- 10am – 11am (M/W)
- 12pm – 1pm (T/R)
- By Appointment
As a Professor of Management in the Economics and Business Department at Berea College, my approach is driven by a passion for educating students in both academic inquiry and practical application. I earned my Ph.D. from the University of Limerick, Ireland, in 2012, where my research focused on developing knowledge assessment frameworks through case study methodologies. During my time there, I also served as a Research Fellow at the Centre for Information and Knowledge Management, instructing both undergraduate and post-graduate courses. Before transitioning to academia, I gained valuable industry experience as a consultant for organisations such as the Comptroller and Auditor General of Ireland, DePuy Orthopaedics, and Creganna Medical. Before coming to Berea in 2025, I spent more than a decade working with students as a Professor of Management at St. Norbert College, in De Pere, Wisconsin.
I grew up on a small beef farm in rural southwestern Ireland, and I think, as an educator, it helps to sometimes ‘think like a farmer’, as my dad would say. A few things I learned from that experience are – 1). There’s no point shouting at the crops. 2). You can’t blame the cattle for not growing fast enough if you don’t feed them right. 3). Don’t uproot crops before they’ve had a chance to grow. 4). Choose the best plants for the soil. 5). Take care of your crops and remove weeds. 6). You can’t control the weather – only be prepared for it, and you will have good seasons and bad ones. With that in mind, I try to foster student success by deliberately creating a positive and encouraging environment, which is essential for learning. If a student is struggling, my first step is to assess my own methods and the resources provided. I am committed to choosing the right instructional strategies to match each student’s unique learning needs. This involves actively nurturing their progress, giving them the necessary time to grow and learn, without judging prematurely. Ultimately, while I cannot control all the external factors in a student's life, I can create a prepared, stable, and supportive environment to help them persevere through both the good and the bad.
Furthermore, my teaching philosophy is centered on three core principles. First, I am committed to challenging my students daily through rigourous discussions of complex business cases and by encouraging dialogue that embraces opposing views. Second, I strive to foster an environment of intellectual curiosity. For instance, in my organisational behaviour class, we delve into the Challenger shuttle disaster to understand the critical lessons of groupthink and team dynamics. Finally, I emphasise the real-world application of theory, using simulations, games, and presentations to industry experts so that students can connect concepts to their own lives and future careers.
My research is deeply intertwined with my teaching. I focus on the psychological effects of change within organisations. I also explore the dynamics of knowledge management. I am also a dedicated author of case studies including students whenever possible. Some of my published cases include: “Taylor Guitars – Leading the Way to Sustainability”, “Toxic Marriage – Boeing and McDonnell Douglas” and “Limitations and Potential Dark Sides of Transformational Leadership – The Case of the Founder and Former CEO of Theranos”. These are used in classrooms around the world. In addition, I have published over 25 journal articles and cases in publications such as The Journal of Service Theory and Practice, Change Management: An International Journal, The Business Case Journal, The Case Journal, and The Journal of Information and Knowledge Management. To further contribute to my field, I serve as the Associate Editor for The Case Journal, a leading publication for management case studies globally.
My hometown was agricultural, rural and small, so it was instilled in my early that you must try and help your local community be a better place in whatever way that you can. I am passionate about sharing knowledge with and doing what I can to help the local community. I contribute to local editorials, opinion pieces, and management podcasts, and have delivered over 35 lectures and workshops on topics like “Cognitive Bias & Decision Making,” “Strategies for Dealing with Change,” and “The Challenge of Adaptive Change.”
Ultimately, my greatest joy is to teach and to build meaningful relationships with students, helping to guide their intellectual and personal development on their journey of lifelong learning.
- B.B.S., The Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick, Ireland (2007) Major: Economics and Finance Minor: Information Management and Decision Making
- Ph.D., The Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick, Ireland (2012) Area of Study: Organisational Behaviour and Strategic Management Dissertation: "The operationalisation of a Knowledge Assessment Framework Adopting a Case Based Approach"
Journal Articles:
Von der Ruhr, M., Pahl, J., & O’Brien, J. (2025) “Taylor Guitars – Leading the Way to Sustainability”, The Business Case Journal. Society for Case Research. Vol. ahead-of-print, ISSN: 1937-8459
O’Brien, J., Licht, G., Pahl, J., (2024) “Toxic Marriage – Boeing and McDonnell Douglas”, The CASE Journal. Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 607 – 630, ISSN: 1544-9106
O’Brien, J. (2024) “The Last Major Aviation Accident in the United States – Colgan Air Flight 3407”, The Case Centre. Case-Reference no. 424-0098-1, ISSN: 1078-4950; Online ISSN: 1532-5822
Guo., W., Cui, J., Arendt, L. O’Brien, J. (2024) “Limitations and Potential Dark Sides of Transformational Leadership – The Case of the Founder and Former CEO of Theranos”, Management Teaching Review. Vol. ahead-of-print, ISSN: 2379-2981
O’Brien, J., & Antos, A. (2024) “Fatal Communication – Disaster at Quincy”, The CASE Journal. Vol. 20, No.2, pp. 357-383, ISSN: 1544-9106
O’Brien, J. (2023) “Competing Commitments during Knowledge Management Systems Implementation”, Change Management: An International Journal, Vol. 23, No. 1, pp. 63-90 ISSN: 2327-9176
O’Brien, J., & Licht, G. (2022) “Improbable Landing – The Sioux City Miracle”, The CASE Journal. Vol. 18, No. 2, pp. 319-336, ISSN: 1544-9106
Walsh, J., & O’Brien, J. (2021) “The Role of Information Systems and Knowledge Codification for Service Provision Strategies”, The Journal of Service Theory and Practice. Vol. 31, No. 3, pp. 318-350, ISSN: 2055-6225
O’Brien, J., & Bull Schaefer, R. A., (2020) “Deadly Distraction – Eastern Air 401: The Accident that Changed Aviation Forever”, The CASE Journal. Vol. 16, No. 3, pp. 345-368, ISSN: 1544-9106
O’Brien, J., Schaffer, M., & Pahl, J., (2020) “The Role of Faith in Shaping Ethical Perceptions and Intentions”, The International Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Society. Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 41-62, ISSN: 2154-8641
Pahl, J., Huegel., B., O’Brien, J., (2020) “InsulTec: A Small Business at a Crossroad”, The Journal of Critical Incidents. Vol. 12, No. 1, pp. 74-76, ISSN: 1943-1872
Licht, G., O’Brien, J., Schaffer, M. (2019) “Behind Closed Doors: The DC-10 and the Demise of McDonnell Douglas”, The CASE Journal. Vol. 15, No. 6, pp. 648-668, ISSN: 1544-9106
O’Brien, J., (2019) “Mystery over the Atlantic: The Tragic Fate of Air France Flight 447”, The CASE Journal. Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 22-45, ISSN: 1544-9106
O’Brien, J., (2018) “The Need to Explore Competing Commitments Theory in Knowledge Management”, Change Management: An International Journal. Vol. 18, No. 1, pp. 1-14, ISSN: 2327-9176
O’Brien, J., (2018) “Lessons from History: How Embracing Adaptive Change Could Have Saved Scott in the Race for the South Pole”. The International Journal of Interdisciplinary Organizational Studies. Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 9-26, ISSN: 2324-7657
Walsh, J., & O’Brien, J., (2018) “Knowledge Asymmetries and Service Management: Three Case Studies”, The Journal of Information and Knowledge Management. Vol. 17, No. 3, ISSN: 0219-6492
Walsh, J., & O’Brien, J., (2017) “A Knowledge-based Framework for Service Management”, The Journal of Information and Knowledge Management. Vol. 16, No. 4, pp. 1-31, ISSN: 0219-6492
O’Brien, J., (2017) “Integrating the Cultural Perspective into Two Knowledge Management Frameworks”, Knowledge Management: An International Journal. Vol. 17, No. 1, pp. 22-35, ISSN: 2327-7998
O’Brien, J., (2016) “The Odd Couple: Knowledge Management and Endogenous Growth Theory – Using These Theories as a Basis for the Development of a Conceptual Interdisciplinary Framework”, Knowledge Management: An International Journal, Vol. 16, No. 2 pp. 1-20, ISSN: 2327-7998
O’Brien, J., (2015) “Ten Practical Findings from the Deployment of an Exploratory Knowledge Management Framework”, Vine: The Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems, Vol. 45, No. 3, pp. 397-419, ISSN: 2059-5891
Purcell, R., & O’Brien, J., (2015) “Unitas: Towards a Holistic Understanding of Knowledge in Organisations – a Case-based Analysis”, Electronic Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 13, No. 2. pp. 142-154, ISSN: 1479-4411
O’Brien, J., (2015) “An Examination of the Effects of using a Dedicated System for Learning, Capture and Reuse: The Case of User Productivity Kit at a Medical Device Company”, Knowledge Management: An International Journal, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 1-12, ISSN: 2327-7998
O’Brien, J., (2014) “A Knowledge Positioning Framework of Organizational Groups”, International Journal of Knowledge Engineering and Management, Vol. 3, No. 7, pp. 1-22, ISSN: 2316-6517
O’Brien, J., (2013) “The Need for a Robust Knowledge Assessment Framework: Discussion and Findings from an Exploratory Case Study”, Electronic Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 11, No. 1 pp. 93-106, ISSN: 1479-4411
Books:
O’Brien, J., (2018) “The Importance of Organizational Knowledge – An Exploration of Knowledge Management in the Trenches” Common Ground Publishing: Organization Studies, Champaign, Illinois, USA. ISBN: 978-1-61229-961-7
Book Chapters:
O’Brien, J., (2019) “Lessons from the Private Sector: A Critical Analysis and Extension of a Knowledge Management Framework to be Adopted in the Public Sector”, Dr. Yousif Al-Bastaki, Adel Al-Alawi & Sara Al-Bassam (Editors) in: Handbook of Research on Implementing Knowledge Management Strategy in the Public Sector, IGI Global, pp. 112-142, ISBN13: 9781522596394, DOI: 10.4018/978-1-5225-9639-4.ch006
O’Brien, J., (2016) “Lessons from the Private Sector: A Framework to Be Adopted in the Public Sector”, in Business Intelligence: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools and Applications, Dr. Mehdi Khosrow-Pour (Editor) in: Contemporary Research in Information Science and Technology, Book Series, IGI Global, pp. 476-500, ISBN10: 1466695625
O’Brien, J., (2013) “Lessons from the Private Sector: A Framework to Be Adopted in the Public Sector”, Dr. Yousif Al-Bastaki & Amani Shajera (Editors) in: Building a Competitive Public Sector with Knowledge Management Strategy. IGI Global, pp. 173-198, ISBN13: 9781466644342, DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-4434-2.ch008