phd organizational theory

Tepper School of Business

Ph.D. Program in Organizational Behavior and Theory

Interdisciplinary approach & methodological rigor.

Understanding human behavior in organizations and solving problems requires the integration of a variety of social science and related disciplines. A distinguishing feature of the Tepper School's OBT Ph.D. program is the broad interdisciplinary training it provides across an array of areas (e.g., psychology, sociology, economics, strategy, and computer and data science). Not only do OBT doctoral students interact with other students and faculty within the Tepper School of Business, through cross-registration in courses and participation in colloquia, OBT doctoral students also have opportunities to interact with students and faculty in departments such as Engineering and Public Policy, Human-Computer Interaction, Social and Decision Sciences, Psychology and a variety of departments at the University of Pittsburgh. A cornerstone of the OBT Ph.D. program is its methodological training and rigor. From computer science courses in machine learning and AI to courses in advanced statistical methods, students develop a deep understanding of analytical methods and tools.

Collaborative Culture

A small number of students are accepted into the group each year, with a total of about 10 OBT doctoral students in residence. Student-faculty relationships are close, which permits the tailoring of the program of study to fit the background and career goals of the individual.

Course of Study

Our program emphasizes preparation for careers in scholarly research, and graduates of the program usually pursue careers in academic or research institutions. During their course of study, students have the opportunity to engage with faculty in doctoral seminars and joint research, meet with visiting scholars, and interact with other faculty and students across campus. We prepare our graduates to be competitive on the academic job market by getting them involved in research from Day 1.  Program requirements include the successful completion of two research-based papers in the first and second years of the program, qualifying exams, a “minor” area requirement and a doctoral dissertation.  

Research Specializations

Diversity, inclusion, and human capital.

Diversity is at the core of many important organizational problems and many of our OBT faculty make important contributions to the growing knowledge base on diversity and its impact on individual, group, and organizational outcomes.

FACULTY RESEARCH INTERESTS

• Rosalind Chow: gender and promotion processes
• Oliver Hahl: gender, race, and cultural capital effects on supply and demand for human capital in markets (i.e., hiring and career outcomes)
• Denise Rousseau: the employment relationship, evidence-based management
• Catherine Shea: gender issues in management, advice seeking, interpersonal dynamics
• Laurie Weingart: gender and non-promotable tasks in the workplace, gender and negotiation, interdisciplinary teams
• Anita Williams Woolley: gender diversity, cognitive diversity and team collective intelligence

Ethics and Justice

Unethical and unjust behaviors are costly to organizations and society. The OBT group in the Tepper School has three members with expertise in the areas of business ethics and social justice (Aven, Chow, and Cohen). The Tepper School is also home to ethics scholar Tae Wan Kim, whose research takes philosophical perspectives on business ethics.

• Brandy Aven: relational attributes of fraud and corruption
• Rosalind Chow: perceptions of and responses to social inequality
• Taya Cohen: interpersonal misconduct, workplace deviance, moral character, guilt, shame, trust and trustworthiness
• Tae Wan Kim: artificial Intelligence ethics, future of work, business ethics

Groups and Teams

The OBT group in the Tepper School houses three scholars who are leaders in the areas of groups and teams (Argote, Weingart, and Woolley) and others whose work is directly relevant (Aven, Chow, Cohen, and Hahl). The Tepper School and Carnegie Mellon more broadly host several other faculty who work in this area (Carley, Kiesler, and Krackhardt). We regularly graduate students who conduct research on groups and teams.

• Linda Argote: learning, transactive memory and knowledge transfer within and between groups
• Brandy Aven: networked teams
• Rosalind Chow: power and status within/between groups, impacts of diversity on group functioning and performance
• Taya Cohen: cooperation and conflict within and between groups, pathways to status and leadership in groups
• Oliver Hahl: perceptions of status, authenticity and identity within/between groups
• Laurie Weingart: conflict in teams, multiparty negotiation, negotiation and group dynamics
• Anita Woolley: collective intelligence, team strategic orientation, team performance

Knowledge Transfer and Learning in a Technologically-Driven World

The OBT group in the Tepper School includes scholars whose work has been foundational to the field of organizational learning (Argote) and includes four other scholars who are substantially engaged in the growing body of work on knowledge transfer and learning (Aven, Hahl, Lee, and Woolley). Reflecting the Tepper School's focus on the intersection of business and technology, faculty research involves responses to rapid change, coordination of work distributed across time and place, organizational learning. Our work also connects to scholars working in related areas in Information Systems (Mukhopadhyay and Singh) and Economics (Epple) at the Tepper School, as well as researchers at Heinz (Krishnan), Engineering (Fuchs), and Computer Science (Carley, Dabbish, and Rose) at Carnegie Mellon, also conduct research relevant to learning.

• Linda Argote: transactive memory systems, knowledge transfer, organizational learning, the effects of technology on learning and knowledge transfer
• Brandy Aven: transactive memory systems, the effects of technology on networked systems for learning and knowledge transfer
• Oliver Hahl: learning and knowledge transfer, effect on firm performance
• Sunkee Lee: organizational learning, effect of the spatial design of workplaces and incentive systems on organizational learning, knowledge transfer, exploration vs. exploitation, learning from own and others’ experiences
• Anita Woolley: learning and collective intelligence in groups and organizations, increasing collective intelligence in human-computer systems

Networks and Organizations

Research on the formation and consequences of social networks in organizations and markets have become central to our understanding of how organizations and markets work. The OBT group in the Tepper School hosts four scholars who work on important areas related to the role of social networks in organizations (Argote, Aven, Hahl, and Shea). Researchers at Heinz (Krackhardt) and Computer Science (Carley) at Carnegie Mellon, also conduct research in areas that inform our knowledge of social networks as well as the methodologies employed to distinguish their antecedents and effects.

• Linda Argote: learning and knowledge transfer through social networks
• Brandy Aven: formation of social networks, persistence (or not) of social networks, learning and deviance within social networks, knowledge sharing in social networks
• Oliver Hahl: identity in social networks, perceptions of brokers in networks, organizational networks and individual performance
• David Krackhardt: social network analysis theories and methods, informal organizations
• Catherine Shea: social network cognition, network formation, experimental methods in social networks

Entrepreneurial and Organizational Strategy

The “Carnegie School” has long influenced research on strategy, particularly by looking at the microfoundations of strategic selection, implementation, and performance. The OBT group in the Tepper School hosts four scholars who work on important areas in firm strategy (Argote, Aven, Hahl, and Lee) that all tie back to the Carnegie School’s foundations in the Behavioral Theory of the Firm . Additionally, scholars in Economics and Marketing (Miller, Epple and Derdenger) at the Tepper School and in the Engineering and Public Policy school at Carnegie Mellon (Fuchs and Armanios) also collaborate in research with Tepper faculty and students research in areas that inform organizational theory, entrepreneurial strategy, firm strategy selection and implementation, and firm performance.

• Linda Argote: organizational learning and capability development, micro foundations of strategy and firm performance, behavioral theories of strategy
• Brandy Aven: entrepreneurial strategies, entrepreneurial teams, behavioral theories of entrepreneurship and strategy
• Oliver Hahl: identity-based strategies, categories, diversification, status and authenticity in markets, human capital management and firm performance, microfoundations of strategy and firm performance, behavioral theories of strategy
• Sunkee Lee: organization design, exploration/exploitation, incentives, spatial design, response to performance feedback, firm acquisition behavior and performance, microfoundations of strategy and firm performance, behavioral theories of strategy

P lease visit our Ph.D. Student Profiles page t o view the profiles of our current doctoral candidates.

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• Ph.D. in Organization Studies

Ph.D. in Organization Studies

Designed to prepare students for academic careers, the Ph.D. Program in Organization Studies at Boston College is recognized worldwide for its rigorous curriculum and exceptional faculty who are leaders in their fields.

The program emphasizes a strong foundation in organizational theory, research methods, and statistics. Students begin the program with a set of complementary courses in micro- and macro-organizational theory, qualitative and quantitative research methods, statistics, and teaching skills. In the third year, students complete a major empirical research project and teach a course of their own.

Throughout the Ph.D. program, students pursue research on their own and in collaboration with faculty. All students are encouraged to deliver papers at national and international professional conferences, as well as to submit articles for publication in top-tier research journals. Our graduates emerge as creative, independent scholars who can craft and pursue their own research agendas.

• Academic Program
• Class Profile

Ph.D. students take a total of 15 courses during the program that includes both 7- and 14-week courses. All students begin the organization studies program with a set of foundational courses in organizational behavior and organizational theory, qualitative and quantitative research methods, statistics, research, and teaching skills.

Comprehensive Examination

The comprehensive examination is given at the end of the second year. To pass the exam, students must demonstrate a substantial knowledge of theory and methods involved in the study of organizational behavior and theory.

Research Project and Dissertation

By the end of the third year, students complete a research paper demonstrating the ability to conduct innovative research in organizational studies. The culmination of the program is the dissertation: a substantial, significant, and original contribution to the body of knowledge in organizational studies that is prepared under the guidance of a dissertation committee of three faculty members.

Research and Teaching Assistantship Requirement

Doctoral students at the Carroll School are expected to serve as research assistants, teaching assistants, and/or instructors throughout their studies. Students work for a set number of hours per week, throughout the duration of their Ph.D. programs. In exchange, the Carroll School provides financial support for doctoral students in the form of a stipend and tuition remission.

Sample Schedule

*Refers to courses typically taught in 7 weeks.

Electives may be taken from other departments and universities, subject to approval.

Note: The following information reflects data for the entering classes of 2019–2023. Updated September 25, 2023.

Academic & Professional Profile

Demographics, meet our students.

Learn more about current Ph.D. in Organization Studies candidates. 

Where do our graduates work?

Babson College

Boston University

EDHEC Business School (France)

Harvard University

IESE Business School (Spain)

Kookmin University (South Korea)

Loyola University New Orleans

New York University

Northeastern University

United States Coast Guard Academy

University of Kentucky

University of Maryland

University of Massachusetts Amherst

University of Massachusetts Boston

University of Michigan

University of Western Ontario (Canada)

University of Virginia

Western Michigan University

Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania 

Yonsei University (South Korea)  

Management & Organization Faculty

Ph.d. admission faq, application link & deadlines.

Application Deadline:  The deadline to apply for Fall 2024 is January 9, 2024.

Application Fee: All applicants are required to pay a nonrefundable application fee of $100 USD.

Interviews: If selected, applicants will be invited to interview in early spring.

Admission Decisions: Applications are generally reviewed after the final deadline has passed. There is no specific decision notification date for Ph.D. programs. Final decisions are typically available by mid-spring.

CV and Resume

Your current curriculum vitae should include your education, research, and professional information.

We also require  a separate Employment History, using the form provided within the online application.

Recommendations

Recommendations from two individuals who can provide an objective appraisal of your capacity for intensive graduate study and potential for professional success.

Transcripts

All applicants must possess a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. You must submit transcripts from every institution where you were enrolled in a degree-granting program. At the time of application, only a self-reported transcript is required but if you are admitted, we will require an official transcript sent directly from your degree-granting institution. Transcripts should include:

Course names

All grades received (including transfer credits and study abroad programs)

Cumulative GPA

Degree conferral information

Graduates of non-U.S. institutions must possess a college or university degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree. If admitted, international students are required to submit an official English translation of all academic credentials, along with a third-party degree verification from an agency such as  SpanTran or  World Education Services (WES) .

GMAT or GRE Scores

Applicants must submit GMAT or GRE scores from within the past five years. We accept both the GMAT Exam and GMAT Focus Edition. Our test codes are:

• GMAT school code: 44x-J5-96
• GRE school code: 3033

While Graduate Admissions does not have a preference between the GMAT or GRE, we encourage you to consult class profile data for average test scores in order to gauge where you stand.

English Proficiency

If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you are required to submit an English language proficiency exam score with your application. We accept TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores. We do not accept the Duolingo English Test.

Scores must be from within the past two years, and applicants must meet the following minimum scores:

TOEFL, iBT, and TOEFL iBT Home Edition: 100

You are eligible to waive the language test requirement if you meet either of the following criteria:

You have completed a four-year bachelor’s degree or a two-year master’s degree (or higher) at an institution where the medium language of instruction is English. You must have completed your degree in its entirety at the English-medium institution. The medium language of instruction must be indicated on your transcript or verified in an official letter from the institution.

You have worked in a full-time, post-degree position for at least two years in the United States or a country where English is an official language. NOTE: Working for a company that conducts its business in English in a country where English is not an official language will not qualify you for a language test waiver.

If you are eligible to waive the language test requirement, you do not need to submit a waiver request beforehand and can simply move forward with your application.

Required & Optional Essays

Applicants must submit a required essay discussing their research interests and career objectives. You may also submit an optional essay that addresses aspects of your candidacy that have not already been covered in other parts of the application.

If you have any further questions, please email us at bcmba@bc.edu , or schedule a phone call or Zoom appointment with a member of the Graduate Admission team.

Quick Links

Graduate admission faq, why the carroll school, diversity & inclusion, facts & figures.

Organization & Management

One degree many paths, organization & management curriculum timeline, faculty research and published work.

The Organization & Management faculty study a wide range of topics, from micro-level individual perceptions and capabilities to more macro-level phenomena such as the strategies and performance of organizations, industries, and institutions. To do so, they utilize a wide array of research techniques, including experiments, longitudinal event history analysis, computer simulations, surveys, and more.

The Organization & Management group seeks to train future scholars who wish to make an impact on research in the science of organizations through an academic appointment. Applicants to our program should articulate their research interests and should specify whether they wish to work primarily with the macro-oriented or micro-oriented research faculty. On the macro side, faculty who are currently active in advising students include Kocak , Longhofer , Negro , and Swaminathan . On the micro side, faculty who are currently active in advising students include Bianchi , Dittmann , Fernandes , Hall , Perry-Smith , and Williams .

The Organization & Management faculty publish in leading journals in management as well as the reference disciplines of sociology, psychology, and economics. Our scholars have a history of visible roles in professional associations and on the editorial boards of leading journals, including: American Journal of Sociology , Academy of Management Journal , Academy of Management Review , American Sociological Review , Administrative Science Quarterly , Journal of Applied Psychology , J ournal of Experimental Social Psychology , Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , Organization Science , Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes , Psychological Science , Social Forces , and Strategic Management Journal .

Organization & Management Faculty

Emily Bianchi

Andrea Dittmann

Catarina Fernandes

Erika V. Hall

Robert Kazanjian

Özgecan Koçak

Wesley Longhofer

Giacomo Negro

Jill Perry-Smith

Peter Roberts

Anand Swaminathan

L.G. Thomas

Melissa Williams

Organization & management phd students.

Ashlyee Freeman

Sara Kaplan

Sharvika Kherde

Arielle Lewis

Joseph Nixon

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Organization Studies

Organization Studies is a multidisciplinary activity that brings together the concepts and research methodology of social psychology, sociology, anthropology, and other social sciences. The Organization Studies research group focuses on interactions across individuals, groups, organizations, and institutions, as well as organizational processes themselves.

Specific areas of inquiry include:

People in organizations

Individual and organizational information processing

Decision making and its relationship to achieving personal, professional, and organizational goals

The impact of technology on organizational processes and its transfer across organizational and national boundaries

Relationships between organizational structure and performance

Analysis of group composition and communications patterns within and among groups in relation to group effectiveness and innovation

Collaboration across boundaries

Study of organizational environment relationships

The impact of changing demography and family patterns in the U.S. workforce on organizational processes

Organization Studies Faculty 

More Information

Organization Studies Graduates 

Example Thesis Topics 

Academic Catalog

Doctor of philosophy (ph.d.) in organization development.

College: Daniel L. Goodwin College of Business Department: Business Student Type: Doctorate Semester Degree: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Campus: Lisle Campus

Introduction

The doctoral program in Organization Development (OD) is an outgrowth of the master’s level program at Benedictine University which was one of the first graduate Organizational Behavior programs in the country. It focuses on the importance of leadership and management of change to better understand how to address global trends and emerging problems. It prepares advanced professionals with state-of-the-art doctoral education and is a rigorous, Higher Learning Commission accredited doctoral program. The program offers a unique combination of research, theory, practice, and action-based learning to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to lead strategically within organizations and at the intersection of business and society.

The coursework is designed for organization development professionals who perceive the management of change and the creation of high-performance organizations as central parts of their careers. The program is designed to be completed in three years as a full-time program integrated with and complementary to full-time work activities. It is tailored to meet the exacting standards and demanding schedules of senior leaders who work full-time. To accommodate those who commute from long distances both nationally and internationally, classes are held on weekends. Benedictine University is about a 30-minute drive from Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports. The first two years of the Ph.D. in Organization Development program curriculum is devoted to coursework.

The first year courses concentrate on setting the tone and developing sensitivity to the role of organization development and leadership within the applied behavioral sciences. Coursework topics focus on the empirical research that helps us understand behavior at all levels – self, interpersonal, teams, organizations, inter-organizational, and society. Heavy emphasis is placed on the philosophy of science, the development of research skills,and organization research and theory.

At the end of the first-year students must choose a concentration in either of two areas: (1) Organization Change or (2) Values-Driven Leadership. Each concentration involves five courses that provide further in-depth study of OD or Values-Driven Leadership.

Organizational Change Concentration:

This concentration places organization development within management and the strategic role of human resources. The curriculum is devoted to the development of a core of organization development competencies and selected, advanced topics courses covering state-of-the-art interventions. Organizational theory and research comprise much of the concentrations coursework.

Values-Driven Leadership Concentration:

This concentration focuses on values-driven leadership –the theory and practice of leading profitable, sustainable, and responsible companies in today’s global economy. The concentration equips students to become thought-leaders who inform business and society by leading at four levels: personal, interpersonal, organizational and global.

Rounding out the second year of coursework for both concentrations are classes in qualitative and quantitative research methods that are offered to assist students in preparing their dissertation research and proposals.

During the third-year students work with OD faculty and their dissertation committees to tailor their research and writing to help advance the student’s career and individual goals. This results in a defended dissertation based on original research. Additionally, students receive credit for an international experience by attending an international academic conference or other international experience with a faculty member

The Ph.D. in Organization Development program prepares management professionals, academics, and executives with state-of-the-art education. Built on a 50-year history of successful graduate-level OD education, this program is intended for those persons with extensive experience, who currently hold responsible positions either in the field of organization development or human resource management, or have executive leadership experience. It is a three-year program, consisting of a first year of context courses, a second year covering some core OD knowledge or Values Driven Leadership topics and a third year consisting of an international experience and the completion of a dissertation. The doctoral degree in Organization Development at Benedictine University was one of the first graduate OD programs in the country. The Ph.D in Values-Driven Leadership was the first scholar-practitioner program in the world focusing explicitly on values-driven leadership.

Semester Curriculum

If the required dissertation was not completed by the end of third year of the program, students will continue to enroll in MNGT 8201 Dissertation Continuation (6 credits) each subsequent semester until the dissertation is completed to remain active in the program.

Dissertation:

While the program is a three-year initiative, the dissertation is designed to be integrated throughout all years of study. Students are encouraged to begin reviewing dissertation possibilities upon being accepted into the program and to continue to explore and develop dissertation topics throughout their coursework. Students are encouraged to select topics consistent with the major research themes within the program. It is expected that research topics be selected during the first year as part of the initial research course. During the second year, it would be expected that papers be presented at local or regional professional meetings as part of the learning and feedback process. In the final year of the program, during completion of the dissertation, students would be expected to present their work at national meetings and submit papers for publication. 

Quarter Curriculum

Students may not enter the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program on quarters as of the Summer 2022 term.  

Existing students should refer to original catalog of entry for appropriate academic requirements.

Students in the  Ph.D. in Organization Development will achieve the following student learning outcomes (SLO):

Student Learning Outcome 1:  Foundational Knowledge:  Understand and apply core knowledge in the field of OD from the frame of a scholar-practitioner, including history, emerging concepts and theories, current and projected global trends and problems, and application through practice.  

Student Learning Outcome 2:  Research Methods and Analysis: Understand and apply appropriate research methods in the field of Organization Development.

Student Learning Outcome 3:  OD in a Global Setting:  Describe and understand major global environmental trends, including economic, demographic, political, legislative, influencing organizational effectiveness and the role of organizational development.

Student Learning Outcome 4:  Scholarly Contributions to the Field: Demonstrated command of both theory and practice in the field of organizational development. 

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In the field of organizational behavior we research fundamental questions about the behavior of individuals, groups and organizations, from both psychological and sociological perspectives.

A distinguishing feature of Stanford’s PhD Program in organizational behavior is the broad interdisciplinary training it provides. Our students benefit from their interactions with scholars from many disciplines within the Graduate School of Business, as well as from Stanford University’s long-standing strength in the study of psychology, organizations, and economic sociology.  The program is broken down into two broad subareas: Macro Organizational Behavior and Micro Organizational Behavior .

Cross-registration in courses, access to faculty, and participation in colloquia are available in other Stanford departments, such as sociology and psychology . Strong relations with these departments mean that students can build their careers on the foundation of strong disciplinary training in psychology and sociology, respectively.

A small number of students are accepted into the program each year, with a total of about 20 organizational behavior students in residence.

The doctoral program places a heavy emphasis on training students through active engagement in the process of doing research. In addition to formal seminars with invited presenters, our faculty and students exchange research ideas and advice at informal weekly lunches and lab meetings. Students work as research assistants and are expected to conduct independent research early in the program. 

Macro Organizational Behavior: Organizational Theory and Economic Sociology

The Macro OB track is dedicated to training students who will be leading researchers in the fields of organizational theory and economic sociology. Our faculty members are among the foremost scholars who bring a sociological approach to the study of organizations and markets.

The training provides a deep grounding in the study of:

• Organizations as social systems
• The dynamics of change in organizations
• Industries and markets
• The relationships between organizations and their environments

Faculty study a range of topics, such as:

• The role of identity and categories in organizational processes
• Organizational culture and its dynamics
• Change in cultural categories and markets
• Social movements and their influence on firms and markets
• Firm strategies and the effects of long-run histories of strategic interaction
• The impact of workforce demographic change and labor market inequality
• Organizational learning processes
• Social networks
• Entrepreneurship and firm formation processes

Micro Organizational Behavior

The study of how individuals and groups affect and are affected by organizational context. Drawing primarily on psychological approaches to social science questions, this area includes such topics as:

• Decision-making
• Moral judgment
• Social norms
• Negotiation and bargaining
• Cooperation and altruism
• Group processes
• Stereotyping and injustice
• Personality
• Power, status and influence

There is also a formal institutional link between the behavioral side of marketing and the micro side of organizational behavior, which is called the Behavioral Interest Group. The Stanford GSB Behavioral Lab links members of this group. This lab supports work across field boundaries among those with behavioral interests.

Preparation and Qualifications

All students are required to have, or to obtain during their first year, mathematical skills at the level of one course each of calculus and linear algebra, probability, and mathematical statistics.

Macro Organizational Behavior Faculty

William p. barnett, robert a. burgelman, glenn r. carroll, julien clement, amir goldberg, helena miton, hayagreeva rao, sarah a. soule, jesper b. sørensen, micro organizational behavior faculty, justin m. berg, jennifer eberhardt, francis j. flynn, michele j. gelfand, deborah h. gruenfeld, michal kosinski, brian s. lowery, ashley martin, david melnikoff, dale t. miller, benoît monin, charles a. o’reilly, jeffrey pfeffer, emeriti faculty, michael t. hannan, roderick m. kramer, joanne martin, margaret ann neale, jerry i. porras, recent publications in organizational behavior, social norm change: drivers and consequences, bayesianism and wishful thinking are compatible, changes in social norms during the early stages of the covid-19 pandemic across 43 countries, recent insights by stanford business, to discover breakthrough ideas, look to the outsiders, so crazy, it might just work: how foolishness feeds innovation, how to get beyond talk of “culture change” and make it happen.

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The Organisatio…

The Organisational Theory and Information Systems PhD pathway

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The study of organisations and grand challenges in the digital global business landscape requires a multidisciplinary perspective. For this reason, the Organisational Theory and Information Systems (OTIS) PhD pathway brings together scholars from organisation theory and information systems to investigate both emerging and long-standing issues faced by individuals and organisations concerning institutional and organisational change, as well as digital innovation and work practices.

The breadth of interests pursued by our OTIS faculty and students creates a vibrant research environment has fuelled our strong international reputation for qualitative research whilst being supportive of a wide range of methods.

Professor Jennifer Howard-Grenville talks about the Organisational Theory and Information Systems pathway.

Hello. I’m Professor Jennifer Howard-Grenville, and I’m a member of the Organisation Theory and Information Systems subject group, and the lead for this pathway on our PhD programme. A PhD in the Organisation theory and information systems or OTIS Pathway at the Cambridge Judge Business School will lead you to an exciting and impactful academic career.

Our faculty and PhD students have a worldwide reputation as leading scholars who use primarily qualitative methods to explore important questions related to organising in general, as well as organising in relation to digital technologies.

We studied diverse topics and contribute to a range of academic and theoretical conversations, including those on institutional and organisational change, social innovation, digital innovation, and social and environmental issues.

What unites us are several common elements. The first is a deep intellectual curiosity, which means we draw from and contribute to various theories from within and beyond Organisation studies. The second is a passion to shed light on the organising practises and their consequences in settings that really matter.

Often, these relate to societal grand challenges, such as those around social or environmental issues, whether they occur in communities or much broader scales. And finally, our commitment to methods that enable us to get up close to the phenomena we study, which include ethnographic methods, in-depth interviewing, and other qualitative data collection techniques.

As a PhD student in the OTIS pathway, like all CJBS PhD students, you would enjoy a close and collaborative relationship with the faculty members. We publish regularly in our top academic journals, as well as other outlets. And many of us serve, or have served, as Associate or Senior Editors, or on the editorial review boards of our top journals.

This means we can effectively mentor our students to learn the craft of academic publication and navigate this process. If you’d like to learn more about how you can join us as a PhD student, please look at our information about the key entry modes, either through our MPhil on Innovation, Strategy and Organisation, or through the Master of Research or MRes programme.

As well, read below for some of the types of questions you might explore as a member of our group and for further information about what sets us apart. Finally, be sure to check out our faculty web pages for what we’re currently studying, and please get in touch if we can help with your questions.

View video with transcript

The pathway

To start on the OTIS pathway you must take one of the following 9-month masters programmes:

Essential reading

Download detailed information about the 9-month + 4-year programme structure and content.

The OTIS PhD pathway

• Research areas What we expect from you What you can expect from us PhD supervisors
• What we expect from you Research areas What you can expect from us PhD supervisors
• What you can expect from us Research areas What we expect from you PhD supervisors
• PhD supervisors Research areas What we expect from you What you can expect from us

Research areas

Our world-renowned faculty and PhD students study diverse issues and contribute to a range of academic and theoretical conversations, including those on institutional and organisational change, social innovation, digital innovation, and social and environmental issues. 

Elements that unite our researchers

• A deep intellectual curiosity, which means we draw from and contribute to various theories from within and beyond organisation studies.
• A passion to shed light on organising practises and their consequences in settings that matter – often these relate to societal grand challenges, such as those around social and environmental issues.
• The use of primarily qualitative methods to explore important questions related to organising in general, as well as organising in relation to digital technologies.
• A commitment to methods that enable us to get up close to the phenomena we study – including ethnographic methods, in-depth interviewing, and other qualitative data collection techniques.

Representative questions that are of interest to OTIS PhD pathway students and faculty

• How do individuals effectively advance innovation in their organisation and sector? What roles do organisational culture, identity and creativity play in managing change and innovation?
• How do new institutional fields and markets emerge? How does social change come about? What is the role of hybrid organisations and social innovation in these processes?
• How is digital innovation shaping the evolution of organisations and industries?
• How can we theorise the relationship between digital technologies, people and organisational practices?
• What roles do partnership and collaboration play in sustainable global business development?
• What role do organisations play in addressing the fundamental global social challenges of poverty, climate change, health inequalities and chronic disease?
• How, when and why are new ventures created? And how can they be a force for social good as well as economic value generation?

What we expect from you

You are intellectually curious and have a passion for developing new ideas and knowledge that will enable you to make your mark on both the academic field and wider society. You want to develop a rewarding academic career in a business school, and you have a strong desire to engage with external organisations as well. 

You will need to have a first class bachelors degree or equivalent. In some cases you will need to have a masters degree from a highly regarded university and to have performed within the top 5% of your class. Please see the MPhil in Innovation, Strategy and Organisation or Master of Research (MRes) academic requirements for more details. Our students have first degrees in areas such as business, management, economics, humanities, psychology, philosophy and sociology. You will be able to provide evidence of excellent writing skills and quantitative ability. A degree of practical management experience is welcome but not essential.

For more details, please see the academic requirements for the:

What you can expect from us

There are several distinguishing features that make the OTIS PhD pathway at Cambridge Judge Business School unique. This pathway has been designed to prepare students to conduct independent, high-calibre research in the OTIS field and to pursue an academic career as a faculty member at a highly regarded, research-led university.

Rigorous academic training

We work with you to develop an integrated and coherent programme of study that includes lectures, intensive seminars and workshops. Students receive funds to attend cutting-edge and highly specialised research methods workshops offered by renowned scholars at other institutions. The research methods you will study include quantitative and qualitative techniques that enable you to adopt either single or mixed methods in your research. This programme will train you in the latest research methods and emerging thinking in innovation, strategy and organisation.

Close research collaborations

The core feature of the programme is the close collaboration between our faculty members and doctoral students. You will work with the faculty on joint research projects for presentation at top international conferences and for publication in leading academic journals. Our faculty members maintain research collaborations with students long after they have graduated. Our faculty have served as associate and senior editors and on the editorial boards of leading academic journals, in addition to regularly publishing in these journals. These experiences will help you ensure your work is tailored for academic impact.

Highly selective and global

The programme is highly selective. You will interact closely with outstanding fellow PhD students who represent a wide variety of professional backgrounds, nationalities and ethnicities.

Connections with renowned scholars and schools around the world

You can interact and collaborate closely with leading scholars from around the world through our active research seminars and renowned visiting scholar programmes. The Business School also helps to support student exchange programmes, which will enable you to spend part of your PhD programme at a top international school of your choice. Our students have visited renowned institutions such as Wharton, Oxford and London Business School as part of the PhD programme.

Deep engagement approach

The hallmark of this PhD pathway is the combination of high standards of academic rigour and strong practical relevance to the business world. We will help you engage with organisations directly to gain access to unique data and rich insights on key problems facing organisations. This engagement will help you shed new light on ongoing academic debates, and it is this synergy of rigour and relevance that makes the OTIS PhD pathway unique.

State-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure

You will have access to comprehensive research databases and the latest software and computer equipment.

PhD supervisors

Your principal supervisor will be a senior academic from within the OTIS pathway. You will benefit from their guidance and counsel throughout the programme, and beyond: in helping you to succeed in the job market and in gaining a faculty position at a leading business school. Your principal supervisor will take an active role in your research programme and will assemble a group of faculty (your advisory committee) who will co-author papers with you. 

Take a look at the faculty who may serve as your principal supervisor and view their research interests: 

Michael Barrett

Professor of information systems & innovation studies, read more about michael.

Research interests

Michael Barrett researches digital innovation in diverse settings, including university-based ecosystems, healthcare, and banking. He draws primarily on practice-based theories for understanding digital innovation and transformation. He has also developed rhetorical strategies for understanding IT diffusion, and deploys longitudinal case study research using interpretive and mixed-methods approaches.

View Michael's profile

Mark de Rond

Professor of organisational ethnography, read more about mark.

Mark de Rond studies people by living with them under similar conditions so as to better understand how they experience, and develop meaningful relations to, the world as it happens. His fieldwork has included long stints with war surgeons, elite rowers, biochemists, and comedians. He contributes to institutional theory and uses ethnographic methods.

View Mark's profile

Matthew Grimes

Professor of entrepreneurship and sustainable futures, read more about matthew.

Matthew Grimes researches how individuals and organisations create, introduce, and sustain positive social change by way of entrepreneurship. He studies these topics primarily in contexts such as social entrepreneurship and business incubators/accelerators. He employs a range of methodologies, including qualitative and quantitative methods.

View Matthew's profile

Helen Haugh

Associate professor in community enterprise, read more about helen.

Helen Haugh researches organisational theory; social and community entrepreneurship; qualitative research methods, particularly ethnography.

View Helen's profile

Jennifer Howard-Grenville

Diageo professor in organisation studies, read more about jennifer.

Jennifer Howard-Grenville researches organisational and social change processes, often as they relate to environmental sustainability. She contributes to the literatures on organisational routines, culture, and identity, and has studied the semiconductor manufacturing, oil and gas, and athletic apparel industries, as well as communities and occupations. Her work draws on qualitative data and analysis.

View Jennifer's profile

Professor Matthew Jones

Professor of information systems, not available to take incoming phd students in october 2024..

Matthew Jones researches the relationship between information systems and social and organisational change. The primary empirical focus of his recent work has been on practice-based studies of (big) data in healthcare using qualitative methods. He also explores theoretical and methodological issues in information systems and organisational research.

Thomas Roulet

Professor of organisational sociology and leadership, read more about thomas.

Thomas Roulet researches negative social evaluations (stigma, scandals) and their antecedents (misconduct, deviance). He also contributed to the development of institutional theory and research methods (in particular observational and historical methods). While primarily a qualitative researcher, a share of his work is based on mixed-methods and combines different approaches.

View Thomas' profile

Paul Tracey

Professor of innovation & organisation, read more about paul.

Paul Tracey researches social enterprise, entrepreneurship, social innovation, and regional innovation. He contributes to the literatures on institutions and institutional change, as well as that on stigma and legitimacy. He uses qualitative methods to approach these topics.

View Paul's profile

PhD advisory team

Dr Stella Pachidi, Dr Karla Sayegh and Dr Virginia Leavell supervise MPhil individual research projects and MPhil dissertations, and are available to join a PhD advisory team.

Organisational Theory and Information Systems faculty

Learn more about the faculty that teach on this pathway.

Learn more about the Organisational Theory and Information Systems subject group

Learn more about the application process and deadlines

Explore fees and funding options

Contact the admissions team

Organizational Behavior

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You will choose between two tracks with research focused on either micro-organizational behavior, with a psychological approach to how interpersonal relationships within organizations and groups impact individuals, or on macro-organizational behavior that uses sociological methods to examine organizations, groups, and markets.

Examples of projects students have worked on include exploring issues related to diversity and inclusion in both professional and academic settings, researching the psychology of persuasion and political depolarization, and examining the ways in which workplace dynamics are shaped by gender and power.

Graduates have accepted positions at such prestigious institutions as University of Southern California, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and MIT. Others have gone on to careers in organizations such as the Federal Reserve Bank, National Committee for Quality Assurance, and The Bridgespan Group.

Students in organizational behavior are enrolled in and receive their degree from the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) and work with faculty from both the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and  Harvard Business School  (HBS). Harvard Griffin GSAS has offered PhD programs in collaboration with HBS since 1916. In addition to organizational behavior, Harvard Griffin GSAS and HBS collaborate on the programs in Business Economics , Business Administration , and Health Policy (Management Track) . 

Areas of Study

Micro-organizational track | Sociology track | Unspecified

Students in organizational behavior specialize in micro-organizational behavior or sociology, receiving core disciplinary training in either psychology or sociology and gain knowledge of existing research and theory about organizations through advanced coursework in organizational behavior. The sociology track deals with the macro aspects of organizational behavior, focusing primarily on organizational processes and structures and on organizations in relation to their environments. Students also become familiar with some of the more micro issues emphasized within the micro-organizational behavior track, which is for students who wish to concentrate on the psychological aspects of organizational behavior. The primary focus is on the psychology of individuals as they engage in decision-making, interpersonal relations, and small group activities. Students also become familiar with some of the more macro issues emphasized within the sociology track.

Additional information on the graduate program is available from the Department of Organizational Behavior , and requirements for the degree are detailed in Policies .

Admissions Requirements

Please review admissions requirements and other information before applying. You can find degree program specific admissions requirements below and access additional guidance on applying from the Department of Organizational Behavior .

Academic Background

Applicants with bachelor’s degrees in the social sciences, engineering, sciences, and business are encouraged to apply.

Standardized Tests

GRE General or GMAT: Required iBT TOEFL preferred minimum score: 100 IELTS preferred minimum score: 7.5

Theses & Dissertations

Theses & Dissertations for Organizational Behavior

See list of Organizational Behavior faculty

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Questions about the program.

Organizational Behavior

Phd in psychology.

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• Institute for Research on Social Issues
• Health Psychology & Prevention Science Institute

Claremont Evaluation Center

• Kravis Leadership Institute
• METRICS Lab

Doctoral research in Organizational Behavior prepares graduates to implement organizational theory and research in order to achieve organizational effectiveness and improve individual work life.

Program Highlights

• All Organizational Behavior research graduate students are encouraged to gain practical experience through projects, internships, or jobs, often at CGU’s research centers and affiliates, such as the Claremont Evaluation Center or the Health Psychology and Prevention Science Institute.
• All Organizational Behavior research students who request financial aid receive fellowships. DBOS also regularly hires students for paid teaching assistantships.
• DBOS offers a certificate program and professional development workshops in Evaluation & Applied Methods for those seeking continuing education.

Program at a Glance

UNITS 72 units

*Actual completion times will vary and may be higher, depending on full- or part-time course registration, units transferred, and time to complete other degree requirements.

COURSES BEGIN Fall | Spring

DIVISION Division of Behavioral & Organizational Sciences

DEGREE AWARDED PhD in Psychology

Featured Courses

Doctoral seminar exploring organizational change processes, including problem diagnosis, development of alternative interventions, change management, and more.

Explores bivariate and multivariate correlation and regression with an emphasis on applications of multiple regression to data analysis.

Topics covered in this course will include theories of organizational structure, organizations as systems and cultures, decision making, intergroup conflict and negotiation, and impacts of information technology on modern organizations.

Surveys contemporary research methods in psychology, focusing on research conceptualization, design, and measurement and the logic of minimizing the number of viable alternative explanations for a set of findings.

Doctoral seminar covering core areas of organizational behavior, including such topics as organizational structure, roles, technology, communication, effectiveness, job design, and more.

Introduces different types of qualitative research methods and how they can be utilized in the study of organizations, with a primary emphasis on their utilization in research and consulting settings.

Organizational Behavior Core Courses (16 units) Doctoral Seminar in Organizational Behavior (4 units) Doctoral Seminar in Organizational Theory (4 units) Doctoral Seminar in Organizational Development & Change (4 units) Advanced Topics in Organizational Behavior (4 units)

Organizational Behavior & Related Electives (32 units) Students are often encouraged to take elective courses in the School of Educational Studies, the Drucker School of Management, the Division of Politics & Economics, the Center for Information Systems & Technology, the School of Arts & Humanities, and the Institute of Mathematical Sciences.

Statistics & Methodology (20 units) Research Methods (4 units) Directed Research Seminar: Organizational Behavior (two 2-unit courses) Intermediate Statistics (2 units) Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) (2 units) Applied Multiple Regression (2 units) Categorical Data Analysis (2 units) PSYCH 315 Sequence: 4 additional units of Advanced Methodology

Field/Teaching Experience (4 units) Supervised Teaching Seminar (4 units) or Field Placement (4 units)

Transdisciplinary Core Course (4 units) All PhD students are required to enroll in a transdisciplinary core course from the “TNDY” course sequence during their first three semesters at Claremont Graduate University.

Portfolio In addition to 72 units of coursework, all students must complete a portfolio that represents a cohesive set of experiences balancing training in their area of specialization.

PhD Completion

• PhD qualifying exam
• Dissertation proposal
• Dissertation and oral defense

In the Field Opportunities Under the supervision of professionals with expertise in your particular areas of interest, you can participate in fieldwork, research, and paid internships at a range of corporations and organizations, including:

• Southern California Edison Company • Kaiser Permanente • Orange County Rapid Transit District • Riverside County Department of Mental Health • Claremont Evaluation Center • Institute for Research on Social Issues

Michelle Bligh

Interim Executive Vice President & Provost Professor of Organizational Behavior

Research Interests

Leadership, Organizational Culture, Charismatic Leadership

William Crano

Stuart Oskamp Chair of Psychology

Social Influence, Effects of persuasive information on drug addiction and HIV/AIDS, Minority and majority relationships to health information

Stewart I. Donaldson

Distinguished University Professor Executive Director, Claremont Evaluation Center Executive Director, The Evaluators' Institute (TEI)

Positive Organizational Psychology, Health/Well-Being & Positive Functioning Across Cultures, Program Design & Re-Design, Culturally Responsive Theory-Driven Measurement & Evaluation

Affiliated with

The Evaluators’ Institute

Cindi Gilliland

Professor of Practice in Organizational Psychology

Social Innovation, Resilience & Well-Being, Diversity and Inclusion

Stephen Gilliland

University Professor

Organizational Justice, Employee Attitudes and Motivation, Leadership

M. Gloria González-Morales

Associate Professor of Psychology Director, Center for Academic & Faculty Excellence

Work stress; work-life issues; workplace victimization and incivility; relational practices and cultures; diversity; positive organizational interventions to enhance well-being and performance.

Michael Hogg

Professor of Social Psychology

Self and Social Identity; Intergroup Relations and Group Processes; Influence and Leadership; Uncertainty, Radicalization and Extremism

Jean Lipman-Blumen

Professor of Organizational Behavior Former Thornton F. Bradshaw Professor of Public Policy

Achieving styles, Crisis management, Gender roles, Leadership, Organizational behavior

Jeanne Nakamura

Associate Professor Director, Quality of Life Research Center

Engagement, Mentoring, Positive Aging

Quality of Life Research Center

Becky Reichard

Full Professor

Development of those not typically represented in leadership roles (e.g., women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+), Psychological mechanisms underlying the process of leader development (e.g., feedback, goal striving, self-views, implicit theories, leader development readiness), Development of leadership through experiences outside of the work context (e.g., global, sports, volunteering, crisis)

Paul J. Zak

Professor of Economic Sciences, Psychology & Management Director, Center for Neuroeconomics Studies

Neuroeconomics, Neuroscience of Narratives, Neuromanagement

Claremont McKenna College

Jennifer Feitosa

Culture, Diversity, Organizational Psychology, Statistics, Teams, Teamwork, Workplace Issues and Trends

Allen Omoto

Pitzer College

Social psychology; volunteerism and prosocial action; environmental concerns; lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues; sense of community; civic engagement and civil society

Ronald Riggio

Human resources management, innovation, leadership, Non-verbal communication, organizational psychology

Where You Can Find Our Alumni

Centre For Addiction & Mental Health

Vanderbilt University

Graduate Fellow

Lanterman Development Center

Chair of Psychology

The Advocacy and Learning Associates

CEO and Owner

University of Georgia

Executive Director and Professor

Davidson Consulting Ltd.

Evaluation and Organizational Consultant

Delaware Division of Alcohol and Drug Services

Deputy Director

Loma Linda University

Associate Professor of Nursing and Psychology

U.S. Department of State

Foreign Affairs Officer

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Regina Burch

Assistant Director of Admissions T: 909-607-9421 E: [email protected]

Management and Organizations Department | PhD Course Descriptions

Phd course descriptions, explore stern phd.

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• Harvard Business School →
• Doctoral Programs →

PhD Programs

• Accounting & Management
• Business Economics
• Health Policy (Management)
• Organizational Behavior
• Technology & Operations Management

Students in our PhD programs are encouraged from day one to think of this experience as their first job in business academia—a training ground for a challenging and rewarding career generating rigorous, relevant research that influences practice.

Our doctoral students work with faculty and access resources throughout HBS and Harvard University. The PhD program curriculum requires coursework at HBS and other Harvard discipline departments, and with HBS and Harvard faculty on advisory committees. Faculty throughout Harvard guide the programs through their participation on advisory committees.

How do I know which program is right for me?

There are many paths, but we are one HBS. Our PhD students draw on diverse personal and professional backgrounds to pursue an ever-expanding range of research topics. Explore more here about each program’s requirements & curriculum, read student profiles for each discipline as well as student research , and placement information.

The PhD in Business Administration grounds students in the disciplinary theories and research methods that form the foundation of an academic career. Jointly administered by HBS and GSAS, the program has five areas of study: Accounting and Management , Management , Marketing , Strategy , and Technology and Operations Management . All areas of study involve roughly two years of coursework culminating in a field exam. The remaining years of the program are spent conducting independent research, working on co-authored publications, and writing the dissertation. Students join these programs from a wide range of backgrounds, from consulting to engineering. Many applicants possess liberal arts degrees, as there is not a requirement to possess a business degree before joining the program

The PhD in Business Economics provides students the opportunity to study in both Harvard’s world-class Economics Department and Harvard Business School. Throughout the program, coursework includes exploration of microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory, probability and statistics, and econometrics. While some students join the Business Economics program directly from undergraduate or masters programs, others have worked in economic consulting firms or as research assistants at universities or intergovernmental organizations.

The PhD program in Health Policy (Management) is rooted in data-driven research on the managerial, operational, and strategic issues facing a wide range of organizations. Coursework includes the study of microeconomic theory, management, research methods, and statistics. The backgrounds of students in this program are quite varied, with some coming from public health or the healthcare industry, while others arrive at the program with a background in disciplinary research

The PhD program in Organizational Behavior offers two tracks: either a micro or macro approach. In the micro track, students focus on the study of interpersonal relationships within organizations and the effects that groups have on individuals. Students in the macro track use sociological methods to examine organizations, groups, and markets as a whole, including topics such as the influence of individuals on organizational change, or the relationship between social missions and financial objectives. Jointly administered by HBS and GSAS, the program includes core disciplinary training in sociology or psychology, as well as additional coursework in organizational behavior.

Accounting & Management  

Business economics  , health policy (management)  , management  , marketing  , organizational behavior  , strategy  , technology & operations management  .

• Youth Program
• Wharton Online

Wharton’s PhD program in Management is flexible and interdisciplinary, applying rigorous social science theory and research methods to management problems. It offers specializations in Entrepreneurship, Human and Social Capital, Multinational Management, Organizational Behavior, Organizational Theory, and Strategy.

Wharton’s Management program prepares students to apply rigorous social science disciplinary theory and research methods to the demands of current management and leadership challenges in the public and private sectors. Our faculty has a broad range of interests ranging from the behavior of individuals, teams and groups to organizational strategy of multinational firms. Major areas of faculty research currently include:

• new venture formation, growth, and corporate entrepreneurship;
• human resources and competitiveness;
• emotions, identity, creativity and motivation;
• political and social influence strategies;
• technology and practice adoption, diffusion, and transfer within and across organizations;
• organizational learning and adaptation;
• and the strategic management of complementary resources and capabilities within an organization, alliance, network or ecosystems.

Each student draws on the faculty’s diverse expertise and varied interests to develop a program uniquely suited to his or her interests frequently spanning the formal specializations noted above. The program encourages students to gain research experience by working closely with multiple faculty on a variety of projects beginning with a research assistantship assignment in the first year with the hope of entering the job market in year 4 or 5 with multiple research papers in the publication pipeline.

For information on courses and sample plan of study, please visit the University Graduate Catalog .

Get the Details.

Visit the Management website for details on program requirements and courses. Read faculty and student research and bios to see what you can do with a Management PhD.

Management Program Doctoral Coordinator Prof. Exequiel (Zeke) Hernandez Max and Bernice Garchik Family Presidential Associate Professor of Management Email: [email protected] Phone: (215) 746-1984

Organizational Behavior

The Ph.D. program in organizational behavior is an interfaculty program offered by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) at Harvard University and faculty at Harvard Business School (HBS). The program trains scholars who are able to draw on the concepts and methods of psychology and sociology in conducting research on behavior and management within complex organizations and prepares students for careers as researchers and teachers. Program graduates will be comfortable working either in disciplinary departments or in professional schools—especially schools of management.

• PhD Programmes

Organisation Theory

The goal of this course is to provide students with a working knowledge of the most important theoretical frameworks in organization theory. This is a precious gift, as insights from organization theory are at the heart of many sub-disciplines in management, including strategic management, corporate governance, innovation studies, stakeholder management, international business, and entrepreneurship. Upon completion of this course, students should be able to trace and understand the intellectual history of these theoretical frameworks, and recognize how their own work relates and may contribute to these overarching theoretical frameworks. As an additional ‘bonus’, the instructors will engage in a non-technical discussion of the major research designs used by organizational scholars–such as event history analysis, meta-analysis, fs/QCA, matching-based regressions, and ethnography–to arrive at a deeper understanding of how the ‘affordances’ of these designs are shaping the research questions organization theorists pursue. In particular, upon taking the course students should be ready to answer questions such as: Why do firms exist? Why are firms structured as they are? What is the role of myth and ceremony in organizational life? Why and how do organizations ally with other organizations and how does that matter? How can organizations manage their external dependencies? How does our perspective change when we switch from the organizational to the population level of analysis? How do coalitions, power, and reference points matter to organizational decision-making? In every class, we start with a discussion of these broad theoretical frameworks, followed by a discussion of how the methods employed by organizational scholars are pushing our theoretical frontiers.

Information

The following topics are covered in this course:

(1) Bureaucracy Theory (Class 1)

(2) Institutional Theories of Organization (Class 2)

(2) Transaction Cost Theory and the Theory of the Firm (Class 3). 

(3) Ownership, Agency theory, and Corporate Governance (Class 4).

(5) Stakeholder Theory and Resource Dependence Theory (Class 5).

(6) Behavioural Theory of the Firm, Power, and Coalitions (Class 6)

(7) Optimal Distinctiveness Theory (Class 7)

(8) Field Evolution, Ecology, and Transformation (Class 8)

The course is organized as a seminar, implying that your cooperation and willingness to actively participate in the sessions will ensure that we jointly create the best possible learning environment. 

The grading of this course reflects this culture and pedagogy: (a) class participation (25%); (b) article presentation (25%); and concluding written assignment (50%).

The literature for this course will consist of carefully selected research articles and book chapters. The materials will include seminal contributions, more recent exemplary articles, and empirical illustrations. In addition to the mandatory readings, each class also comes with a longer list of background readings, to facilitate participants with a special interest in a particular topic. The materials are made available via a dedicated Canvas site.

Additional info

(This course was previously offered under the title "Strategy, Organization & Governance".)

The timetable for this course can be found  here . (The linked timetable might not show all the sessions at one glance. Please scroll per month to see the schedule of the entire course.)

ERIM PhD candidates (Fulltime & Part-time) can register for this course via  Osiris Student .

External (non-ERIM) participants are welcome to this course. To register, please fill in the  registration form  and e-mail it to the  ERIM Doctoral Office  by four weeks prior to the start of the course. For external participants, the course fee is 1300 euro.

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