New research explores human-centered, smart succession frameworks at Athabasca University.

This weekend, researchers, faculty, and graduate students are gathering in Athabasca, Alberta—and connecting virtually from across the country—for Athabasca University’s 2026 Graduate Student Research Conference. Centered on the theme Together in Research, the conference offers a vibrant space to explore how collaborative inquiry drives real-world continuity, organizational resilience, and systemic change.

We are thrilled to see Elyssa Stump and Stephanie Buxton, presenting our latest work on succession planning in complex systems.

Central to this year’s presentation is a challenge facing modern organizations: how to preserve institutional knowledge and navigate major transitions without losing momentum or sacrificing wellbeing. Traditional succession planning often relies on static role replacements, leaving teams vulnerable to information silos, burnout, and critical continuity gaps.

This new project transforms that dynamic by viewing succession planning through the lens of instructional design and “cognification”—making organizational systems ethically and systematically smarter. In replacing static handoffs with visual, interactive mapping interventions, the framework brings hidden dependencies, knowledge flows, and learning needs into clear view.

We look forward to seeing this program develop over the coming months and encourage anyone interested in learning more or collaborating to reach out and connect!

Special thanks go out to Athabasca University, the Athabasca Graduate Students’ Association and the Faculty of Graduate Studies for organizing and hosting such an engaging event. The environment is welcoming and the presentations are generating a lot of valuable questions and insights. We know the great work being presented this year will resonate for years to come. Thanks for making everyone feel so welcome!

At this year's Together in Research conference hosted by Athabasca University, Elyssa and Stephanie are highlighting how Cognified Succession Planning transforms institutional knowledge transfer. The framework maps dynamic team relationships, responsibilities, and learning needs through visual, digitally supported interventions. By aligning instructional design with human-centered governance, this method prevents knowledge loss, reduces employee burnout, and secures continuity across complex systems. Artwork by Elyssa Teslyk and Stephanie Buxton.
At this year’s Together in Research conference hosted by Athabasca University, Elyssa and Stephanie are highlighting how Cognified Succession Planning transforms institutional knowledge transfer. The framework maps dynamic team relationships, responsibilities, and learning needs through visual, digitally supported interventions. By aligning instructional design with human-centered governance, this method prevents knowledge loss, reduces employee burnout, and secures continuity across complex systems. Artwork by Elyssa Stump and Stephanie Buxton.