Leading Museums Today: Theory and Practice

Martha Morris

Apr 2018 · Rowman & Littlefield

About this ebook

In Leading Museums Today: Theory and Practice, readers learn about leadership theory in both for profit and nonprofit worlds and how to effectively master the role of both leader and follower. Literature from business and non-profit management as well as the insights of current thought leaders provide lessons for the reader. The book explores the reality of change in the workplace, the standards and best practices of businesses and museums, and innovative approaches to creating a nimble and responsive organization.

Topics covered include:

• Organizational structure, team-based work, and new business models are detailed.
• Working as a leader at the middle of the organization and ways to be successful in leading up are described.
• Leadership training and how individuals can be continual learners.

Case studies and profiles cover the work of university museums, children’s museums, historic sites, history, art, and multi-disciplinary museums. Each of the case studies provides personal perspectives of leadership qualities, career progression, and highlights of the transformative work at their museum.

About the author

Martha Morris is associate professor emerita of museum studies at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. She has over 45 years of experience in the museum field as a manager and leader. Morris has designed workshops, lectured and written on a number of topics including collections planning and management, exhibition development, leading change, museum facilities programs, museum mergers, and 21st century leadership skills. She is author of Managing People and Projects in Museums (2017) and co-author of Planning Successful Museum Building Projects (2009).