BIOGRAPHY

Geert Letens is an organizational energy coach and change architect. He helps organizations to boost their change success rate by restoring balance between the formal/rational and social/emotional dimension of change and creating flow between the top, middle and bottom levels of organizations.

Geert uses scientifically founded assessments that are true eye-openers for organizations. This not only allows them to develop custom roadmaps for change that drive bottom-line performance, but equally important supports them to turn organizations that are victims of change to become organizations that thrive on change.

1. PROFILE

Geert is an internationally recognized author and speaker on Organization Development and Change and Lean Product Development. As the CEO of TchI-Innovation, He has provided training and consulting services to various Fortune Global 500 companies around the world for almost 20 years.

He teaches project, process, supply chain, performance and engineering management at the Royal Military Academy and guest lectures at business school, such as Vlerick Business School and Brugge Business School.

As the past president of the American Society for Engineering Management, and former president of the Society of Engineering and Management Systems he has contributed significantly to the development of the Engineering Management field and the collaboration of Engineering Societies around the world.

Geert is a research fellow at Vlerick Business School and a visiting research faculty at Virginia Tech.

2. EXPERTISE

Organization Development and Change, Performance Measurement and Performance Management, Learning Organizations, Lean Product Development, Project & Process Management, Supply Chain Management, Internal Control Systems.

1. De Prins, P., Letens, G., and Verweire, K. (2017). The Six Batteries of Change. Lannoo.
   
   
2. Farris, J.A., Van Aken, E.M., and Letens, G, (2013).   Organizational Performance Measurement, Handbook of Measurement in Science and Engineering,  John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ.
   
   
3. Verweire K. and Letens, G. (2012).  Putting Performance Management into Practice, Vlerick on Performance Management, Lannoo.

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1. Keathley-Herring, H., Van Aken, E., Gonzalez-Aleu, F., Deschamps, F., Letens, G., & Orlandini, P. C. (2016). Assessing the maturity of a research area: bibliometric review and proposed framework. Scientometrics, Vol. 109, No. 2; pp. 927-951.
   
   
2. Letens, G., Verweire, K., & De Prins, P. (2016). Large Scale Infrastructure Projects: The Art of Project or Change Management?. Frontiers of Engineering Management, 3(3), pp. 197-202.
   
   
3. Letens, G. (2015). Lean Product Development—Faster, Better… Cleaner?, Frontiers of Engineering Management, Vol. 2, No. 1; pp. 52-59.
   
   
4. Di Schiena,R., Letens, G., Van Aken, E.M., Farris, J.A. (2013). Relationship between Leadership and Characteristics of Learning Organizations in Deployed Military Units: An Exploratory Study, Administrative Sciences, Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 143-165.
   
   
5. Martínez León, C.H., Farris, J.A., Letens, G. (2013). Improving Product Development Lead Time Performance through Iteration Front-Loading, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, Vol. 60, No. 3, pp. 552-565.
   
   
6. Martínez León, C.H., Farris, J.A., Letens, G., Hernandez, A. (2013). A Risk Management Framework for New Product Development Projects Featuring Uncertain Iterations, Journal of Engineering and Technology Management, Vol. 30, No. 1, pp. 45-71.
   
   
7. Letens, G., Farris, J.A., Van Aken, E.M. (2011). A Multilevel Framework for Lean Product Development System Design, Engineering Management Journal, Vol. 23, No. 1; pp 69 – 85.
   
   
8. Farris, J.A., Van Aken, E.M., Letens, G., Chearskul, P., Coleman, G.D. (2011). Improving the Performance Review Process:  A Structured Approach and Case Application, International Journal of Operations and Production Management, - Vol. 31, No. 4, pp. 376 – 404.
   
   
9. Van Aken, E.M., Farris, J.A., Glover, W.J., Letens, G. (2010). A Framework for Designing, Managing and Improving Kaizen Event Programs, International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management,  Vol. 59, No. 7, pp. 641 – 667.
   
   
10. Letens, G., Van Nuffel, L., Heene, A. and Leysen, J. (2007). Analyzing Balance in Risk Identification. Proceedings of the 2007 American Society for Engineering Management Conference. Chattanooga, TN, USA, Nov 7-10.
    
    
11. Farris, J.A., Van Aken, E.M., Letens, G., Ellis, K.P., and Boyland, J. (2007). A Structured Approach for Assessing the Effectiveness of Engineering Design Tools in the New Product Development Process, Engineering Management Journal. Vol. 19, No. 2; pp. 31- 40.
    
    
12. Farris, J.A., Groesbeck, R.L., Van Aken, E.M., and Letens, G. (2006). Evaluating the Relative Performance of Engineering Design Projects: A Case Study Using Data Envelopment Analysis, IEEE Transactions for Engineering Management, Vol 53, No. 3, pp. 471-482.
    
    
13. Van Aken, E.M., Letens, G., Farris, J.A., Coleman, G.D., and Van Goubergen, D. (2004). Application of an integrated tool for assessing performance measurement system effectiveness and maturity. Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Theory and Practice in Performance Measurement and Management, Edinburgh, U.K, July 28-30, pp. 963-970.
    
    
14. Van Aken, E.M., Van Goubergen, D., and Letens, G. (2003). Integrated enterprise transformation: Case application in engineering project work in the Belgian armed forces, Engineering Management Journal, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 3-16.

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1. Letens, G. (2016). Large Scale Infrastructure Projects, Proceedings of the Second International Forum on Engineering Management, Xi-an, China:  August 19-22, 2016.
   
   
2. Keathley, H., Van Aken, E.M., Letens, G. (2015). Learning organization characteristics in deployed military units, Proceedings of the 2015 American Society for Engineering Management Conference, Indianapolis, IN; October 7-10, 2015, CD-ROM.
   
   
3. Letens, G., (2015). Lean Product Development: Faster, Better…Cleaner?, Proceedings of the  9th China Forum on Engineering Management. Guangzhou, China: May 14-17, CD-ROM.
   
   
4. Keathley, H., Van Aken, E.M., and Letens, G. (2014). Performance measurement system implementation: Systematic review of success factors, Proceedings of the 2014 American Society for Engineering Management Conference, Virginia Beach, VA; October 15-18, 2014, CD-ROM.
   
   
5. Keathley, H., Van Aken, E.M., and Letens, G. (2014). Review of factors affecting performance measurement system implementation, Proceedings of the 2014 Performance Measurement Association Conference, Aarhus: Denmark: June 25-27, 2014, CD-ROM.
   
   
6. Letens, G., Di Schiena, R., Van Aken, E. and Farris, J.  (2012). Characteristics of Learning Organizations within the Military, Proceedings of the 33rd ASEM Conference. Virginia Beach, Virginia (USA): Oct 15-18, CD-ROM.
   
   
7. Di Schiena, R., Letens, G., Van Aken, E. and Farris, J.  (2012). Learning Organizations in Crisis Environments: Characteristics of Deployed Military Units, Proceedings of the 2012 Industrial Engineering Research Conference, Engineering Management Track, Orlando, Florida (USA): May 19-23, 2012, CD-ROM
   
   
8. Letens, G., Verweire, K., Slagmulder, R., Van Aken, E.M., and Farris, J.A. (2011). Integrating Top-Down and Bottom-up Change: Lessons Learned from a Longitudinal Case Study, Proceedings of the 32th ASEM Conference. Lubbock, Texas (USA), October 19-22, CD-ROM.
   
   
9. Nepal, B., Raghuraman, R., and Letens, G. (2011).  Framework for Supplier Selection in Global Sourcing Considering Supply Chain Costs and Risks, Proceedings of the 32th ASEM Conference. Lubbock, Texas (USA), October 19-22, CD-ROM.
   
   
10. Martinez, C., Farris, J., and Letens, G. (2011). Improving Product Development through Front-Loading and Enhanced Iteration Management, Proceedings of the 2011 Industrial Engineering Research Conference, Engineering Management Track, Reno, Nevada (USA): May 21-25, 2011, CD-ROM
    
    
11. Gandhi, J., and Letens, G. (2010). Towards a better understanding of procurement Risks, Proceedings of the 31th ASEM Conference. Rogers, Arkansas (USA), October 13-16, CD-ROM
    
    
12. Verweire, K., Slagmulder, R., Letens, G., Chearskul, P., Van Aken, E.M., and Farris, J.A. (2010).  Towards customer intimacy: Implications for performance measurement, Proceedings of the 2010 Industrial Engineering Research Conference, Engineering Management Track, Cancun, Mexico: June 5-9, 2010, CD-ROM
    
    
13. Letens, G., Van Aken, E. M., Farris, J.A., Martinez, C. (2009). Optimizing Stakeholder Value and Reducing Waste in New Product Development Projects, Proceedings of the 30th ASEM Conference. Springfield, Missouri (USA), October 14-17.
    
    
14. Letens, G., Van Aken, E. M., Farris, J.A., Heene, A. and Leysen, J. (2008). Organization Development and Change through Multi-method Action Research, Proceedings of the 29th ASEM Conference. West Point, New York (USA), November 12-15.
    
    
15. Letens, G., Farris, J.A., Van Aken, E.M. (2008). Lean Principles for the Lean Project-based Enterprise. Proceedings of the 2008 Industrial Engineering Research Conference, Vancouver, Canada, May 17-21, 2008.
    
    
16. Letens, G., Van Nuffel, L., Heene, A. and Leysen, J. (2007). Analyzing Balance in Risk Identification. Proceedings of the 2007 American Society for Engineering Management Conference. Chattanooga, TN, USA, Nov 7-10.
    
    
17. Letens, G., Garrigues C. (2007). Evolutionary Approach to Performance Management: a Case Study in a Public Sector IT Support Unit. Proceedings of the 2007 Industrial Engineering Research Conference, Nashville, TN, May 19-23, 2007, Session: Engineering Management on CD-ROM.
    
    
18. Letens, G., Farris, J.A., Van Aken, E.M., (2006) Development and Application of a Framework for the Design and Assessment of a Kaizen Event Program. Proceedings of the 2006 American Society for Engineering Management Conference. Huntsville USA, October 25-28
    
    
19. Letens, G., Van Aken, E.M., (2006). Managing the Life Cycle of Improvement Systems: a Case Study in the Belgian Armed Forces. Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Theory and Practice in Performance Measurement and Management, London, U.K, July 25-28, pp. 1019-1026.
    
    
20. Farris, J.A., Van Aken, E.M., Letens, G., and Ellis, K.P. (2005).  An approach for measuring the effectiveness of design tools in the new product development process. Proceedings of the 2005 American Society for Engineering Management Conference, Norfolk, USA, October 26-29, in Engineering Management-2 Track on CD-ROM.
    
    
21. Van Aken, E.M., Letens, G., Farris, J.A., Coleman, G.D., and Van Goubergen, D. (2004). Application of an integrated tool for assessing performance measurement system effectiveness and maturity. Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Theory and Practice in Performance Measurement and Management, Edinburgh, U.K, July 28-30, pp. 963-970.
    
    
22. Farris, J.A., Groesbeck, R.L., Van Aken, E.M., and Letens, G. (2003). Application of data envelopment analysis to evaluate a concurrent lifecycle approach for engineering design projects. Proceedings of the 2003 American Society for Engineering Management Conference, St. Louis, MO, October, 2003, pp. 369-378.
    
    
23. Van Goubergen, D., Van Landeghem, H., Van Aken, E.M., and Letens, G. (2003). Using value stream mapping to redesign engineering project work. Proceedings of the 2003 Industrial Engineering Research Conference, Portland, OR, May 18-20, 2003, Session S55: Lean Management on CD-ROM.
    
    
24. Farris, J.A., Groesbeck, R.L., Van Aken, E.M., and Letens, G. (2003). Application of data envelopment analysis to evaluate projects in a government organization. Proceedings of the 2003 Industrial Engineering Research Conference, Portland, OR, May 18-20, 2003, Session S416: Project Management on CD-ROM.

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1. Verweire, K., De Grande, J., Letens, G. and Slagmulder, R. (2011). German Cooperative Bank Berlin, ECCH, Cranfield University, Wharley End
   
   • 811-049-1          VLGMS-1104-A-C          Bringing German Cooperative Bank Berlin Back on Track: Can a Rural Bank Thrive in the City?
   • 811-049-8          VLGMS-1104-TN            German Cooperative Bank Berlin  TN
   • 811-050-1          VLGMS-1104-B-C          German Cooperative Bank Berlin (B): Managing People, customers, and Financial Results
   • 811-051-1          VLGMS-1104-C-C          German Cooperative Bank Berlin (C): Turning the Bank into a Performance-oriented Organization
   811-052-1          VLGMS-1104-D-C          Epilogue German Cooperative Bank Berlin

2011

1. Letens, G., Van Aken, E.M., and Farris, J.A. (2010) Improving innovation through product development: Principles and characteristics of a lean product development system, FEANI NEWS, September 2010, pp. 37-40.

2010

(1) International Societies and Working Groups

1. Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineer (IISE) & the Society for Engineering and Management Systems (SEMS).
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. NATO Science & Technology Organization - System Analysis and Studies (SAS)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. American Society for Engineering Management (ASEM)

a. SEMS Board of Directors (2009 – 2010)

b. SEMS President-elect (2010-2011)

c. SEMS President (2011-2012)

d. SEMS Past-President (2012-2013)

e. IISE Associate Vice President International – Europe (2013-2015)

a.. Secretary (2013-2014)

b. President-Elect (2014-2015)

c. President (2015-2016)

d. Past President (2016-2017)

a. Voting Panel Member Belgium (April 2011 - Present)

b. Chair of the SAS Open Sessions (NATO & Partnership for Peace) – Oct 2010

c. Exploratory Team on “Performance Management in Military Organizations” – Team member

d. SAS-096 “Key Performance Indicators in Measuring Military Outputs” – Team Member