Published in the United Kingdom by Emerald Group, the journal explores the practical application of leadership and organization-development theory in order to identify its relevance for managerial practice. Reviews of new book publications in the area of leadership and organizations also form part of the journal’s regular content.

"There were a large number of candidates for the editorial board; it was very competitive," Emiliani says. "It’s gratifying to have been selected and to receive recognition for my unique contributions to the body of leadership knowledge."

About "Better Thinking, Better Results," a Shingo prize-winning book about the Wiremold Company, which Emiliani wrote in 2002 with David Stec, Lawrence Grasso and James Stodder, consultant Bill Moffitt commented that "Bob Emiliani sheds new light on the most critical aspect of the Lean transformation -- the effectiveness of change management for the entire organization."

Lean thinking stems from the Toyota Production System. Its key concepts are to eliminate waste and create value for end-use customers.

Emiliani, 47, came to CCSU earlier this year from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Hartford, where he was a professor at the Lally School of Management and Technology. For over 15 years he has been impressing colleagues in his field.

His work experience in the consumer products and aerospace industries includes management positions in engineering, manufacturing and supply chain management. In addition to "Better Thinking, Better Results," his work has been cited in national and international publications including: Sloan Management Review, Automotive News, Purchasing Magazine, CIO Magazine, Industry Week, The Hartford Courant, Darwin Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, Line56 Magazine, TED Magazine, Information Week, Pharmaceutical Technology, The Japan Times, APICS -- The Performance Advantage, The Manufacturer and Manufacturing News.

Emiliani also has written critically acclaimed papers on Lean enterprise management such as: "Lean Behaviors" and "Using Value Stream Maps to Improve Leadership." Three of his papers have received Citation of Excellence awards from Emerald Publishing.

"The whole concept of Lean is often misunderstood," Emiliani says, "even by people in industry. The idea is not to lay people off, but to make them more productive."

Emiliani mainly teaches graduate students at Central who are working toward their Master’s degree in technology management.

"We’re not theory based here," he says. "We’re practical. We’re more interested in how you apply principles to improve your business."

There are specific points Emiliani wants his students to assimilate and apply. For example, "Do what works: respect people, participate in continuous improvement, and focus on the process, not the people. Avoid major mistakes, such as thinking you know it all, becoming overcommitted and blaming others for errors."

He even hands out a lengthy list of characteristics of "best" and "worst" bosses. Best bosses, he says, are supportive, acknowledge a job well done and set motivating goals. Worst bosses don’t listen, forget to tell subordinates about new changes, talk down to subordinates like a child, and so on.

If he has a mission at Central, it’s to clear up misunderstandings about supply chain management (management of information about products in the sales process).

Emiliani likes the atmosphere at Central and the fact that the campus is an easy commute. He, along with his wife and two children, live in Wethersfield.

"We find the town convenient to everything," he says. "And, when I’m at CCSU, I feel I’m part of the New Britain community."

What’s his main day-to-day challenge?

"To persuade my students to question conventional wisdom," he says. "I want them to ask ‘Why are we doing things this way?’ I want them to leave my courses with something they can remember and apply."

Scott Whipple can be reached at swhipple@newbritainherald.com or by calling (860)225-4601, Ext. 224.