Faculty & Staff
James P. Thompson
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Faculty Listing
Office: Atwater Kent Laboratories, 127
Phone: +1-508-831-5296
Fax: +1-508-831-5896
jpthompson@wpi.edu
Educational Background
- PhD, University of Strathclyde, Department of Management Science, 2009
- BBA, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Department of Accounting, 1968
Research & Teaching Interests
management systems; system dynamics; strategic management; health care dynamics
Research
My research interests comprise three principle areas:
- How individuals learn to resolve dynamically complex problems
- Economic behavior of patients, providers and payers in health care systems
- Hypothetical epidemiology of communicable diseases
As diverse as these interests appear, they frequently overlap. Individual common sense behavior is influenced by powerful forces in the health care system that often lead to undesirable systemic performance. Therefore, understanding how individuals learn and make their decisions helps to guide analyses of aggregate economic consequences.
My commercial consulting experience spans more than 20 years with clients in pharmaceuticals, managed health care, global economic development, federally-funded guarantee programs, electric utilities, chemicals and internet infrastructure. Each of these engagements can be viewed as an experiment in problem-solving and client learning. My dissertation draws on the consultative practice of system dynamics methodology, intervention analysis, and constructivist learning theory to explore consulting techniques, client approaches and model forms used to resolve real world managerial problems.
In prior research, I have explored techniques that employ mathematical simulation models, qualitative approaches and microworld games to help clients learn, and my classroom-level research measures learning from closed-system simulations.
Much of my health care systems and hypothetical epidemiology research was done while I was an employee of Cigna HealthCare and was subject to restrictions of a nondisclosure and noncompetition agreement. Those restrictions were removed in January 2009, and Cigna HealthCare granted me an exclusive license that transfers to me all intellectual property derived in my research. This research led directly to my development of a postgraduate course in health care dynamics at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The removal of nondisclosure constraints also allows me to develop a text on health care dynamics. In addition, my research into the proliferation of communicable diseases including HIV/AIDS, hypothetical 'avian flu', and SARS is now available for development into journal articles that would complement the works of other researchers in this rapidly emerging field.
More important my research has provided a foundation for the learners to develop insight into how real world systems work by re-presenting experiences in cogent and comprehensive logic.
Recent Publications
Professional Experience & Activities
Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 2008-present
Worcester, MA
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Social Science and Policy Studies
Central Connecticut State University, 2008-present
New Britain, CT
Adjunct Instructor, Department of Management & Organization
Independent consultant, 2007-present
Farmington, Connecticut
CIGNA HealthCare, 2000-2007
International health care finance organization with 25,000 clients and 10 million covered lives
Hartford, Connecticut
Director, Economic and Operations Research (2002 to 2007)
Director, Business Process Transformation (2000-2002)
Global Prospectus LLC, 1996-2000
Independent strategy consulting and market forecasting firm.
Farmington, Connecticut
Principal clients: The World Bank, Glaxo (Milan), Millennium Institute, Andersen Worldwide.
Managing Director (1996-2000)
Gemini Management Consulting, Inc., 1994-1996
International strategy development and organization design.
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Principal clients: The World Bank, Pfizer (Upjohn), Monsanto, 3M, Mallinckrodt, Gullspångs Kraft (Sweden), AT&T, Cigna Group Insurance
Principal (1994-1996)
LeapTec, 1990-1994
Independent management advisors specializing in competitive strategy.
Farmington, Connecticut and Providence, Rhode Island
Principal clients: U.S. Governmental Accountability Office, AT&T, MetLife, UTC.
Principal (1990-1994)
Kollmorgen Corporation, 1974-1990
Multinational diversified high-tech manufacturing; acquired by Danaher Corp. in 2002.
Hartford and Stamford, Connecticut
Management board—electronic interconnections, motion control and light measurement (1980-1990)
Treasurer and Director of Strategic Planning (1980-1990)
Assistant Controller and Tax Director (1974-1980)
Arthur Andersen & Co., 1968-1974
International audit, tax and management advisory services
Hartford, Connecticut
Senior Accountant, tax division (1971-1974), audit division (1970)
Staff Accountant, audit division (1968-1970)
Professional Societies/Memberships
- System Dynamics Society
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
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