Jim Terborg

Degree History
Ph.D., Purdue University, 1975
M.S., Eastern Michigan University, 1972
B.A., Calvin College, 1970

Biography
James R. Terborg received his Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology from Purdue University in 1975. He is the Carolyn S. Chambers Professor of Management in the Lundquist College of Business at the University of Oregon and Academic Director of the Warsaw Center for Sports Business. He previously served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Head of the Management Department, Director of the Institute of Industrial Relations and Academic Director of the Oregon Executive MBA program.

His current research examines organization, leadership and management topics within the context of sport. He has published over 60 articles and book chapters on employee attitudes, work motivation, absenteeism, job performance, leadership, the measurement of change, and health promotion programs at the worksite. He has consulted with NIKE, Sears, Weyerhaeuser, the Adolph Coors Company and the U.S. Forest Service. He is a Fellow in both the American Psychological Association and the American Psychological Society. He was elected Chairperson of the Organizational Behavior Division in the Academy of Management for two consecutive years. He previously served on the editorial boards of the Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Applied Psychology, American Journal of Health Promotion, Journal of Employee Assistance Research and the Journal of Quality Management.

Selected Papers and Presentations:

Title: Making Business a Game.

Citation: Terborg, J.R. & Burton, R. Making Business a Game. Marketing Management, 11, 40-45, 2002.

Abstract: The biggest challenge marketing managers face may not be quality, innovation, or even cost, but the speed at which the company anticipates and responds to market opportunities and competitor threats. Team sports—basketball, soccer, and hockey in particular—can serve as a business model for marketing managers.

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Title: NCAA Needs More Than Rules and Rewards

Citation: Terborg, J.R. & Burton, R. NCAA Needs More Than Rules and Rewards. Sports Business Journal, May 5-11, 2003.

Abstract: Ethics violations among universities and college coaches are increasing. Attempts to curb violations that rely primarily on; (1) rules and sanctions and (2) incentive clauses in coach contracts are not going to be successful until university presidents and faculty assert the academic value system on athletic departments.

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Title: Sport and Organizational Studies

Citation: Wolfe, R., Weick, K., Usher, J., Terborg, J. et. al.. Sport and Organizational Studies. Journal of Management Inquiry. 14, 182-210, 2005

Abstract: This paper investigates how conducting research within the context of sport can contribute to our understanding of management and of organizations. We present a general overview of the rationale for studying organizational phenomena within sport and provide a concise review of such research. We conclude by suggesting how organizational research might benefit by using sport as a context in ways not yet evident in the literature.

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Title: Lies, Damn Lies and Sabermetrics: An Issue of Organizational Context.

Citation: Terborg, J.R. Lies, Damn Lies and Sabermetrics: An Issue of Organizational Context. Paper presented as part of the symposium: “A New Vision for the 21 st Century: Moneyball as a Reframing Phenomenon” 65 th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Honolulu, Hawaii, August, 2005

Abstract: The Oakland Athletics made innovative use of a "sabermetric" (quantitative assessment of individual contribution) approach to the evaluation of baseball player talent, which gave them a competitive advantage. This paper examines the application of this general approach to work organizations. The value of this approach might be greatest when work is independent and least when work is highly interdependent.

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