Engaged By Design helps colleges and universities design faster, align better, and innovate responsibly. Our AI-powered tools like the Course Design Accelerator (CDA) are guided by proven instructional design principles and agile processes from the MACRO Leadership framework.
The MACRO framework has helped leaders bring clarity, alignment, and momentum to complex challenges.
The author draws on real-life experiences to illustrate the challenges faced by middle managers and offers up practical solutions that can be implemented quickly."
With Engaged By Design, we accelerated our instructional design process and enhanced online program quality. Their team understands the unique needs of academic institutions.
This book is a welcome addition to the middle manager's toolbox. It not only provides practical tools that can be easily incorporated into a team setting, but also brings them into focus through the use of an engaging case study."
Trusted by Higher Ed Leaders
Hear from institutions and leaders who have advanced their learning design and strategy with Engaged By Design.
"Agile at first seemed off for higher ed—but it actually helped. The speed helped. The ovation helped.”
"This approach helps you build a stronger team – these are people now believing more in themselves."
"This book does a great job of not only describing the theory — but real world examples"
"It's not one-size fits all. It's pivotal. It molds and adapts to what we need right now."
Discover the MACRO model—Match, Assign, Coach, Reflect, Ovation—a transformative framework for middle managers in higher education. Packed with actionable strategies, this book empowers leaders to navigate challenges, drive impact, and lead with clarity and confidence.
"Whether you’re leading academic innovation, guiding faculty through change, or mentoring the next generation of leaders, this book offers a clear path forward."
– Shannon McCarty
When you hear the word MACRO you might think of a number of things. Maybe you think of a zoomed in view, as with a macro camera lens, providing a detailed view of things. You may think of a computer script that makes repetitive processes easier to execute. Or, you might think that macro is just the opposite of micro, big rather than small.
In all three senses, you have the gist of the word as I use it in the MACRO Leadership book. MACRO Leadership is a model that lets you see your highest priority work more clearly. It is a simple set of instructions you can follow, AND it is repairs the damage of micromanagement habits.
Embracing MACRO Leadership principles can enhance your ability to drive innovation, better serve students, and develop your team effectively. MACRO Leadership is a model that emphasizes accomplishing the big, important things in your institution.
"It utilities staff members strengths, builds new or enhances current skills, and provides leaders and staff members with productive strategies."
– Dr. Katherine O'Connor
Reach me at michael@engagedbydesign.com to explore questions related to how Engaged By Design and MACRO Leadership can help you in your innovation work.
MACRO Leadership presents a model for strategic innovation leadership in the higher education setting. It is especially written for those leading in the middle of the institution, where you lead up, down and across the organization. You make the strategic plan of the college come to life with your teams.
In these pages you will learn how to prioritize your work with your team, how to MATCH the right people to the right projects, how to ASSIGN projects effectively, how to COACH your people to success, how to REFLECT for learning and performance improvement, and how to give standing OVATIONS to your people. MACRO is the acronym that helps you to remember the importance of each of these leadership activities.
Hello! I'm Dr. Michael Cottam. I have led innovation in higher education since 1999 as a faculty member, instructional designer, department director, dean, and associate provost.
MACRO Leadership distills lessons I have learned while guiding strategic initiatives across several institutions, including community colleges, regional public universities, and private universities, from West to East across the US.
MACRO Leadership is available now in paperback and ebook format on Amazon.
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Dr. Michael Cottam has been leading in higher education since 1999. He has experience leading in community colleges, multi-campus institutions, hybrid and fully online learning, and in leading creative teams remotely.
"MACRO Leadership distills lessons I have learned while guiding strategic initiatives across several institutions, striving to expand access, improve quality, and lower costs."
Start working through the concepts of MACRO today by purchasing your copy through Amazon.