Thomas Chermack

Thomas Chermack is a Professor and Coordinator of the Organizational Learning, Performance, and Change Doctoral Program at Colorado State University's College of Education. He is also the Founder and Director of the Scenario Planning Institute, focusing on strategic foresight and organizational development. His research emphasizes scenario planning, strategic learning, human expertise development, and organizational change management. He holds an office in Education 223 and can be reached at thomas.chermack@colostate.edu.

Chermack's work integrates scenario planning methodologies with organizational behavior, leadership, and human resource development. His research explores how scenarios enhance decision-making, foster organizational agility, and improve workplace engagement. He critiques and advances the scientific rigor of futures studies while advocating for practical applications in business and government sectors.

His articles analyze scenario planning’s impact on mental models, strategic conversations, and organizational resilience. Key themes include the role of scenarios in combating knowledge loss, enhancing leader-member exchanges, and mediating transformational leadership effects. He also investigates cross-cultural validity of organizational learning frameworks, particularly in Korean business contexts.

Chermack's contributions extend to developing assessment tools for scenario quality, mental model styles, and human capital planning. His research underscores the importance of integrating scenario planning with design thinking and ambidextrous strategies for organizational longevity.