Jeff DeGraff

Last updated
Jeffrey DeGraff
Born
Jeffrey Thomas DeGraff

1958 (age 66–67)
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Education Western Michigan University (B.S.)
University of Michigan (M.A.)
University of Wisconsin–Madison (Ph.D.)
Occupation(s) Academic, author, speaker, consultant
Years active1985–present
Employer University of Michigan Ross School of Business
Organization(s)Innovatrium Institute for Innovation
Intellectual Edge Alliance
Notable workInnovation You (2011)
The Innovation Code (2017)
The Creative Mindset (2020)
The Art of Change (2025)
TelevisionInnovation You (PBS, 2011)
TitleClinical Professor of Management and Organizations
SpouseStaney DeGraff
Website jeffdegraff.com

Jeffrey Thomas DeGraff (born 1958) is an American academic, author, speaker, and consultant specializing in organizational innovation and creativity. He is a Clinical Professor of Management and Organizations at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business and the founder of Innovatrium, an innovation consulting firm. [1] [2]

Contents

Early life and education

DeGraff was born and raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan. [3] He earned a B.S. in communication arts and sciences from Western Michigan University in 1980, an M.A. in communication and information studies from the University of Michigan in 1982, and a Ph.D. in educational technology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1985​. [4]

Career

Early career

After completing his doctorate, DeGraff joined Domino's Pizza as vice president of communications and new ventures, where he served from 1985 to 1990. [4] [5] During his tenure, he helped drive the company's rapid expansion and earned the nickname "Dean of Innovation" for his creative approach to business growth​. [5] [6] DeGraff also served on an advisory board for Apple Inc. [5]

Academic career

In 1990, DeGraff transitioned to academia, joining the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business faculty. [7] [8] As a Clinical Professor of Management and Organizations, he teaches courses on creativity, innovation, and changing leadership, employing unconventional methods, such as holding classes in museums and public spaces to stimulate creative thinking. [5] He is credited as the creator of the Certified Professional Innovator Program at the University of Michigan. [1]

Media

DeGraff has been active in media and public outreach. He hosted a national PBS television program called Innovation You in 2011, which introduced his four-step innovation method to the public​​. [1] [9] He also contributed a segment titled The Next Idea on Michigan Public (NPR), where he analyzed emerging ideas and their role in addressing societal challenges​. [4]

Consulting

Beyond academia, DeGraff has worked as an innovation consultant. In 2006, DeGraff founded the Innovatrium Institute for Innovation, an innovation laboratory and consulting incubator with offices in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Atlanta, Georgia​. [5] [6] The Innovatrium operates as an “innovation laboratory” where he works with organizations to cultivate innovation culture. [4] [10]

DeGraff has served as an advisor to high-ranking government and military officials, including the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. [11] [12] His work includes developing innovation strategies to enhance adaptability and resilience within the military and government sectors. [13] [14]

Competing Values Framework

DeGraff co-developed the Competing Values Framework (CVF), a widely used model for organizational effectiveness and innovation. This framework is utilized by businesses, government agencies, and educational institutions to balance competing priorities and drive innovation. [15] [10]

Intellectual Edge Alliance

DeGraff is the founder of the Intellectual Edge Alliance (IEA), a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering scalable innovation capabilities within mission-driven organizations, including military and educational institutions. [7]

Writing

DeGraff has written regular columns on innovation for business publications such as Inc. , Fortune , Wired , and Psychology Today , in which he shares practical insights into creativity and change. [4] He and his wife, Staney DeGraff, have co-authored several books on innovation and creativity, including:

DeGraff also authored:

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Jeff DeGraff". Michigan Public.
  2. ↑ "Despite politics, strides made in 2015 to break Michigan's status quo". Michigan Public. December 17, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Jeff DeGraff on Pursuing Your Dreams | Pursuing Your Dreams | First 30 Days". www.first30days.com.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Jeff Degraff".
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Jeff DeGraff PhD'85: Dean of Innovation | On Wisconsin".
  6. 1 2 https://web.archive.org/web/20110616141127/https://www.freep.com/article/20110612/COL07/106120426/Susan-Tompor-Lessons-from-an-innovation-guru
  7. 1 2 https://www.bus.umich.edu/facultybios/cv/qumuse.pdf
  8. ↑ "University of Michigan Voices of the Staff" . Retrieved 2012-08-01.
  9. ↑ "Susan Tompor: Lessons from an innovation guru | Susan Tompor | Detroit Free Press". freep.com. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
  10. 1 2 "Inside the INNOVATRIUM".
  11. ↑ "Creating Innovators While Innovating | AFCEA International". January 5, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Air Force announces first-ever Spark Collider, Strategic Financing Pitch Bowl combo event".
  13. ↑ "Project Mercury—A Moonshot for Defense Innovation | www.dau.edu". www.dau.edu.
  14. ↑ "Air Warfare Symposium Wrap Up". Air & Space Forces Magazine.
  15. ↑ https://positiveorgs.bus.umich.edu/books/competing-values-leadership/
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