Dr. COOPER JOHNSON | Dr. JAMYE LONG
Dr. Cooper Johnson and Dr. Jamye Long, both professors of management, trained a group of industry experts on the topic of organizational strategy. Their training included examples of failed strategy, pitfalls of poor strategy, the challenges in creating successful strategy and the common missteps by organizational leaders when strategizing.
Some of those failures include making decisions based on emotions rather than facts, failing to communicate with the levels of the organizations that have hands-on experience and knowledge and setting goals without objectives, measurements and a workable pathway to achievement.
The training included questions from the participants that discussed ineffective leadership decision making, the domino effect of poor quality strategizing and the dangers of leadership ego without employee input in strategizing.
Dr. Clinton Smith (right), professor of special education, is pictured with host Don McCorry on the set of “Tennessee is Talking,” a public affairs show produced by West TN PBS. Smith was invited to discuss his career in education and the 2026 Higher Educator of the Year award that he received in July from the National Education Association in Denver, Colorado. The interview can be viewed online at West TN PBS by selecting the “Tennessee is Talking” program identifier. New episodes of the show air at 8 p.m. on Thursdays. McCorry is a 2025 WestStar Leadership Program graduate.
