovation, cross-cultural agility, and change readiness.
American Medical Association
collaborator
2007-01-01 – 2007-12-31
Developed innovation curriculum for U.S. physicians focused on healthcare transformation.
Federal Reserve Bank
collaborator
2003-01-01 – 2003-12-31
Consulted to the Federal Reserve Bank on how to establish high growth innovation ecosystems.
NYU Medical Center Dean's Office
collaborator
1995-01-01 – 1995-12-31
Led a strategic innovation partnership that helped design a large-scale reengineering process, later replicated across several U.S. academic medical centers.
CSC Index Vanguard Group
affiliated
1994-01-01 – 1995-12-31
Appointed to the Vanguard Group, an elite think tank of industry leaders and management theorists convened by CSC Index.
Selected as a Fellow of the Aspen Institute think tank 'Tomorrow's Corporation'. Designed and led a CEO/professor symposium titled 'How Far to Ithaca,' using the metaphor of Odysseus to explore futures thinking.
University of Michigan President's Office
collaborator
1992-01-01 – 1992-12-31
Consulted with the Office of the President to develop university-wide innovation strategies, including advising the Chief Information Officer on academic–corporate partnerships.
Board of Advisors, UM School of Library & Information Science
researcher
1991-01-01 – Present
Appointed to the Board of Advisors, helping bridge innovation methods with information systems and emerging digital tools.
Multidisciplinary Action Projects (MAP), Ross School of Business
affiliated
1991-01-01 – Present
Founding Faculty. Played a leading role in creating the MAP initiative at Ross, combining action-based learning with innovation consulting for global corporations.
Alice Lloyd Scholars Program, University of Michigan
affiliated
1982-01-01 – 1985-12-31
Selected as an Alice Lloyd Scholar and served as an instructor in Michigan's interdisciplinary Pilot Program, noted for progressive, student-centered pedagogy.
Research Institute of Management Innovation at Kinki University
researcher
Role: Advisory Board Member
Order of Angel (Student Club)
researcher
Role: Faculty Advisor
Design + Business Club (Student Club)
researcher
Role: Faculty Advisor
Human Capital Club (Student Club)
researcher
Role: Faculty Advisor
M-Powered (Student Club)
researcher
Role: Faculty Advisor
United States Air Force
researcher
Strategic advisor to senior USAF leadership on innovation and organizational transformation. Works with Department of Defense fellows.
United States Space Force
researcher
Strategic innovation advisor to USSF leadership
NATO
researcher
Delivers innovation programs and strategic advice to NATO forces through Intellectual Edge Alliance
Joint Chiefs of Staff
researcher
Strategic advisor on innovation and organizational transformation
Republic of Singapore Armed Forces
researcher
Innovation strategy advisor through Intellectual Edge Alliance partnership
Apple Inc.
researcher
Served on advisory board, helping launch the platform that became iTunes
Jeff DeGraff: Memberships
Organization, Role, Description, Authority Links
Organization
Role
Description
Authority Links
University of Michigan Office of Research Advisory Committee
Member
Advisory Committee for the Distinguished University Innovator Award
