The importance of diversity when scaling a company.

Todd A. Ward, PhD, BCBA-D & Angela Cathey, MA

bSci21Media, LLC

Brett DiNovi, M.A., BCBA

Brett DiNovi & Associates

One of the most common issues that organizations deal with is reorganization and the pains that come with it. Organizations often need to shift gears to meet a particular objective. This can include growth-oriented strategies and taking on employees or risk management strategies that reorganize units and people to make success more likely. The ability of an organization to reorganize successfully becomes vital to its’ success on the market.

In a recent video by Brett DiNovi & Associates, Brett was recorded as he gave a keynote at the California Association of Behavior Analysis conference. As the owner of the largest behavior analytic consultation companies on the East Coast, Brett provides key tips for advancing our science and expanding our businesses successfully. The tips included in this video for scaling behavior analytic businesses also apply more widely to businesses and speak specifically to the importance of taking a wider strategic view on your businesses long-term success. Brett’s main tips in this video address the importance of diversity in the choosing appropriate effective growth and sustainability practices in your organization. Brett suggests two specific strategies that embrace the importance of diversity in organizational practice.

Brett discusses the wide range of skills required of successful entrepreneurs and leaders.   As you scale your business, you are often called to fill the duties of an accountant, bookkeeper, human resources, and other positions. Further, in a field that addresses the whole of human behavior change, you may also be called to duties within your field that similarly require a wide depth and breadth of knowledge. One way in which you can address these needs is to build connections within the field and within the staff you hire that include different skill sets than your own. Being able to reach out to other connections who can extend the depth and breadth of your knowledge in times of need can save you time and money. Connections like these can also serve as a vital support as you create change in the world.

Diversity also becomes an important factor with funding sources.  From an ethical standpoint, a company that is overly reliant on a particular funding source for its survival can be unduly influenced.  The potential loss of revenue from a major funding source can make it more likely that your organization will engage in unethical practices to protect the bottom line.  Diversity of funding sources means you are better able to cut a funding source and maintain your integrity without significantly impacting your bottom line.

Be sure to check out the full video, and to subscribe to Brett DiNovi’s YouTube channel and let him know what you would like to see in future videos.  Also be sure to subscribe to bSci21 via email to receive the latest articles directly to your inbox!

Todd A. Ward, PhD, BCBA-D is the President and Founder of bSci21Media, LLC, which owns the top behavior analytic media outlet in the world, bSci21.org.  bSci21Media aims to disseminate behavior analysis to the world and to support ABA companies around the globe through the Behavioral Science in the 21st Century blog and its subsidiaries, bSciEntrepreneurial, bSciWebDesign, bSciWriting, and the ABA Outside the Box CEU series.  Dr. Ward received his PhD in behavior analysis from the University of Nevada, Reno under Dr. Ramona Houmanfar.  He has served as a Guest Associate Editor of the Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, and as an Editorial Board member of Behavior and Social Issues.  Dr. Ward has also provided ABA services to children and adults with various developmental disabilities in day centers, in-home, residential, and school settings, and previously served as Faculty Director of Behavior Analysis Online at the University of North Texas.  Dr. Ward is passionate about disseminating behavior analysis to the world and growing the field through entrepreneurship. Todd can be reached at [email protected]

Angela Cathey, M.A. is a writer, consultant, entrepreneur, and Owner, Director, and Team/Leadership Development Consultant of Enso Group. Her background is in processes of change and intervention development. She has trained with experts in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP), cognitive-behavioral exposure-based treatments, and Relational Frame Theory (RFT). Her interests are in process, innovation, and development of solutions for sustainable large-scale change. She has published in numerous academic journals on process, measurement, and intervention development. Enso-driven analytics systems are used to inform leadership and team building interventions, culture design, and research in the behavioral sciences. Angela can be reached at [email protected]. Stay up-to-date with Enso Group at ensogroup.us and LinkedIn.

Brett DiNovi, M.A., BCBA has the unique and distinguished experience of studying the principles of applied behavior analysis under the rigorous scrutiny of both Dr. Julie S. Vargas (formerly Skinner) and Dr. E.A. Vargas at West Virginia University’s internationally recognized program. For the past 26 years, Brett has used behavior analytic principles to create large scale change across school districts, Fortune 500 companies using principles of Organizational Behavior Management (OBM), and across individual learners. Brett has been a OBM consultant in Morgantown WV, an instructor at West Virginia University, a guest lecturer at numerous universities, a speaker on multiple Comcast Newsmakers TV programs, an expert witness in due process hearings, has publications in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, and has been in in executive leadership positions across schools and residential programs nationwide. In addition to an award from South Jersey Biz Magazine for “Best Places to Work,” an award for “Best of Families” in Suburban Magazine, and the distinguished “Top Ranked U.S. Executives” award, Brett’s proudest accomplishment is being a role model and father for his daughter and two stepchildren (one of which has autism). Brett can be reached at [email protected]

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