Connolly Clarke - Thought Leadership, Publications

Human Capital Subject Matter Expert for Industry Leadership

Tom O'Rourke, President and CEO, Connolly Clarke, was selected to develop the Competency Model for Effective Internal Consultants and On-Line Internal Consulting Competency Assessment/Benchmarking Tool for the Association of Internal Management Consultants.

Subsequent to developing these tools, as part of the St. Charles Consulting Group, Tom partnered with the AIMC and Foundation for Manufacturing Excellence (FORME) to develop the Core Consulting Skills Certification Program for their members. Rolled out July, 2017.

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Tom O'Rourke, President and CEO, Connolly Clarke, was selected to serve as a Human Capital Metrics subject matter expert and observer for the AICPA Special Committee on Enhanced Business Reporting. In that role, Tom helped the team build out a point of view on which human resource activities and metrics tie to the greatest organizational impact and would be of most interest to the investor community.

Since then, Tom has conducted a meta-analysis of research studies examining the bottom line impact of HR programs and built out a POV on the key HR programs and metrics deemed to drive organizational performance. In addition, Tom has assisted organizations in defining HR metrics roles and functions within the overall HR Service Delivery Model. He has also partnered with clients in defining their Human Capital Balanced Scorecard.

Tom is a recognized expert on human capital metrics and presents to associations, businesses, and other organizations on the topic of defining the ROI of HR programs and establishing HR's role as a strategic partner and metrics-driven function.

Tom O'Rourke, President and CEO, Connolly Clarke, partnered with the University of Wisconsin School of Business Center for Professional and Executive Development to create a field guide for successful M&A in the financial services industry including leading practices, lessons learned and M&A toolkit.

Selected Presentations/Workshops

Tom O'Rourke, President and CEO of Connolly Clarke, LLC authors whitepaper on the Ten Factors for Evaluating Change Management Methodologies - a thought leadership perspective based on 20 years of leading change projects and designing change management methodologies and tool kits for global consulting firms (Oct. 2018).

Tom O'Rourke, President and CEO, Connolly Clarke, was selected as a Human Capital Subject Matter Expert to partner with the Transformational Productivity Initiative - a public-private partnership, assembled to provide leadership for Wisconsin’s manufacturers on the challenges they face in achieving productivity growth. Tom was a member of the inaugural 2017 Human Capital Factors Team and contributed to the development of a productivity diagnostic based on leading human capital practices.

Core Consulting Skills Certification Program Design

Points of View on Mergers & Acquisitions

Tom O'Rourke, President and CEO, Connolly Clarke, was selected as the consulting firm to conduct a joint study between the Association of Internal Management Consultants (AIMC) and the American Productivity and Quality Center (APQC) entitled The Current and Future HR Profession(al): Responsibilities, Activities, and Competencies.

The study indicated the need for an increasing level of internal consulting skills and competencies for the HR professional as well as the evolving areas of strategic planning, integrated change management, and strategic performance measurement.

HR Metrics and Shareholder Return

Research Study on the Current and Future HR Professional (AIMC and APQC)

Books (Business Ethics)

Tom O'Rourke, President and CEO, Connolly Clarke, was interviewed in Executive Travel magazine for his points of view on mergers and acquisitions and the effective use of meetings and strategic communication planning to facilitate successful merger integration.

Collins and O'Rourke. This book is designed as a supplemental text for training and readings in Business Ethics, Business & Society, or any area in which the user wishes to emphasize ethical coverage. The text uses the hypothetical multi-national corporation Big Mess, Inc. to offer a teaching methodology and model for analyzing ethical dilemmas in any business.

Assessing Effective Change Management Methodologies

Tom O'Rourke, President and CEO, Connolly Clarke, is a frequent speaker and guest lecturer at local/national conferences and universities including the International Quality and Productivity Center, FEI, M&A Dealmakers, Society of Human Resources Management, American Society for Training and Development, American Gas Association, Association of Legal Administrators, Canadian Nuclear Association, Foundation for Manufacturing Excellence, Manufacturing Matters, Cleveland State University HR Executive Series, Association of Internal Management Consultants, Talent Management Forum, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business, Northern Ohio CIO Roundtable, Edgewood College School of Accounting, and the Midmarket Energy Roundtable. Presentation topics include:

The Eight Competencies of Effective HR Business Partners
Building the Business Case for HR – Defining HR ROI
Effective Talent Management: The Future is Now
Becoming a Trusted Advisor
Leading Practices and Lessons Learned in Employee Retention
A Field Guide for the Talent Shortage: Strategies, Tactics, and Best Practices
Building Internal Consulting Capabilities
Avoiding the “Spray and Pray” Approach to Change Management
Retaining Employees During Critical Organizational Transitions
The Strategic Role of HR in Mergers and Acquisitions
Developing Performance Management Skills in Leaders
Succession Management: Do You Have the Leadership Capability and Talent for the Future?
Employee Retention Redux- What Lurks Behind the Economic Recovery?
M&A: The Path Forward and What Does It Look Like?