Forensic Laboratory Management ― Applying Business Principles

Laboratory managers are often promoted from casework duties into management, requiring preparation for a whole new set of leadership responsibilities. This book discusses well-established business tools for increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of management decision-making. It includes key chapters with case studies simulating a working laboratory in which readers can apply business tools with actual data that reinforce discussion concepts. Each chapter includes a brief review of current literature of the best management theories and practice. The book includes access to a web portal with laboratory performance data and benchmarks for best practices.

W. Mark Dale is co-principal of Becker–Dale Consulting and most recently the former program manager for Forensic Education and Training at the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory (USACIL). Previously, Dale was the director of the Northeast Regional Forensics Institute (NERFI) at the University at Albany, State University of New York, providing education primarily in forensics biology. Before his position at NERFI, he was the director (inspector in charge) of the New York State Police Laboratory System, Washington State Laboratory System, and the New York City Police Department Laboratory. Dale has also been the president of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (emeritus member), chairman of the New York State Crime Laboratory Advisory Committee, and member of the New York State Commission on Forensic Science. Dale is also an ASCLD/LAB Legacy and International ISO/IEC 17025 trained auditor, ASQ Green Belt Six Sigma certified, and has participated in many ASCLD/LAB Legacy inspections. Dale has coauthored several forensic science management publications with Dr. Wendy Becker.

Wendy S. Becker is assistant to the associate provost and graduate dean and professor of management at Shippensburg University. She teaches in undergraduate, master’s, Ph.D., and executive programs in the United States, Austria, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Becker received the 2011 Research Excellence Award from the Academy of Human Resource Development. Her research appears in Organizational Research Methods, Academy of Management Learning and Education, Organizational Dynamics, People and Strategy, Research in Organizational Behavior, Human Resource Development Review, Organization Management Journal, Team Performance Management, and Personnel Psychology, among others. Becker earned her Ph.D. in industrial-organizational psychology from Pennsylvania State University. Previously, she was editor of the Industrial-Organizational Psychologist.