Faculty Profile

Bruce Watley, Ph.D

Associate Professor, Business Administration

Dr. Bruce Watley was an entrepreneur for more than 20 years, spending most of his career in the outdoor sports industry where he owned a number of manufacturing businesses ranging from muzzleloading rifles to apparel. Throughout his career, Dr. Watley has been exposed to all facets of owning and operating a business and selling products to all levels of the distribution channel through manufacturer sales reps. Dr. Watley serves as an Associate Professor of Business Administration, the Director of the Lillibridge Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and Innovation, teaches courses in entrepreneurship and marketing at the undergraduate and graduate level, and is currently working toward a degree in Divinity Studies through the Living Faith Bible Institute. 

Education

  • Diploma, Strategy & Innovation, University of Oxford, 2018
  • Ph.D., Organizational Leadership and Human Resource Development, Regent University, 2016
  • Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies, Leadership, Regent University, 2013
  • Certificate, Family Financial Planning, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, 2009
  • M.B.A., Business Administration, University of Phoenix, 2005
  • B.S.B.A., Marketing, Creighton University, 1990

Courses Taught

  • ENT225 - Entrepreneurial Mindset
  • ENT255 - Entrepreneurial Engagement andDevelopment
  • ENT335 - Entrepreneurial Dynamics
  • ENT395 - Internship
  • ENT430 - Business Plan Development
  • BUS307 - Marketing
  • BUS395 - Internship
  • BUS528 - Innovation and Problem Solving

Professional Memberships

Beta Phi

Beta Phi is a scholarly society that embraces the order of the bird and the baby - in celebration of the works of C.S. Lewis and The Inklings. The society promotes intensive individual and collective investigation of important developments in the field of autonomous learning, human resource development and learner centered leadership.

Academy of Management - Entrepreneurship

The Academy of Management Entrepreneurship Division welcomes researchers, teachers, Ph.D. students, consultants, entrepreneurs and anyone else who shares our mission of growing entrepreneurship scholars.

Academy of Management - Management Education and Development

The Academy of Management - Management Education and Development's purpose is to encourage and conduct research related to educating and developing managers; to promote the interchange of ideas, research and other information among those interested in educating and developing managers and to engage in other activities and services of interest to the membership.

Academy of Management

The Academy of Management is the preeminent professional association for management and organization scholars. Our worldwide members are professors and Ph.D. students in business schools at universities, academics in related social science and other fields and practitioners who value knowledge creation and application. Founded in 1936, our global community today is nearly 20,000 strong, spanning 115 countries.

Expertise

  • Entrepreneurship
  • Innovation and Problem Solving
  • Leadership
  • Strategic Planning
  • Small Business Turn Around
  • Business Acquisitions and Negotiations
  • Organizational Development
  • Human Resource Development
  • Marketing Strategy
  • Marketing Research
  • Product Development
  • Sales Management
  • Advertising
  • Brand Management
  • Self-Directed Learning
  • Autonomous Learning

Research

Bruce Watley's research interests include:

  • Innovation and Creative Problem Solving
  • Entrepreneurship (Social and For Profit)
  • Human Resource Development
  • Autonomous Learning
  • Learner Autonomy
  • Self-Directed Learning

Scholarships and Creative Work

Papers
  • Watley, B.E. (2016). Effects of innovation training on innovative work behavior (Doctoral dissertation), Retrieved from Proquest. 10131723. http://search.proquest.com/docview/1820072487
  • Leadership of people on the fringes of society: An ideological texture analysis of Acts 8:26-40
  • Leadership dynamics: An inner-texture analysis of John 21:1-25
  • A biblical call to moral and authentic Christian leadership
  • Paul's innovative approach to witnessing
  • Strategic planning and faith: Creating a God inspired plan
  • The relationship between prayer and leadership effectiveness
  • Exploring the effects of innovation training and innovative behaviors, Oxford, England, Autonomous Learning World Caucus
  • How leaders can impact an organization: The innovation guide
  • The effects of innovation training on innovative behaviors
  • The effects of leadership behavior and innovation experience on employee innovative behaviors
  • Transformational leadership: The effects of inspirational motivation on follower development
  • Follower judgments about a leader's effectiveness
  • Student-centered learning: An examination of traditional and non-traditional learning environments
  • How to effectively utilize discussion in the virtual classroom
  • The use of synchronous technology in an asynchronous environment
  • Leadership, learning, and development: The dead poets society
  • Leading online discussions to build community, collaboration and improved communications
  • Models of decision making in two dissimilar cultures: India and Australia
  • How does leadership influence culture within an organization?
  • Organizational interventions: An applied approach
Lectures
  • Visiting Professor, 2017 (Dec) E-Leadership MBA Program, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Algebra University, Zagreb, Croatia
  • Visiting Professor, 2018 (Oct) E-Leadership MBA Program, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Algebra University, Zagreb, Croatia
Presentations
  • Facilitator, 2012 (Jun) Graco Industries, Sioux Falls, South Dakota – Innovation Training
  • Facilitator, 2012 (Feb) Avera Hospitals, Sioux Falls, South Dakota – Innovation Training
  • Developing a Measurement for Innovative Behavior: The Innovative Behavior Scale - 2014 Autonomous Learning World Caucus, Oxford, England
  • An Intervention Study: Examining the Effects of Innovation Training on Innovative Work Behaviors - 2015 Autonomous Learning World Caucus, Oxford, England
  • Exploring the effects of innovation training and innovative behaviors - 2013 Autonomous Learning World Caucus, Oxford, England
  • 2016 (Jan) South Dakota Public Radio, What is Innovation?
  • 2016 (Feb) Avera Hospitals, Sioux Falls, South Dakota – Innovation Training
  • 2016 (Mar) Avera Hospitals, Sioux Falls, South Dakota – Innovation Training
  • 2017 (Aug) USF Faculty Retreat, Sioux Falls, South Dakota – Experiential Learning
  • 2017 (Aug) Sioux Empire P.M.I. Chapter, Sioux Falls, South Dakota - Leading Innovation
  • Summer/Fall (2018) Zeal Center for Entrepreneurship, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Various Workshops on Entrepreneurship
  • 2018 (Oct) Dakota State University – Madison, South Dakota, The Art of Developing Entrepreneurial Leaders
  • 2018 (Nov) Babson College, Boston, Massachusetts, A Liberal Arts Approach Toward Entrepreneurship, Innovation, & Creativity
  • Human resource development seminar: Using innovation training to improve employee effectiveness
  • Enlarging the world of entrepreneurship: An interdisciplinary approach. Orlando, Fla.: International Assembly of Collegiate Business Education Annual Conference
Publications
  • Watley, B. (2012). The transformational power of divine empowerment: An inter-texture analysis of Acts 2. Emerging Leadership Journeys. http://www.regent.edu/acad/global/publications/elj/vol5iss1/ELJ_Vol5No1_Watley_pp67-80.pdf
Reports
  • Thesis Advisor, 2018, Algebra University, The Digital Transformation of the Fitness Industry
  • Thesis Advisor, 2019, Algebra University, The Acceptance of Chatbots among Croatian Millennials
  • Commercial Resources Inc: An organizational diagnosis
  • University of Sioux Falls Athletic Department Corporate Communication Audit
Exhibitions
  • Attendee, 2012 (Nov) Allied Academies, Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Attendee, 2013 (Mar) Autonomous Learning World Caucus, Oxford University, England
  • Attendee, 2013 (Apr) International Assembly of Collegiate Business Education National Conference, Orlando, Florida
  • Attendee, 2013 (May) Conclave on Leadership Research and Analysis, Virginia Beach, Virginia
  • Attendee, 2013 (Jun) Acton University, Grand Rapids, Michigan – Faith and Free Markets
  • Attendee, 2014 (Feb) Self-Directed Learning Symposium, Orlando, Florida
  • Attendee, 2014 (Mar) Autonomous Learning World Caucus, Oxford University, England
  • Attendee, 2014 (Apr) International Assembly of Collegiate Business Education National Conference, San Diego, California
  • Attendee, 2015 (Mar) Autonomous Learning World Caucus, Oxford University, England
  • Attendee, 2016 (Feb) Self-Directed Learning Symposium, Orlando, Florida
  • Attendee, 2016 (May) Beta Phi Conclave of Scholars, Williamsburg, Virginia
  • Attendee, 2018 (Sept) Experiential Classroom, University of Florida – Tampa, Tampa, Florida (Note: Only 75 entrepreneurship educators, worldwide, were selected to attend the workshop)
  • Attendee, 2018 (Nov) Babson College, Boston, Massachusetts, Fellows Program for Entrepreneurship Educators
  • Consultant, Summer/Fall (2018) Zeal Center for Entrepreneurship, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Various Workshops on Entrepreneurship
  • Attendee, 2019, Co.Starters Facilitator Training, Start-up Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
  • Attendee, 2021 (Feb) Self-Directed Learning Symposium – Virtual Conference, Orlando, Florida
  • Attendee, 2022 (Feb) Self-Directed Learning Symposium – Virtual Conference, Orlando, Florida
  • Attendee, 2023 (Feb) Self-Directed Learning Symposium, Orlando, Florida

Service/Volunteer Work

Converge Heartland, Board Member (2023 - Present)

Converge heartland is a movement of gospel-centered churches bringing transformation to every heartland community,  https://www.convergeheartland.org/

 

Academic Policies Committee (2023 - Present)

The purpose of APC is to review overall undergraduate academic policy; approve undergraduate curriculum revision; approve new undergraduate courses; review undergraduate graduation requirements; appeals committee for academic progress decisions; and review academic programs.

Committee for Assessment, Improvement, and Program Review (CAIPR) (2017 - present)

The committee is charged with developing and articulating institutional expectations and policies regarding assessment of student learning outcomes; Reviewing academic programs and assessment plans; Reviewing and reporting academic assessment results to the faculty; and planning and assisting with Assessment Day activities for students and faculty.

Reviewer for the Journal of Biblical Integration in Business (JBIB) (2016 - Present)

The Journal of Biblical Integration in Business serves as a refereed forum for discussing faith-learning-life links in business. The journal is a broad-based, double-blind peer review forum that aims to publish manuscripts that add to the body of knowledge.

Serving at The Banquet in Sioux Falls (2014 - present)

Assist with leading University of Sioux Falls students to serve meals at The Banquet throughout each semester. The Banquet equips volunteers to provide food and fellowship to those served through the ministry of The Banquet. The organization provides a safe place where people can gather, receive nourishment and experience love in action.

Sioux Falls Christian Schools, Board Member (2017-2022)

Sioux Falls Christian Schools is a private school located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The school was founded in 1958 with the mission of "With God's word as our foundation, Sioux Falls Christian School will provide a Christ-centered, excellent education, partnering with the church and home to equip students for service to Him."

University of Sioux Falls Graduate Policies Committee (2017-2021)

Serve as a representative for evaluating new courses, programs and student appeals regarding their academic career in graduate education at the University of Sioux Falls.

Committee for the Liberal Arts Experience (CLAE) (2015-2017)

The committee will oversee and direct progressive development of liberal arts education at the University of Sioux Falls in order to contribute to the development of mature Christians and strengthen all academic programs consistent with the university’s mission. The committee functions to advocate for the undergraduate Liberal Arts Core; review and/or develop proposals for Liberal Arts Core curricular change before they are sent to the Academic Policies Committee; facilitate innovation in the liberal arts core; develop and maintain assessment of the Liberal Arts Core; and coordinate Liberal Arts Core assessment activities with the Assessment Committee.

Rotary South (2009 -2011)

Charter member of the newest Rotary Club in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Grow Centerville - Community Development (2008-2009)

Co-founded Grow Centerville, a community development corporation focused on housing, central business district development and seeding entrepreneurship in rural Iowa.