Frances Westley

Frances Westley joined the University of Waterloo as the J.W. McConnell Chair in Social Innovation in July 2007. In this capacity she is one of the principle leads in a Canada wide initiative in social innovation, Social Innovation Generation (SiG), a cross sectoral partnership to build capacity for social innovation in Canada funded by the J.W McConnell Family Foundation, University of Waterloo and the Ontario government. At University of Waterloo she leads a research team dedicated to understanding social innovation, and has designed both graduate and undergraduate curricula in social innovation.

Dr. Westley is a renowned scholar and consultant in the areas of social innovation, strategies for sustainable development, strategic change, visionary leadership and inter-organizational collaboration. Her most recent book, Getting to Maybe (Random House, 2006) focuses the dynamics of social innovation, and institutional entrepreneurship in complex adaptive systems. Experiments in Consilience (Island Press, 2004), focuses on the dynamics of inter-organizational and interdisciplinary collaboration in the management of ecological and conservation problems.

Before joining the University of Waterloo, Frances Westley held the position of Director, Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies (2005-2007) at the University of Wisconsin- Madison. Other positions she has previously held include the James McGill Professor of Strategy at McGill University’s Faculty of Management, director of the McGill-Dupont Initiative on Social Innovation and director of the McGill-McConnell Masters program for National Voluntary Sector leaders – an innovative executive masters customized for the leaders of voluntary organizations across Canada.

Frances Westley serves on numerous advisory boards including Resilience Alliance Board of Science, World Conservation Union-Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, the Stockholm Resilience Center, the SARAS Institute and Evergreen Canada. She is on the editorial board of several journals, including Journal of Applied Behavioral Science and Ecology and Society. She is the recipient of several awards including the Ulysses S. Seal award for innovation in conservation and the Corporate Knights Award.

Degrees:

Ph.D. Sociology, McGill University, 1978
M.A. Sociology, McGill University, 1975
B.A. English Literature, Middlebury College, 1970

Scholarly and Professional Activities:

Graduate Courses:

Publications:

Books Authored:

Westley, F., B. Zimmerman and M.Q. Patton. Getting to Maybe: How the World is Changed (Random House: Toronto, 2006). 256 pp.

Westley, F. The Complex Forms of the Religious Life: A Durkheimian View of New Religious Movements (Scholar’s Press: Chico, California, 1983), 199 pp.

Books Edited:

Voices From the Sector: Perspectives from Voluntary Sector Organizations ed. by Westley, F. and F. Bird, University of Toronto Press, 2008, 448 pp.

Experiments in Consilience: Integrating Social and Scientific Responses to Biodiversity Conservation Challenges Westley, F. and P. Miller, Island Press, 2003, 328 pp.
a. Westley, F. The Story of an Experiment: Integrating Social and Scientific Responses to Facilitate Conservation Action, pp.
b. Westley, F. Getting the Science Right and Getting the Right Science: Process Design and Facilitation in the PHVA Process.
c. Westley, F. War, disease and surprise: the Mountain Gorilla PHVA.
d. Westley, F. The Art of Walking Through Walls: Strategy and Structure in the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group.
e. Westley, F. Far from Land: Further Explorations in Consilience.

Chapters in Books:

Westley, F. Devil in the Dynamics in Gunderson, L.H. and C.S. Holling (eds) Panarchy: Understanding Transformations in Human and Natural Systems Theories for Sustainable Future Washington (Island Press, 2001) pp 333-360.

Westley, F. Dynamic Interactions of Societies and Ecosystems, in Gunderson, L.H. and C.S. Holling (eds) Panarchy: Understanding Transformations in Human and Natural Systems Theories for Sustainable Future Washington (Island Press, 2001) pp 195-240.

Westley, F. Why are Systems of People and Nature not just ecological or social Systems, in Gunderson, L.H and C.S. Holling (eds) Panarchy: Understanding Transformations in Human and Natural Systems Theories for Sustainable Future Washington (Island Press, 2001) pp 103-120.

Weick, K and F. Westley. Organizational Learning: Affirming an Oxymoron, in Clegg, S., C. Hardy and W. Nord (eds) Handbook of Organizational Studies (Sage: London, 1996), pp 440-458.

Westley, F. Governing Design: The Management of Social System and Ecosystem Management, in Gunderson, L., C. Holling and S. Light. Barriers and Bridges to the Renewal of Ecosystems and Institutions (Columbia University Press: New York, 1995) pp 391-427.

Westley, F. Organizing to Effect Global Thinking and Local Action Around Biodiversity Preservation, in Jacobs, J. (ed) Sustainable Development in the 21st Century Americas: Alternative Visions of Progress (The International Centre: University of Calgary, 1994), pp 36-54

Westley, F. Managing Sustainable Development, in Hardy, C. (ed) Managing Strategic Action: Mobilizing Change: Concepts, Readings and Cases (Sage Publications: London, 1994), pp. 390-403.

Westley, F. Managing Collaboration, in Hardy, C. (ed) Managing Strategic Activity; Mobilizing Change (Sage Publications: London, 1994) pp 390-403.

Bird, F. and F. Westley. Religion, in Teevan, J. (ed) Introduction to Sociology (Prentice Hall, 1994) Chapter 10.

Westley, F. and H. Mintzberg. Profiles of Strategic Vision: Levesque and Iacocca, in Conger, J.A. and R. Kanungo (eds) Charismatic Leadership, the Neglected Factor in Organizational Effectiveness (Jossey-Bass: San-Francisco, 1988) pp 161-212.

Westley, F. and F. Bird. The Economic Strategies of New Religious Movements, in Richardson, J.T. (ed) Money and Power in the New Religions (Edward Mellon Press, 1988) Ch. 1.

Westley, F. Religion in Sociology: A Canadian Focus, in J. Teevan, J. (ed) Sociology of Religion (Prentice-Hall: Toronto, 1982), pp 110-143.

Westley, F. Healing and Purification: Body Rituals in New Religious Movements, in Browne, R. (ed) Rituals and Small Ceremonies in America (Bowling Green, Popular Press: Bowling Green, 1980, Reprinted in 1981).

Papers in refereed Journals:

Biggs, R., F. Westley and S. Carpenter. Navigating the Back Loop: Fostering Social Innovation and Transformation in Ecosystem Management. Ecology and Society 15(2):9, 2010.

Westley, F and N. Antadze, Making a Difference: Strategies for Scaling Social Innovation for Greater Impact , Vo. 15,(2): 3-20, 2010.

Westley, F., M. Holmgren, and M. Scheffer. 2010. From Scientific Speculation to Effective Adaptive Management: A Case Study of the Role of Social Marketing in Promoting Novel Restoration Strategies for Degraded Dry Lands. Ecology and Society 15(3):6, 2010.

Carpenter, S.R., C. Folke, M. Scheffer, F. Westley. Resilience: Accounting for the Noncomputable. Ecology and Society 14(1):13-18.

Scheffer, M. and F. Westley. The Evolutionary Basis of Rigidity: Locks in Cells, Minds, and Society. Ecology and Society 12(2):43.

Nyhus, P.J., R. Lacy, F. Westley, P. Miller, H. Vredenburg, P. Paquet and J. Pollak. Tackling Biocomplexity with Meta-models for Species Risk Assessment. Ecology and Society 12(1):31-42, 2007.

Carpenter, S., F. Westley and M. Turner. Surrogates for Resilience of Social- Ecological Systems. Ecosystems 8:941-944, 2005.

Scheffer, M., F. Westley, W. Brock. Slow response of societies to environmental problems: causes and costs. Ecosystems 6(5):493-502, 2003.

Nyhus, P., F. Westley, B. Lacy, P. Miller. A Role for Natural Resource Social Science in Biodiversity Risk Assessment. Society & Natural Resources 15(10):922- 932, 2002.

Vredenburg, H. and F. Westley. Environmental Leadership in Three Contexts. Journal for Business Administration (Special Issue, Summer):239-259, 2002.

Mintzberg, H. and F. Westley. Decision Making, Its Not What You Think. Sloan Management Review. 42(3):89-94.

Mintzberg, H. and F. Westley. Sustaining the Institutional Environment. Organization Studies 21(0):71-94, 2000.

Scheffer, M., B. Brock and F. Westley. Socio-economic mechanisms preventing optimum use of ecosystem services: An interdisciplinary theoretical analysis. Ecosystems 3(5):451-471, 2000.

Vredenburg, H. and F. Westley. Sustainable Development Leadership in Three Contexts: Managing for Global Competitiveness. Journal of Business Administration and Policy Analysis 27(2):32-40, 1999.

Westley, F., U. Seal and C. Clark. The Population and Habitat Valley Assessment Facilitator’s Course: A Retrospective. Dodo 35:124-133, 1999.

Westley, F., U. Seal, O. Byers, and G. Ness. People and Habitat Protection. Parks 8(1):15-26, 1998.

Seal, U., F. Westley, O. Byers, G. Ness. Bringing People into Population Viability Analyses. Engangered Species Update 15:111-113, 1998.

Westley, F. Not on Our Watch: The Biodiversity Crisis and Global Collaboration Response. Organization and Environment 10(4):342-360, 1997.

Westley, F. and H. Vredenburg. Interorganizational Collaboration and the Preservation of Global Biodiversity. Organization Science 8(4):381-403, 1997

Vredenburg, H. and F. Westley. Innovation and Sustainability in Natural Resource Industry in Canada. Optimum, the Journal for Public Sector Management 27(2):32- 40, 1997.

Mintzberg, H., D. Dougherty, J. Jorgensen and F. Westley. Some Surprising Things About Collaboration. Organizational Dynamics 25(1):60-72, 1996.

Westley, F. and H. Vredenburg. The Perils of Precision: Managing Local Tensions to Achieve Global Goals. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science 32(2):143-159, 1996.

Westley, F. and H. Vredenburg. Prison or Ark; the Drama of Managing the Modern Zoo. Journal of Culture, Organizations, and Societies 2:17-30, 1996.

Westley, F. and H. Vredenburg. Sustainability and the Corporation: Criteria for Aligning Economic Practice with Environmental Protection. Journal of Management Inquiry 5(2):104-119, 1996

Sharma, S., H. Vredenburg and F. Westley. Strategic Bridging: A role for the Multinational Corporation in Third World Development. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science 30(4):459-476, 1994.

Mintzberg, H. and F. Westley. Cycles of Organizational Change. Strategic Management Journal 13:39-59, 1992.

Westley, F. Vision Worlds: Strategic Vision as Social Interaction. Advances in Strategic Management 8:271-305, 1992.

Westley, F. Bob Geldof and Live Aid, The Affective Side of Global Social Innovation. Human Relations 44(10):1011-36, 1991.

Westley, F. and H. Vredenburg. Strategic Bridging: The Collaboration Between Environmentalists and Business in the Marketing of Green Products. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science 27(1):65-90, 1991.

Westley, F. The Eye of the Needle: Cultural Transformation in a Traditional Organization. Human Relations 43:273-293, 1990.

Westley, F. Middle Management and Strategy: Microdynamics of Inclusion. Strategic Management Journal 11:337-351, 1990.

Bird, F., J. Waters and F. Westley. The Uses of Moral Talk: Why Managers Talk Ethics. Journal of Business Ethics 8:75-89, 1989.

Westley, F. and H. Mintzberg. Strategic Vision and Strategic Management. Strategic Management Journal 10(2):17-32, 1989.

Westley, F. and J. Waters. Group Facilitation Skills for Managers. Management Education and Development 19(2):134-143, 1988.

Mintzberg, H. and F. Westley. Spinning on Symbolism: Imaging Strategy. Journal of Management 11(2):63, 1985.

Bird, F. and F. Westley. The Economic Strategies of New Religious Movements. Sociological Analysis 16(2): 157-170, 1985.

Westley, F. Ritual as Psychic Bridge Building: Narcissism, Healing and the Human Potential Movement. Journal for Psychoanalytic Anthropology 6(2):179-200, 1983.

Westley, F. Merger and Separation: Autistic Symbolism in New Religious Movements. Journal for Psychoanalytic Anthropology 5(2):137-154, 1982.

Westley, F. Interpersonal Contamination: Pollution Beliefs in New Religious Movements. Studies in Religion 11(2):149-162, 1982.

Westley, F. The Cult of Man: Durkheim's Predictions and New Religious Movements. Sociological Analysis, 39(2):135-145, 1978.

Westley, F. Searching for Surrender: A Catholic Charismatic Renewal Group's Attempt to Become Glossalalic. American Behavioral Scientist 20(6):925-940, 1977.

Papers in Refereed Conference Proceedings:
Far from Land: Explorations in Consilience. Proceedings of MOPAN, 10th International Conference, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, June 2003, p.312- 322

Social Dynamics in Strategic Conservation Planning: Lessons From the Field, with S. Ellis, R. Lacy, J. Ballou, U.S.Seal, Proceedings of the International Society for Sustainable Resource Management, June 2000.

The Devil is In the Dynamics. Proceedings of the Third International Resilience Network, Heron Island, April 1999.

Dynamic Interactions of Societies and Ecosystems. Proceedings of the Third International Resilience Network, Heron Island, April 1999.

Why are Systems of People and Nature Not Just Ecological or Social Systems. Proceedings of the Third International Resilience Network, Heron Island, April 1999.

Environmental Leadership in Three Contexts, with H. Vredenburg. Proceedings of International Association for Business and Society Meetings, San Diego, March 1993.

Managing Ecosystems: The Role of Collaborative Processes in the Creation and Implementation of Sustainable Development Strategies, with H. Vredenburg. Proceedings of Administrative Science Association of Canada Meetings, Lake Louise, June 1993.

Some Surprising Things About Collaboration, with H. Mintzberg, D. Dougherty, J. Jorgenson. Proceedings of Strategic Management Society Meetings, Chicago, September 1993.

Interorganizational Collaboration: A response to Turbulent Environments. Proceedings of Administrative Science Association of Canada, Quebec, June, 1992.

Prison or Ark; the Drama of Managing the Modern Zoo. Proceedings of the Standing Conference on Organizational Symbolism, Lancaster, July 1991.

The Role of Collaboration in Green Tourism. Proceedings of the Conference on Ecotourism, McGill University, Montreal, November 1989.

Symbolic Leadership and Organization Commitment. Proceedings of 4th International Conference on Organizational Symbolism and Corporate Culture, INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France, June 1988.

Strategic Conversation: Dynamics of Middle Management Inclusion in Strategic Processes. ASAC Proceedings, June 1988.
26. Strategic Vision: Levesque and Iacocca. Proceedings of Conference on Charismatic Leadership, McGill University, May 1987.