There's Got to Be a Better Way
How to Deliver Results and Get Rid of the Stuff That Gets in the Way of Real Work
By Nelson P. Repenning, PhD, and Donald C. Kieffer
October 27th, 2025
6:00 - 7:30 PM EST
The book will be available for purchase at the event from the MIT Press Bookstore.
Attend virtually or in-person at MIT Building E62-262 in Cambridge, MA.
Registration is Free.
ABOUT
EVIDENCE- BASED. ACTION-DRIVEN. RESULTS-PROVEN.
Where Rigorous Thinking Meets Real Outcomes
In an age of rapid innovation and constant change, leaders are flooded with conversations about artificial intelligence, automation, and the next wave of digital tools. Yet real performance breakthroughs often come not from the latest technology, but from a shift in how we think about work itself. Even with the best tools in hand, organizations frequently stumble — bogged down by bureaucracy, firefighting, and “busy work” that drain time and energy without producing real results.
There’s Got to Be a Better Way: How to Deliver Results and Get Rid of the Stuff That Gets in the Way of Real Work, by Dr. Nelson P. Repenning and Donald C. Kieffer, tackles this problem head-on. Rather than chasing quick fixes, the authors show how leaders can redesign work systems to unlock human potential, cut through organizational clutter, and focus on what truly drives value. Through their approach, called Dynamic Work Design, they provide practical principles that apply across industries — from healthcare to energy, biotech to social services — proving that better results start not with tools, but with how people and processes come together.
Backed by more than 30 years of studying organizations, Nelson P. Repenning—an MIT PhD, School of Management Distinguished Professor of System Dynamics and Organization Studies, and Faculty Director of the MIT Leadership Center at the MIT Sloan School of Management—and Donald C. Kieffer, Senior Lecturer in Operations Management and co-creator of Dynamic Work Design, bring deep expertise in organizational design, system dynamics, and systems thinking.
This is not ivory-tower theory—it’s a practical approach that works across industries. Rooted in applied learning, tested in real organizations, and proven to deliver measurable results, the book shows leaders how to design work differently and implement changes that actually stick.
Nelson P. Repenning, PhD.
Faculty Director of the MIT Leadership Center and the School of Management Distinguished Professor of System Dynamics and Organization Studies at the MIT Sloan School of Management
Nelson's work is renowned in his field and beyond for translating rigorous system dynamics into practical management practice—an approach that consistently leaves students and executive participants from all industries fundamentally rethinking how they frame and solve. problems.
Donald Kieffer
Senior Lecturer in Operations Management at MIT Sloan
Don is a career operations executive and co-creator of Dynamic Work Design. He served 15 years at Harley-Davidson, culminating as VP of Operational Excellence, and since 2007 has advised executive teams worldwide on strategy deployment, product development, and operational improvement. His client work spans diverse sectors, including oil and gas, medical and biomedical, and banking.
EVENT FEATURES
There’s Got to Be a Better Way: Lessons in Dynamic Work Design Across Industries
Exploring case studies from biotech, healthcare, energy, social services, and hospitality.
Organizations worldwide are seeking more effective ways to deliver results in the face of complexity, rapid change, and mounting pressure. This workshop draws on the book “There’s Got to Be a Better Way,” showing how its framework of Dynamic Work Design helps cut through inefficiency, eliminate “busy work,” and focus on what truly matters. Participants will learn not only the principles behind this approach, but also how it has been applied in real-world settings.
Through case studies and cross-industry lessons, the session will highlight what happens when organizations rethink the design of their work systems. These stories reveal how practical changes — not just new technologies — unlock performance, innovation, and resilience.
Industries Featured in the Case Studies:
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Biotech (research labs and scientific discovery)
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Healthcare (hospitals and patient care systems)
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Energy (oil refineries and complex operations)
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Social Services (homeless shelters and community programs)
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Hospitality (casinos and customer-facing environments)
Learning Objective
Applicable in all industries, learn practical tools to spot and reduce organizational clutter, plus a clear, human-centered framework for shifting away from technology-first fixes toward better system design. Drawing on cross-industry inspiration—from biotech and healthcare to energy, social services, and hospitality—you’ll see why effective work design is universal. Most importantly, you’ll gain a step-by-step roadmap you can bring back to your team to translate these ideas into measurable results.
SUPPORTERS
THE VENUE
This is a hybrid event.
Attend virtually or in-person at MIT E62-262.
The Event Schedule
6:05 – 6:10 pm EST: Introduction
6:10 – 7:10 pm EST: Presentation
7:10 – 7:25 pm EST: Q&A
7:25 – 7:30 pm EST: Closing Remarks & Announcements