phd in organizational behaviour

• Harvard Business School →
• Doctoral Programs →
• PhD Programs
• Accounting & Management
• Business Economics
• Health Policy (Management)

Organizational Behavior

• Technology & Operations Management
• Program Requirements

Scholars in the doctoral program in Organizational Behavior at Harvard Business School are prepared to pursue an interdisciplinary inquiry into issues that are broadly related to the functioning of individuals within groups, at either the micro or macro level. Graduates of our program go on to become the leading researchers and thinkers in organizational behavior, shaping the field and advancing theoretical understanding in posts at schools of management or in disciplinary departments.

The Organizational Behavior program is jointly administered by the faculty of Harvard Business School and the Department of Sociology in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and students have the opportunity to work with faculty from both the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Harvard Business School.

Curriculum & Coursework

Our program offers two distinct tracks, with research focused either on the micro or macro level. Students who choose to focus on micro organizational behavior take a psychological approach to the study of interpersonal relationships within organizations and groups, and the effects that groups have on individuals. In macro organizational behavior, scholars use sociological methods to examine the organizations, groups, and markets themselves, including topics such as the influence of individuals on organizational change, or the relationship between social missions and financial objectives.

Your core disciplinary training will take place in either the psychology or sociology departments, depending on the track that you choose. You will also conduct advanced coursework in organizational behavior at HBS, and complete two MBA elective curriculum courses. Students are required to teach for one full academic term in order to gain valuable teaching experience, and to work as an apprentice to a faculty member to develop research skills. Upon completion of coursework, students prepare and present a dossier that includes a qualifying paper, at least two other research papers, and a statement outlining a plan for their dissertation. Before beginning work on the dissertation, students must pass the Organizational Behavior Exam, which presents an opportunity to synthesize academic coursework and prepare for an in-depth research project.

Research & Dissertation

Examples of doctoral thesis research.

• Cross-group relations, stress, and the subsequent effect on performance
• Internal group dynamics of corporate boards of directors
• Organizational mission and its effect on commitment and effort
• Psychological tendencies and collaboration with dissimilar others

Aurora Turek

Justine Murray

Jaylon Sherrell

“ In HBS’s Organizational Behavior program I receive outstanding, rigorous training in disciplinary methods and also benefit from the myriad resources that HBS has to offer. HBS scholars are looking to apply their research to real-world problems, come up with interventions, and make a real difference. ”

Current Harvard Sociology & Psychology Faculty

• George A. Alvarez
• Mahzarin R. Banaji
• Jason Beckfield
• Lawrence D. Bobo
• Mary C. Brinton
• Joshua W. Buckholtz
• Randy L. Buckner
• Alfonso Caramazza
• Susan E. Carey
• Paul Y. Chang
• Mina Cikara
• Christina Ciocca Eller
• Christina Cross
• Fiery Cushman
• Frank Dobbin
• Samuel J. Gershman
• Daniel Gilbert
• Joshua D. Greene
• Jill M. Hooley
• Rakesh Khurana
• Alexandra Killewald
• Talia Konkle
• Max Krasnow
• Michèle Lamont
• Ellen Langer
• Joscha Legewie
• Ya-Wen Lei
• Patrick Mair
• Peter V. Marsden
• Katie A. McLaughlin
• Richard J. McNally
• Jason P. Mitchell
• Ellis Monk
• Matthew K. Nock
• Orlando Patterson
• Elizabeth A. Phelps
• Steven Pinker
• Robert J. Sampson
• Daniel L. Schacter
• Theda Skocpol
• Mario L. Small
• Jesse Snedeker
• Leah H. Somerville
• Elizabeth S. Spelke
• Tomer D. Ullman
• Adaner Usmani
• Jocelyn Viterna
• Mary C. Waters
• John R. Weisz
• Christopher Winship
• Xiang Zhou

Current HBS Faculty

• Teresa M. Amabile
• Julie Battilana
• Max H. Bazerman
• David E. Bell
• Ethan S. Bernstein
• Alison Wood Brooks
• Edward H. Chang
• Julian De Freitas
• Amy C. Edmondson
• Robin J. Ely
• Alexandra C. Feldberg
• Carolyn J. Fu
• Amit Goldenberg
• Boris Groysberg
• Ranjay Gulati
• Linda A. Hill
• Nien-he Hsieh
• Jon M. Jachimowicz
• Summer R. Jackson
• Leslie K. John
• Jillian J. Jordan
• Rakesh Khurana
• Joshua D. Margolis
• Edward McFowland III
• Kathleen L. McGinn
• Tsedal Neeley
• Michael I. Norton
• Leslie A. Perlow
• Jeffrey T. Polzer
• Ryan L. Raffaelli
• Lakshmi Ramarajan
• James W. Riley
• Clayton S. Rose
• Arthur I Segel
• Emily Truelove
• Michael L. Tushman
• Ashley V. Whillans
• Letian Zhang
• Julian J. Zlatev

Current Organizational Behavior Students

• Jennifer Abel
• Yajun Cao
• Hanne Collins
• Grace Cormier
• Megan Gorges
• Bushra Guenoun
• Elizabeth Johnson
• Caleb Kealoha
• Kai Krautter
• Justine Murray
• C. Ryann Noe
• Dominika Randle
• Elizabeth Sheprow
• Jaylon Sherrell
• Yoon Jae Shin
• Erin Shirtz
• Samantha N. Smith
• Tiffany Smith
• Channing Spencer
• Yuval Spiegler
• Emily Tedards
• Aurora Turek
• Julie Yen

Current HBS Faculty & Students by Interest

Recent placement, nicole abi-esber, 2023, elliot stoller, 2023, ariella kristal, 2022, leroy gonsalves, 2020, alicia desantola, 2019, catarina fernandes, 2019, rachel arnett, 2018, evan defilippis, 2023, hayley blunden, 2022, lumumba seegars, 2021, karen huang, 2020, stefan dimitriadis, 2019, elizabeth hansen, 2019, erin frey, 2018, jeff steiner, 2023, ahmmad brown, 2022, yanhua bird, 2020, jeffrey lees, 2020, alexandra feldberg, 2019, martha jeong, 2019.

About Stanford GSB

• The Leadership
• Dean’s Updates
• School News & History
• Commencement
• Business, Government & Society
• Centers & Institutes
• Center for Entrepreneurial Studies
• Center for Social Innovation
• Stanford Seed

About the Experience

• Learning at Stanford GSB
• Experiential Learning
• Guest Speakers
• Entrepreneurship
• Social Innovation
• Communication
• Life at Stanford GSB
• Collaborative Environment
• Activities & Organizations
• Student Services
• Housing Options
• International Students

Full-Time Degree Programs

• Why Stanford MBA
• Academic Experience
• Financial Aid
• Why Stanford MSx
• Research Fellows Program
• See All Programs

Non-Degree & Certificate Programs

• Executive Education
• Stanford Executive Program
• Programs for Organizations
• The Difference
• Online Programs
• Stanford LEAD
• Seed Transformation Program
• Aspire Program
• Seed Spark Program
• Faculty Profiles
• Academic Areas
• Awards & Honors
• Conferences

Faculty Research

• Publications
• Working Papers
• Case Studies

Research Hub

• Research Labs & Initiatives
• Business Library
• Data, Analytics & Research Computing
• Behavioral Lab

Research Labs

• Cities, Housing & Society Lab
• Golub Capital Social Impact Lab

Research Initiatives

• Corporate Governance Research Initiative
• Corporations and Society Initiative
• Policy and Innovation Initiative
• Rapid Decarbonization Initiative
• Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative
• Value Chain Innovation Initiative
• Venture Capital Initiative
• Career & Success
• Climate & Sustainability
• Corporate Governance
• Culture & Society
• Finance & Investing
• Government & Politics
• Leadership & Management
• Markets & Trade
• Operations & Logistics
• Opportunity & Access
• Organizational Behavior
• Political Economy
• Social Impact
• Technology & AI
• Opinion & Analysis
• Email Newsletter

Welcome, Alumni

• Communities
• Digital Communities & Tools
• Regional Chapters
• Women’s Programs
• Identity Chapters
• Find Your Reunion
• Career Resources
• Job Search Resources
• Career & Life Transitions
• Programs & Services
• Career Video Library
• Alumni Education
• Research Resources
• Volunteering
• Alumni News
• Class Notes
• Alumni Voices
• Contact Alumni Relations
• Upcoming Events

Admission Events & Information Sessions

• MBA Program
• MSx Program
• PhD Program
• Alumni Events
• All Other Events
• Requirements
• Requirements: Behavioral
• Requirements: Quantitative
• Requirements: Macro
• Requirements: Micro
• Annual Evaluations
• Field Examination
• Research Activities
• Research Papers
• Dissertation
• Oral Examination
• Current Students
• Entering Class Profile
• Education & CV
• GMAT & GRE
• International Applicants
• Statement of Purpose
• Letters of Recommendation
• Reapplicants
• Application Fee Waiver
• Deadline & Decisions
• Job Market Candidates
• Academic Placements
• Stay in Touch
• Fields of Study
• Student Life

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, why investors throw money at eccentric ceos, psst — wanna know why gossip has evolved in every human society, unlocking the “iron cage” of corporate conformity.

• Priorities for the GSB's Future
• See the Current DEI Report
• Supporting Data
• Research & Insights
• Share Your Thoughts
• Search Fund Primer
• Teaching & Curriculum
• Affiliated Faculty
• Faculty Advisors
• Louis W. Foster Resource Center
• Defining Social Innovation
• Impact Compass
• Global Health Innovation Insights
• Faculty Affiliates
• Student Awards & Certificates
• Changemakers
• Dean Jonathan Levin
• Dean Garth Saloner
• Dean Robert Joss
• Dean Michael Spence
• Dean Robert Jaedicke
• Dean Rene McPherson
• Dean Arjay Miller
• Dean Ernest Arbuckle
• Dean Jacob Hugh Jackson
• Dean Willard Hotchkiss
• Faculty in Memoriam
• Stanford GSB Firsts
• Certificate & Award Recipients
• Teaching Approach
• Analysis and Measurement of Impact
• The Corporate Entrepreneur: Startup in a Grown-Up Enterprise
• Data-Driven Impact
• Designing Experiments for Impact
• Digital Business Transformation
• The Founder’s Right Hand
• Marketing for Measurable Change
• Product Management
• Public Policy Lab: Financial Challenges Facing US Cities
• Public Policy Lab: Homelessness in California
• Lab Features
• Curricular Integration
• View From The Top
• Formation of New Ventures
• Managing Growing Enterprises
• Startup Garage
• Explore Beyond the Classroom
• Stanford Venture Studio
• Summer Program
• Workshops & Events
• The Five Lenses of Entrepreneurship
• Leadership Labs
• Executive Challenge
• Arbuckle Leadership Fellows Program
• Selection Process
• Training Schedule
• Time Commitment
• Learning Expectations
• Post-Training Opportunities
• Who Should Apply
• Introductory T-Groups
• Leadership for Society Program
• Certificate
• 2023 Awardees
• 2022 Awardees
• 2021 Awardees
• 2020 Awardees
• 2019 Awardees
• 2018 Awardees
• Social Management Immersion Fund
• Stanford Impact Founder Fellowships and Prizes
• Stanford Impact Leader Prizes
• Social Entrepreneurship
• Stanford GSB Impact Fund
• Economic Development
• Energy & Environment
• Stanford GSB Residences
• Environmental Leadership
• Stanford GSB Artwork
• A Closer Look
• California & the Bay Area
• Voices of Stanford GSB
• Business & Beneficial Technology
• Business & Sustainability
• Business & Free Markets
• Business, Government, and Society Forum
• Get Involved
• Second Year
• Global Experiences
• JD/MBA Joint Degree
• MA Education/MBA Joint Degree
• MD/MBA Dual Degree
• MPP/MBA Joint Degree
• MS Computer Science/MBA Joint Degree
• MS Electrical Engineering/MBA Joint Degree
• MS Environment and Resources (E-IPER)/MBA Joint Degree
• Academic Calendar
• Clubs & Activities
• LGBTQ+ Students
• Military Veterans
• Minorities & People of Color
• Partners & Families
• Students with Disabilities
• Student Support
• Residential Life
• Student Voices
• MBA Alumni Voices
• A Week in the Life
• Career Support
• Employment Outcomes
• Cost of Attendance
• Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program
• Yellow Ribbon Program
• BOLD Fellows Fund
• Application Process
• Loan Forgiveness
• Contact the Financial Aid Office
• Evaluation Criteria
• English Language Proficiency
• Personal Information, Activities & Awards
• Professional Experience
• Optional Short Answer Questions
• Application Fee
• Reapplication
• Deferred Enrollment
• Joint & Dual Degrees
• Event Schedule
• Ambassadors
• New & Noteworthy
• Ask a Question
• See Why Stanford MSx
• Is MSx Right for You?
• MSx Stories
• Leadership Development
• Career Advancement
• Career Change
• How You Will Learn
• Admission Events
• Personal Information
• Information for Recommenders
• GMAT, GRE & EA
• English Proficiency Tests
• After You’re Admitted
• Daycare, Schools & Camps
• U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents
• Faculty Mentors
• Current Fellows
• Standard Track
• Fellowship & Benefits
• Group Enrollment
• Program Formats
• Developing a Program
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Strategic Transformation
• Program Experience
• Contact Client Services
• Campus Experience
• Live Online Experience
• Silicon Valley & Bay Area
• Digital Credentials
• Faculty Spotlights
• Participant Spotlights
• Eligibility
• International Participants
• Stanford Ignite
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Operations, Information & Technology
• Classical Liberalism
• The Eddie Lunch
• Accounting Summer Camp
• Videos, Code & Data
• California Econometrics Conference
• California Quantitative Marketing PhD Conference
• California School Conference
• China India Insights Conference
• Homo economicus, Evolving
• Political Economics (2023–24)
• Scaling Geologic Storage of CO2 (2023–24)
• A Resilient Pacific: Building Connections, Envisioning Solutions
• Adaptation and Innovation
• Changing Climate
• Civil Society
• Climate Impact Summit
• Climate Science
• Corporate Carbon Disclosures
• Earth’s Seafloor
• Environmental Justice
• Operations and Information Technology
• Organizations
• Sustainability Reporting and Control
• Taking the Pulse of the Planet
• Urban Infrastructure
• Watershed Restoration
• Junior Faculty Workshop on Financial Regulation and Banking
• Ken Singleton Celebration
• Marketing Camp
• Quantitative Marketing PhD Alumni Conference
• Presentations
• Theory and Inference in Accounting Research
• Stanford Closer Look Series
• Quick Guides
• Core Concepts
• Journal Articles
• Glossary of Terms
• Faculty & Staff
• Researchers & Students
• Research Approach
• Charitable Giving
• Financial Health
• Government Services
• Workers & Careers
• Short Course
• Adaptive & Iterative Experimentation
• Incentive Design
• Social Sciences & Behavioral Nudges
• Bandit Experiment Application
• Conferences & Events
• Reading Materials
• Energy Entrepreneurship
• Faculty & Affiliates
• SOLE Report
• Responsible Supply Chains
• Current Study Usage
• Pre-Registration Information
• Participate in a Study
• Founding Donors
• Location Information
• Participant Profile
• Network Membership
• Program Impact
• Collaborators
• Entrepreneur Profiles
• Company Spotlights
• Seed Transformation Network
• Responsibilities
• Current Coaches
• How to Apply
• Meet the Consultants
• Meet the Interns
• Intern Profiles
• Collaborate
• Research Library
• News & Insights
• Program Contacts
• Databases & Datasets
• Research Guides
• Consultations
• Research Workshops
• Career Research
• Research Data Services
• Course Reserves
• Course Research Guides
• Material Loan Periods
• Fines & Other Charges
• Document Delivery
• Interlibrary Loan
• Equipment Checkout
• Print & Scan
• MBA & MSx Students
• PhD Students
• Other Stanford Students
• Faculty Assistants
• Research Assistants
• Stanford GSB Alumni
• Telling Our Story
• Staff Directory
• Site Registration
• Alumni Directory
• Alumni Email
• Privacy Settings & My Profile
• Success Stories
• The Story of Circles
• Support Women’s Circles
• Stanford Women on Boards Initiative
• Alumnae Spotlights
• Insights & Research
• Industry & Professional
• Entrepreneurial Commitment Group
• Recent Alumni
• Half-Century Club
• Fall Reunions
• Spring Reunions
• MBA 25th Reunion
• Half-Century Club Reunion
• Faculty Lectures
• Ernest C. Arbuckle Award
• Alison Elliott Exceptional Achievement Award
• ENCORE Award
• Excellence in Leadership Award
• John W. Gardner Volunteer Leadership Award
• Robert K. Jaedicke Faculty Award
• Jack McDonald Military Service Appreciation Award
• Jerry I. Porras Latino Leadership Award
• Tapestry Award
• Student & Alumni Events
• Executive Recruiters
• Interviewing
• Land the Perfect Job with LinkedIn
• Negotiating
• Elevator Pitch
• Email Best Practices
• Resumes & Cover Letters
• Self-Assessment
• Whitney Birdwell Ball
• Margaret Brooks
• Bryn Panee Burkhart
• Margaret Chan
• Ricki Frankel
• Peter Gandolfo
• Cindy W. Greig
• Natalie Guillen
• Carly Janson
• Sloan Klein
• Sherri Appel Lassila
• Stuart Meyer
• Tanisha Parrish
• Virginia Roberson
• Philippe Taieb
• Michael Takagawa
• Terra Winston
• Johanna Wise
• Debbie Wolter
• Rebecca Zucker
• Complimentary Coaching
• Changing Careers
• Work-Life Integration
• Career Breaks
• Flexible Work
• Encore Careers
• D&B Hoovers
• Data Axle (ReferenceUSA)
• EBSCO Business Source
• Global Newsstream
• Market Share Reporter
• ProQuest One Business
• Student Clubs
• Entrepreneurial Students
• Stanford GSB Trust
• Alumni Community
• How to Volunteer
• Springboard Sessions
• Consulting Projects
• 2020 – 2029
• 2010 – 2019
• 2000 – 2009
• 1990 – 1999
• 1980 – 1989
• 1970 – 1979
• 1960 – 1969
• 1950 – 1959
• 1940 – 1949
• Service Areas
• ACT History
• ACT Awards Celebration
• ACT Governance Structure
• Building Leadership for ACT
• Individual Leadership Positions
• Leadership Role Overview
• Purpose of the ACT Management Board
• Contact ACT
• Business & Nonprofit Communities
• Reunion Volunteers
• Ways to Give
• Fiscal Year Report
• Business School Fund Leadership Council
• Planned Giving Options
• Planned Giving Benefits
• Planned Gifts and Reunions
• Legacy Partners
• Giving News & Stories
• Giving Deadlines
• Development Staff
• Submit Class Notes
• Class Secretaries
• Board of Directors
• Health Care
• Sustainability
• Class Takeaways
• All Else Equal: Making Better Decisions
• If/Then: Business, Leadership, Society
• Grit & Growth
• Think Fast, Talk Smart
• Spring 2022
• Spring 2021
• Autumn 2020
• Summer 2020
• Winter 2020
• In the Media
• For Journalists
• DCI Fellows
• Other Auditors
• Academic Calendar & Deadlines
• Course Materials
• Entrepreneurial Resources
• Campus Drive Grove
• Campus Drive Lawn
• CEMEX Auditorium
• King Community Court
• Seawell Family Boardroom
• Stanford GSB Bowl
• Stanford Investors Common
• Town Square
• Vidalakis Courtyard
• Vidalakis Dining Hall
• Catering Services
• Policies & Guidelines
• Reservations
• Contact Faculty Recruiting
• Lecturer Positions
• Postdoctoral Positions
• Accommodations
• CMC-Managed Interviews
• Recruiter-Managed Interviews
• Virtual Interviews
• Campus & Virtual
• Search for Candidates
• Think Globally
• Recruiting Calendar
• Recruiting Policies
• Full-Time Employment
• Summer Employment
• Entrepreneurial Summer Program
• Global Management Immersion Experience
• Social-Purpose Summer Internships
• Process Overview
• Project Types
• Client Eligibility Criteria
• Client Screening
• ACT Leadership
• Social Innovation & Nonprofit Management Resources
• Develop Your Organization’s Talent
• Centers & Initiatives
• Student Fellowships

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.

Program details.

• Requirements
• Tepper 2023
• Course List
• Academic Calendar
• Privacy Policy
• Statement of Assurance
• Tepper Information Center
• Journalists & Media
• Tepper Gear Store

Organizational Behavior

Phd in psychology.

Request Info Visit Us Apply Now

• 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

Request information about the Organizational Behavior program

• Name * First Name Last Name
• Phone (optional)
• Address Zip / Postal Code Country Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos Islands Colombia Comoros Congo Congo, Democratic Republic of the Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Curaçao Cyprus Czechia Côte d'Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Holy See Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine, State of Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Sweden Switzerland Syria Arab Republic Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania, the United Republic of Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Türkiye US Minor Outlying Islands Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Viet Nam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands
• Anticipated Start Date Choose Your Start Date Summer 2024 Fall 2024
• Phone This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Regina Burch

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

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.

• Undergraduate
• Master of Accounting
• Full Time MBA
• Evening Executive MBA
• Weekend Executive MBA
• Charlotte Executive MBA

PhD in Organizational Behavior

Organizational behavior.

Our Organizational Behavior (OB) PhD Program prepares you to conduct high-impact research on a broad range of topics critical to businesses and managers. Since 2018, our students have secured job placements at many top research schools.

Our faculty have expertise in a wide range of research areas such as leadership (including ethical leadership), emotions, team dynamics, decision-making, motivation, power and influence, negotiations, employee well-being, creativity, voice, and cross-cultural issues. They use cutting-edge methodological approaches including lab experiments, experience sampling, meta-analyses and qualitative interviews.

Through your coursework and research alongside innovative, supportive and passionate faculty, you will learn the necessary skills to become a high-quality researcher and faculty member at a top research university.

While direct research experience is not required, familiarity with academic research in organizational behavior or psychology is a plus to ensure you are prepared for the rigors of conducting research.

We do not narrow our search to students who graduated from a “top” university or have achieved a specific score on a standardized test. We take a holistic approach. We aim to admit students who demonstrate passion for exploring organizational questions and the motivation to put in the work to learn the complex skills and methodological approaches needed to become a high-quality scholar.

We have found the most successful students are self-directed, enjoy problem-solving and are unafraid – if not excited – about digging into some of the most complex challenges facing organizations.

We look for students who are friendly, collaborative and seek a welcoming and intellectually stimulating academic environment.

We welcome potential applicants from all experiences and backgrounds. The UNC Kenan-Flagler OB PhD Program prides itself on a diverse and inclusive student body. Our thriving and collaborative culture (both with faculty and between students) is a focal point to our department. Join us!

Typical course schedule by year

During the first two years of the PhD Program, you will focus on coursework that develops the tools you need to produce high-quality research. Sample classes include:

• Introduction to Organizational Behavior
• Introduction to Social Psychology
• Research Methods
• Dependent Variables
• Groups and Teams
• Interpersonal Processes
• Negotiation, Conflict and Diversity

After the second year, you are required to successfully complete comprehensive exams which covers all of the OB and leadership courses you take in the first two years of the PhD Program.

• Complete a third-year paper
• Full-time research
• Dissertation and oral defense are expected prior to the end of your fifth year.
• Prepare for the job market

We encourage you to attend bi-weekly brown bag lunches organized by PhD students as well as our field’s annual conference – The Academy of Management.

We believe the best scholars are crafted through impactful mentoring relationships. When you begin the program, you will be assigned to one (or two) faculty members with overlapping research interests. These advising relationships are aimed at being both professionally and personally productive for you. From day one you will begin working on research projects (whether self-directed or ongoing faculty projects) alongside these faculty members as they seek to teach you the skills you need to conduct high-quality work and develop your own research identity.

If you ask a UNC Kenan-Flagler OB student the classic question “Who do you work with?” be prepared for a long answer involving multiple faculty. We encourage our students to work with several faculty members to take advantage of the diverse skill sets, theoretical perspectives and research approaches they offer. These collaborations happen informally as you progress and grow within the program and give you flexibility and breadth of resources as you pursue your research passions.

As part of our larger mission to make academia an inclusive place where people of all identities and life experiences can thrive, we view it as a moral imperative to foster a diverse PhD student body that represents the next generation of scholars.

Ensuring that all feel welcome to pursue a doctoral degree is not only the right thing to do – it also is important for producing better science. Identities and life experiences shape the questions that we ask about the world and the knowledge that we produce.

We believe that our understanding of organizational behavior is incomplete if our scholarly community does not reflect the rich diversity of identities, experiences and perspectives that are found in the broader population. Inviting people of all walks of life to enter into our intellectual community can therefore result in better scholarship because it opens the door for new questions to be asked and new truths to be uncovered.

We strive to be a community where every student feels supported in their scholarly journey. We encourage all interested individuals to apply to the program, especially those who belong to historically underrepresented populations. We look forward to learning from you and welcoming you!

View our current Organizational Behavior PhD students .

Related Research

Ashamed to take a break.

UNC Kenan-Flagler researchers show that employees feeling bad that they took breaks can lead to unethical, costly behavior.

You can be too careful

Researchers show what happens when leaders focus too much on preventing errors.

What’s race got to do with it?

Research shows that Black women negotiators receive more favorable offers and outcomes compared with white women and Black men.

This website uses cookies and similar technologies to understand visitor experiences. By using this website, you consent to UNC-Chapel Hill's cookie usage in accordance with their Privacy Notice .

• Organizational Behavior
• Introduction

Harvard Griffin GSAS strives to provide students with timely, accurate, and clear information. If you need help understanding a specific policy, please contact the office that administers that policy.

• Application for Degree
• Credit for Completed Graduate Work
• Ad Hoc Degree Programs
• Dissertations
• English Language Proficiency
• African and African American Studies
• American Studies
• Anthropology
• Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Planning
• Molecular and Cellular Biology
• Organismic and Evolutionary Biology
• Biological Sciences in Public Health
• Biostatistics
• Business Administration
• Business Economics
• Byzantine Studies
• Celtic Languages and Literatures
• Chemical Biology
• Chemical Physics
• Chemistry and Chemical Biology
• Comparative Literature
• Division of Medical Sciences
• Earth and Planetary Sciences
• East Asian Languages and Civilizations
• Engineering and Applied Sciences
• Film and Visual Studies
• Germanic Languages and Literatures
• Health Policy
• History of Art and Architecture
• History of Science
• Human Evolutionary Biology
• Inner Asian and Altaic Studies
• Linguistics
• Mathematics
• Middle Eastern Studies
• Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations
• Political Economy and Government
• Population Health Sciences
• Public Policy
• Quantum Science and Engineering
• Religion, The Study of
• Romance Languages and Literatures
• Slavic Languages and Literatures
• Social Policy
• South Asian Studies
• Systems, Synthetic, and Quantitative Biology
• Secondary Fields
• Year of Graduate Study (G-Year)
• Master's Degrees
• Grade and Examination Requirements
• Conduct and Safety
• Financial Aid
• Non-Resident Students
• Registration

Questions about these requirements? See the contact info at the bottom of the page. 

Program of Study

The PhD degree in Organizational Behavior is awarded by the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

Students will work with faculty in the Harvard Business School (HBS) and take classes within the Department of Sociology or the Department of Psychology within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS).

Each candidate’s program of study will be developed in consultation with the Faculty Chair of the program and the Doctoral Programs Office at HBS. The normal program is outlined below.

The First Two Years

Regular guidance through contact with faculty advisors is an essential component of doctoral education. Students should maintain close contact with their official advisor(s) throughout their enrollment in the program. Students are encouraged to develop informal advising relationships with several faculty members in addition to their official advisor. 

The first-year advisors provide aid during the initial stages of the program but do not necessarily advise the student throughout their studies. Students are matched with initial advisors based on their research interests. As students familiarize themselves with program faculty during coursework, research work, seminars/workshops, and other activities, they may change their official advisor(s) as their academic and research interests develop. During the early years of study, students should become acquainted with many program faculty members to identify advisors who share their research interests.

Micro-Organizational Behavior Track

• Two one-semester courses in foundations of psychology
• Two additional one-semester graduate-level courses in psychology
• One graduate-level elective course in the Social Sciences (“workshop” courses do not fulfill this requirement)
• Two term-length Organizational Behavior courses (HBS 4882 and 4880)
• Two courses in quantitative research methods (FAS courses; sequential courses)
• One course in qualitative research methods
• One course in research design
• Two one-term MBA Elective Curriculum courses (see below)

Sociology Track

• Two one-semester courses on sociological theory (SOC 2204 and 2208)
• Two additional one-semester graduate-level (200-level) Sociology electives (“workshop” courses do not fulfill this requirement)
• Two term-length Organizational Behavior courses (HBS 4882 and 4880) 

MBA Courses

All Organizational Behavior students are required to complete 2 MBA Courses in HBS’ Elective Curriculum (EC) to help them identify managerially relevant research opportunities. Doctoral students will also benefit from learning with the MBA students in their courses, who bring practical real-world perspectives to the classroom conversation. In addition, students will develop relationships with faculty instructors to discuss pedagogy and the integration of research in the classroom.  

Additional requirements for doctoral students in MBA Classes

In addition to completing all regularly assigned course requirements, Organizational Behavior students are required to meet with their MBA Instructors at least twice during the semester to discuss connections between course materials and research opportunities. Students will be responsible for setting an agenda and scheduling the meetings during faculty office hours.

Teaching Fellowships in MBA Curriculum

Students may elect to complete one of the two MBA Course requirements by participating as a Teaching Fellow (TF) in an MBA course. Students are eligible to TF in both Required Curriculum (RC) and EC courses. In order to fulfill an MBA course requirement, the TF is required to:

• attend all class sessions;
• meet with the instructor to discuss connections between the course material and research, as well as to discuss pedagogical decisions made in the classroom.

Note: Being a TF in an MBA course may count as one of the student’s MBA courses as well as the student’s teaching requirement if the student fulfills all dimensions of the teaching requirement. The teaching requirement may be fulfilled in the MBA program by either teaching in three course sessions (either cases or lecture style) or by teaching review sessions (required or optional sessions).​

Research Requirements

Research apprenticeship requirement  .

By the end of the second year of study, students should complete a research apprenticeship with a faculty member affiliated with the program. This research apprenticeship may or may not be a paid position; a typical time commitment would be approximately 100 hours of work. The research work performed during the research apprenticeship should involve the student in the formulation, design, and conduct of a research project in a substantial professional capacity. It should not be limited to routine research tasks typically performed by a “research assistant,” though it may involve some exposure to such work. Students should complete the research apprenticeship requirement not later than the end of the second year of study.

Qualifying Paper Requirement

Students must prepare a qualifying paper that makes a new contribution to knowledge in social psychology, sociology or organizational behavior. It may (but need not) be based on work begun as part of the research apprenticeship, it may be based on a term paper developed in connection with coursework, or it may be based on a student’s independent research activities. Though the qualifying paper is prepared in conjunction with the advice of a faculty committee, it must be original work prepared principally by the student.

The qualifying paper may offer an original interpretation of existing facts, provide new facts in support or disconfirmation of existing interpretations, or both. Its length and quality should resemble that of a research paper suitable for submission for publication in some form. Indeed, the Program’s aspiration is that students will submit their qualifying papers for publication upon completing this requirement.

The student should consult regularly with the chair and other committee members while planning and conducting the research for the qualifying paper, and writing the paper itself. It is typical for qualifying papers to undergo several cycles of revision before they are approved. The paper is acceptable when committee members agree that it is of sufficient quality to merit review for publication in some form, be it as a chapter in an edited work, a specialty journal, or a general journal in organizational behavior or a related discipline.  

The qualifying paper is supervised by a committee consisting of three faculty members, one of whom is designated as the committee chair. The chair will often, but need not necessarily, be a student’s official advisor in the program (see Advising above). Students are encouraged to form a committee in consultation with their advisor, and to include both HBS and FAS faculty among their committee members. Qualifying paper committees must include at least one member of the HBS faculty, and typically will include more than one. The qualifying paper committee needs to be formed and finalized no later than the end of September in the third year.

Students   should begin to work on the qualifying paper requirement by the second year of study.  To be considered in good standing, students should submit the qualifying paper for approval by the end of January in the third year of study. Students who do not complete the qualifying paper by the end of their third year of study are considered to be making unsatisfactory progress and may be withdrawn from the program.

RESEARCH APPRENTICESHIP REQUIREMENT 

By the end of the second year of study, students should complete a research apprenticeship with a faculty member affiliated with the program. This research apprenticeship may or may not be a paid position; a typical time commitment would be approximately 100 hours of work. The research work performed during the research apprenticeship should involve the student in the formulation, design, and conduct of a research project in a substantial professional capacity. It should not be limited to routine research tasks typically performed by a “research assistant,” though it may involve some exposure to such work. Students should complete the research apprenticeship requirement not later than the end of the second year of study. 

The qualifying paper may offer an original interpretation of existing facts, provide new facts in support or disconfirmation of existing interpretations, or both. Its length and quality should resemble that of a research paper suitable for submission for publication in some form. Indeed, the program’s aspiration is that students will submit their qualifying papers for publication upon completing this requirement.

The student should consult regularly with the chair and other committee members while planning and conducting the research for the qualifying paper, and while writing the paper itself. It is typical for qualifying papers to undergo several cycles of revision before they are approved. The paper is acceptable when committee members agree that it is of sufficient quality to merit review for publication in some form, be it as a chapter in an edited work, a specialty journal, or a general journal in organizational behavior or some related discipline.

Students should begin to work on the qualifying paper requirement by the second year of study. To be considered in good standing, the qualifying paper should be approved by the end of January in the third year of study. Students who do not complete the qualifying paper by the end of their third year of study are considered to be making unsatisfactory progress and may be withdrawn from the program.

Organizational Behavior students on the Sociology track should follow procedures for meeting the qualifying paper requirement for graduate students in Sociology as outlined in the Committee on Higher Degrees Procedural Handbook from the Department of Sociology. The chair of the student’s qualifying paper committee must be a member of the Sociology faculty, as must one other committee member. For Organizational Behavior students on the Sociology track, the third member of the qualifying paper committee should be a member of the HBS faculty. Sociology track students may, at their discretion, enroll in the Sociology Department’s qualifying paper workshops (Sociology 310a and Sociology 310b) while working on their qualifying papers.  These workshops are not, however, required of Sociology track Organizational Behavior students and do not satisfy departmental course requirements.

Examinations and Reviews

Organizational behavior (ob) examination.

This examination completes the student's preparation for work on the doctoral dissertation. It is usually taken after all doctoral coursework requirements have been completed; and may be completed at the end of the first or second year. Students who fail the OB examination requirement may retake the exam one time; the exam requirement must be satisfied no later than the end of the student’s third year of study in the Program. The organizational behavior examination requires students to demonstrate conceptual skill and knowledge of existing empirical findings and the ability to move back and forth between theory and practice. 

Third-year dossier review

Soon after completion of the qualifying paper, and in no case later than the end of the third year of study, students undergo a dossier review by a committee consisting of the student’s advisor, one member of the Policy and Admissions Committee (PAC), and one other faculty member. The members of the review committee are selected by the chair of the PAC after consultation with the student and the student’s official advisor.

Students submit a dossier consisting of their CV, qualifying paper, at least two other research papers prepared during their graduate studies at Harvard, and a brief (4-page maximum) statement indicating their plans for future research, including thoughts about their dissertation topic.  The additional papers in the dossier may be term papers prepared in connection with coursework, or papers based on independent research (e.g. prepared in conjunction with the research apprenticeship requirement or other work with faculty). Papers submitted for the dossier review may be coauthored, but the student should be the sole or first author of at least two of the papers submitted for the review.

After the committee reviews the dossier, its members meet with the student to discuss the papers submitted, the student’s future academic plans, plans for the dissertation, or any other matters pertinent to the student’s professional development. The review is intended as a constructive stock-taking of the work the student has conducted in the program to that point, and an occasion to discuss their progress toward meeting the program’s aspirations, as well as plans for proceeding through its final phases.

Upon completion of the dossier review, the student submits a signed Dossier Review form to the Associate Director for PhD Programs in the HBS Doctoral Programs Office.

Students should be mindful from the beginning of their studies that they must present a dossier consisting of at least three papers for this review by the end of their third year of study.

Organizational Behavior Examination

This examination completes the student's preparation for work on the doctoral dissertation. It is usually taken after all doctoral coursework requirements have been completed; and may be completed at the end of the first or second year. Sociology track students often opt to complete as part of general examination. Students who fail the OB examination requirement may retake the exam one time; the exam must be satisfied no later than the end of the student’s third year of study in the program. The organizational behavior examination requires students to demonstrate conceptual skill and knowledge of existing empirical findings and the ability to move back and forth between theory and practice. 

Written General Examination Students on the Sociology track take the written examination offered by the Department of Sociology, following procedures and on the schedule set by the Department, as specified by its Committee of Higher Degrees (CHD) - see the  Committee on Higher Degrees Procedural Handbook .  The exam takes place in August after the first year. In place of one of the two optional areas of the exam, students are required to take the micro organizational behavior section.         

Students submit a dossier consisting of their CV, qualifying paper, at least two other research papers prepared during their graduate studies at Harvard, and a brief (4-page maximum) statement indicating their plans for future research, including thoughts about their dissertation topic. The additional papers in the dossier may be term papers prepared in connection with coursework, or papers based on independent research (e.g. prepared in conjunction with the research apprenticeship requirement or other work with faculty). Papers submitted for the dossier review may be coauthored, but the student should be the sole or first author of at least two of the papers submitted for the review.

After the committee reviews the dossier, its members meet with the student to discuss the papers submitted, the student’s future academic plans, plans for the dissertation, or any other matters pertinent to the student’s professional development. The review is intended as a constructive stock-taking of the work the student has conducted in the Program to that point, and an occasion to discuss their progress toward meeting the Program’s aspirations, as well as plans for proceeding through its final phases.

Research Seminar and Presentation

Starting in the second year, Organizational Behavior students are required to attend a weekly research seminar, where students present their ideas, such as the Work, Organizations and Markets (WOM) seminar or the OB Lab.

Teaching Requirement

Students are required to complete a teaching engagement of one full academic term that includes at least 8 hours, or 3 class sessions, of front-of-class teaching experience and at least 16 hours of teaching preparation time. 

The Dissertation

The doctoral dissertation is the culminating event in the program through which the student develops a substantial original contribution to knowledge in the field of Organizational Behavior. Dissertations may take the form of an extended study of one topic, or a set of three or more related research papers. Students should consult with their advisors and with the PAC about the format of their dissertation. Dissertation requirements are identical for students on the Micro-Organizational Behavior and Sociology tracks of the program.

Prospectus and Dissertation Committee

The dissertation committees consist of a minimum of three faculty members, but larger committees are common.  

Micro-Organizational Behavior track committees are ordinarily chaired by a member of the HBS or FAS faculty, and students should consult the chair of their committee while choosing other members. Committees must include at least two Harvard faculty having ladder appointments, at least one of whom must be from HBS. Ideally dissertation committees will include both HBS and FAS faculty. 

Appointments of non-ladder faculty or scholars outside Harvard as additional committee members require the approval of the chair of the PAC. Any subsequent changes in committee composition also must be approved by the chair of the PAC.

Sociology track committees must include at least one member from the HBS faculty and at least one from the FAS faculty. They are typically chaired by a member of either the HBS or the Sociology faculty, but in unusual circumstances, other Harvard faculty members may chair them with the approval of the chair of the PAC.

Students should consult the chair of their committee while choosing other members. Membership of dissertation committees must be approved by the chair of the PAC. The prospectus committee continues as the student’s dissertation committee after the prospectus is approved. Any changes in committee composition that may be requested by the student or by a committee member must be approved by the chair of the PAC.

Once the prospectus is approved, the student should submit the prospectus approval form, countersigned by all committee members, to the Associate Director for PhD Programs of HBS Doctoral Programs at Wyss Hall. This provides protection for the candidate: if the work outlined in the prospectus is satisfactorily completed, the dissertation will be acceptable—even if the membership on the dissertation committee changes between the prospectus defense and the dissertation defense, e.g., because one or more members leaves the University.

The student then conducts the dissertation research. During this process, they should keep all committee members abreast of developments, especially if they lead to substantial adjustments in the direction or scope of the dissertation work; such adjustments are relatively common. In some instances, interim meetings of the dissertation committee to discuss the progress and direction of the research may be held.

The Dissertation Defense

The dissertation defense is the culmination of the student’s work in the program and should be a celebration of the scholarly achievement and original contribution of the dissertation. The defense takes place before the candidate's dissertation committee and is open to all interested faculty and students.

Students who wish to receive their doctoral degrees at a given November, March, or May graduation must submit a complete draft of the dissertation to all members of their dissertation committee no later than six weeks prior to the Harvard Griffin GSAS filing deadline for that graduation. Students will be informed annually of these program deadlines.

After submitting the draft dissertation, the student must ascertain from members of the dissertation committee that the student may schedule the final defense. The committee may require that students make revisions to the draft, either prior to scheduling a defense or after the defense but before filing the approved dissertation with Harvard Griffin GSAS.

The student must arrange a mutually agreeable date, time, and location for the defense, allowing at least two hours for presentation, discussion, evaluation by the committee, and feedback to the student. It is the student’s responsibility that the dissertation defense be advertised widely and well in advance of the defense so that interested students and faculty will have the opportunity to arrange for their participation. The chair of the PAC and the Doctoral Programs Office at HBS must be informed of the scheduled time for the meeting, at least two weeks in advance.

The defense is chaired by the chair of the dissertation committee. It consists of a brief (roughly 20 minute) presentation of the dissertation by the candidate, followed by a period of questioning by the dissertation committee, and then general discussion and questions from all in attendance. The defense ends with an appropriate celebration of the candidate’s accomplishment.

The student must file appropriate forms, countersigned by all members of the dissertation committee, certifying the successful completion of the dissertation defense with the Associate Director for PhD Programs of HBS Doctoral Programs, and with the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

Contact Info 

Organizational Behavior Website

Harvard Business School Doctoral Programs Office [email protected] 617-495-6101

Explore Events

Ph.D. Program

Cornell university’s ilr school: a world leader in organizational workplace studies.

Cornell University is among the world’s most prestigious research universities, and its ILR School provides a unique, multidisciplinary environment in which to pursue graduate work studying organizations.  Cornell ILR focuses on the world of work, with doctoral programs not only in OB, but also related fields such as human resources, dispute resolution and labor relations, and social statistics.  ILR OB students and faculty often work closely with major organizational scholars in other areas of Cornell as well, including Johnson Graduate School of Management, the School of Hotel Administration, and the Departments of Sociology and Psychology.

Why Cornell’s Organizational Behavior Ph.D. Program?

• Unmatched program breadth and depth
• Access to top scholars
• Guaranteed full funding
• Academic careers at top-notch universities

Recent OB Graduates Have Received Offers and Taken Faculty Positions at the Following Institutions:

• Harvard University, Harvard Business School
• London Business School
• McGill University, Desautels Faculty of Management
• New York University, Stern School of Business
• National University of Singapore, Business School
• University of Chicago, Booth Graduate School of Business
• University of Florida, Warrington College of Business Administration
• University of Maryland, Smith School of Business
• University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management
• Washington University in St. Louis, Olin Business School

Learn More About the Program

• Application deadline: December 15
• Doctoral Program
• Frequently Asked Questions  about the Admissions Process
• Experimental Psychology and Organizations Lab (ExPO)

Alumni Perspective

“I am extremely fortunate to be an alumnus of the OB program in ILR. The faculty are highly respected and at the cutting edge of their research areas. They place a premium on training doctoral students. Personally, I have always felt supported by the entire faculty, and they have been instrumental in preparing me for life as an assistant professor.”

— Michelle Duguid, Assistant Professor, Olin Business School, Washington University in St. Louis (OB Ph.D. 2008)

"The ILR School was an ideal place for me to pursue my multi-faceted interests. While a PhD student, I took advantage of learning, research, and teaching opportunities that stretched across campus. I consider such opportunities invaluable to any student of work and organizations."

— Brandon Lee, Assistant Professor, London Business School (OB Ph.D. 2007)

Contact Information

For more information on Cornell's Ph.D. in Organization Behavior program, please contact: Pamela Tolbert Chair, Organizational Behavior Department ILR School, Cornell University Ph: (607) 255-9527 [email protected]

Next MBA application deadline, May 1. You belong here.

Enter a Search Term

Organizational behavior ph.d., earn a ph.d. in business and a major concentration in organizational behavior.

The Ph.D. In Business and a Major Concentration in Organizational Behavior* prepares students to research fundamental questions about complex organizations as well as the groups and individuals that behave within them, drawing from both psychological and sociological perspectives. Students pursue high-quality research, at multiple levels of analysis, to advance theoretical understanding of the interdisciplinary behavior of organizations, the environments that shape their behaviors, and the psychological and sociological mechanisms that explain them.

A distinguishing feature of the OB Ph.D. program is its broad interdisciplinary training and focus on both “micro” and “macro” organizational behavior. Students are expected to develop proficiency in both areas but may pursue research that draws from either or both approaches. The field of organizational behavior addresses fundamental topics in contemporary organizations that covers the who (e.g., diversity, individual differences, leadership, teams), the how (e.g., networks, power and influence), the why (e.g., affect, cognition, motivation, trust), and the what (e.g., creativity and innovation, employee wellbeing, ethical decision makings, organizational change, performance, social justice and equity) of organizational life.

The main goal of the organizational behavior doctoral program is to train students to do high-quality research in OB and to prepare them for careers as professors of organizational behavior at top academic, research-focused institutions. To achieve this goal, Ph.D. students are required to take courses in organizational behavior, research methods, statistics, as well as disciplinary elective courses in areas such as psychology, sociology, political science and economics. They will also conduct original research and write research papers examining important and relevant issues in organizational behavior. Students are expected to become active in research at the inception of the program and learn through both formal coursework and informal mentorship. The program also has a teaching requirement to prepare students for the teaching responsibilities typical at a top research university.

Organizational Behavior Area Advisor

Daan van Knippenberg

Recruiting for fall 2024.

The Ph.D. in Business and a Major Concentration in Organizational Behavior will begin accepting applications August 1st for Fall 2024 matriculation. The application deadline is December 15, 2023.

Interested in Rice Business?

Keep exploring.

Melinda Peña

Skip to Content

• Undergraduate Programs
• Graduate Programs
• Faculty & Research

Other ways to search:

• Events Calendar

Distinguish your education

with a doctorate from the Leeds School of Business.

PhD in OB Program Flyer    Meet Current Students    Explore FAQs

PhD in Organizational Behavior

You are here.

The Organizational Behavior (OB) doctoral program is a research-based program where students work with world-renowned scholars to build skills that will prepare them for impactful careers as professors in leadership, management, and organizational behavior at business schools.

Overall, the doctoral program places a heavy emphasis on training students through active engagement in the research process. Students develop a strong foundation in research methods and statistics, while closely collaborating with multiple faculty members on research projects.

General details about the curriculum, requirements, and structure of the  program can be found here . Please be aware this document is not an exhaustive list of the requirements for the program.

Program Faculty

Led by Program Director Sabrina Volpone, our award-winning and renowned OB faculty have presented at the White House and are published experts on topics like:

Affect and Emotions

Effective leadership and teamwork

Effectiveness of diversity, equity, and inclusion

Justice and leadership

Latent change score modeling

Race and gender bias

Trust in various social interactions

Workforce diversity and identity management

Workplace emotion and mental health

Russell Cropanzano

David Hekman

Associate Professor

Stefanie Johnson

Dejun “Tony” Kong

Christina Lacerenza

Assistant Professor

Rebecca Mitchell

Sabrina Volpone

Associate Professor • Organizational Behavior PhD Program Director

Program Graduates

The PhD program prepares students to be researchers and teachers at major universities. See where our graduates started their careers and published research.

• Publications
• Liza Barnes   PhD: 2023 Placement: Drexel University Dissertation: A Multi-Perspective Exploration of Employee Medical Leaves of Absence  
• Jessi Rivin PhD: 2023 Placement: San Diego State University Dissertation: Dynamics Between Mental Health and Curiosity in Employee Well-Being  
• Brittany Lambert PhD: 2021 Placement: Indiana University, Bloomington Dissertation: An Exploration of Gender and Mental Health in Traditional and Non-Traditional Work Environments  
• Victor Marsh PhD: 2021 Placement: University of Toronto Dissertation: Diversity Practice Innovation: Design Processes and Employee Perception  
• Hunter Phoenix Van Wagoner PhD: 2021 Placement: California State University, Fullerton Dissertation: An Affective Events Theory Perspective on Mental Health in The Workplace  
• Jessica Kirk PhD: 2019 Placement: University of Memphis Dissertation: Gender Dynamics in the Workplace: A Nuanced Look at Gender Bias and How to Mitigate It  
• Elsa Chan PhD: 2017 Placement: City University of Hong Kong Dissertation: Virtues in organizations: An examination of humility and compassion in leadership and entrepreneurship
• Jenni Dinger  PhD: 2015 Placement: Indiana University Dissertation: An Examination of How Community Social Identity Motivates Crowdfunding of Entrepreneurs and Entrepreneurial Rebuilding after Natural  
• Shayne Kiefer  PhD: 2013 Placement: U.S. Air Force Academy Dissertation: Predicting and Examining Links Between IPO Hype, Managerial Expectations, and Firm Outcomes  
• Daniel Lerner  PhD: 2013 Placement: University of Deusto, Spain Dissertation: Opportunity Pursuit and the Disinhibition Paradox  
• Marilyn Uy  PhD: 2009 Placement: University of Victoria, Canada Dissertation: Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Dissertation: The Roller Coaster Ride: Affective Influences in Entrepreneurial Efforts

Reed, R., Van Wagoner, H. P.,  Cropanzano, R., & Jennings, T. (in press). Assessing the efficacy of online learning in disparate business subjects: Lessons from distributed practice and social learning theory.  Journal of Management Education.  https://doi.org/10.1177/10525629231178916

Volpone, S. D.,  Decker, M.  , &  Reed, R.  (in press). When breaking news breaks class plans: Navigating class discussions when diversity topics are in the news. In O. Holmes, IV (Ed.).  Championing diversity, equity, and inclusion: Effective strategies to lead, teach, and consult across disciplines and demographics.  Palgrave Macmillan Publishing.  

Volpone, S. D., Macoukji, F. G.,  Ragaglia, R. , & Lyons, B. J. (in press). Overcoming biases across the human resource management lifecycle for individuals with a criminal record. In N. C. Jones Young & J. Griffith (Eds.).  Employing our returning citizens: An employer-centric view.  Palgrave Macmillan Publishing.  

Cropanzano, R.,  Keplinger, K., Lambert, B. K.,  Caza, B., & Ashford, S. J. (2023). The organizational psychology of gig work: An integrative conceptual review.  Journal of Applied Psychology, 108  (3), 492–519.  https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0001029

Barnes, L.Y. , Freidin, H., Hoyt Hendricks, H., Pletneva, L., Rocheville, K. (2022). Grief at the Work-Life Interface. Academy of Management Proceedings 2022 (1), 14505. https://doi.org/10.5465/AMBPP.2022.14505symposium

Cropanzano, R., Skarlicki, D., Nadisic, T., Fortin, M.,  Van Wagoner, P.,  &  Keplinger, K.  (2022). When manager become Robin Hoods: A mixed method investigation.  Business Ethics Quarterly, 32  (2), 209-242. https://doi.org/10.1017/beq.2021.16

Hekman, D.R., Cropanzano, R., Chan, E., Kirk, J.F. , Lamb, M., 2022. How illegitimate pay inequality leads to worse performance via aggression and coworker devaluing. Academy of Management Proceedings. Seattle, WA. 1: 15045. 

Kirk, J.F. , Hekman, D.R., Chan, E.T. , Foo, M.D. 2022. Public Negative Labeling Effects on Team Interaction and Performance. Small Group Research. First Published April 6, 2022 online. http://doi.org/10.1177/10464964221082516

Hekman, D.R., Van Wagoner, P. , Owens, B., Mitchell, T.R., Holtom, B., Lee, T.M, Dinger, J. 2022. An Examination of Whether and How Prevention Climate Alters the Influence of Turnover on Performance. Journal of Management. 48: 542-570. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206320978451 

Barnes , L.Y., Bhattacharyya, B., Brauer, M., Desjardins, C., Follmer, K. (2021). Novel Advances on Poorly Understood Challenges Women Face at Work. Academy of Management Proceedings 2021 (1), 15670 . https://doi.org/10.5465/AMBPP.2021.15670symposium

Barnes , L.Y., Colella, A., Greenberg, D. Lacerenza, C.N., Longmire, N., Oelberger, C., Rosado-Solomon, E., McDaniel Sumpter, D., Vogus, T., Volpone, S.D. (2021). With or without you: Relationships and taking stock of their influence on work identity. Academy of Management Proceedings 2021 (1), 15691. https://doi.org/10.5465/AMBPP.2021.15691symposium

Maynard, M.T., S. Conroy, S., Lacerenza, C.N., Barnes, L.Y. (2021). Teams in the wild are not extinct, but challenging to research: A guide for conducting impactful team field research with 10 recommendations and 10 best practices. Organizational Psychology Review. https://doi.org/10.1177/2041386620986597

Barnes , L.Y., Draga, S., Long, D.M., Maitlis, S., Ruttan, R.L. (2020). Navigating Distress: Exploring How People Make Sense of Negative Emotions in Everyday Workplaces. Academy of Management Proceedings 2020 (1), 14075.  https://doi.org/10.5465/AMBPP.2020.14075symposium

Cropanzano, R., Johnson, S. K., &  Lambert, B. K.  (2020). Leadership, affect, and emotion in work organizations. In L-Q. Yang, R. Cropanzano, C. Daus, & V. Martinéz (Eds.),  Cambridge handbook of workplace affect and emotion  (pp. 229-243) .  Cambridge University Press. 

Dinger, J. , Conger, M., Hekman, D.R., Bustamante, C. 2020. Somebody That I Used to Know: The Immediate and Long-Term Effects of Social Identity in Post-disaster Business Communities. Journal of Business Ethics. 166: 115–141. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-019-04131-w 

Evans, J.B., Slaughter, J.E., Ellis, A.P.J., Rivin, J.M. (2020). Gender and the evaluation of humor at work. Journal of Applied Psychology 104 (8), 1077. https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0000395  

Fortin, M., Cropanzano, R., Cugueró-Escofet, N., Nadisic, T., &  Van Wagoner, H. (2020). How do people judge fairness in supervisor and peer relationships? Another assessment of the dimensions of justice.  Human Relations, 73  (12) ,  1632-1663.  https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726719875497

Cropanzano, R., Ambrose, M. A., &  Van Waggoner, H. P.  (2019).  Organizational justice and workplace emotion.  In E. A. Lind (Ed.),  Social psychology and justice  (pp. 243-283) .  Routledge. 

Johnson, S.K., Keplinger, K., Kirk, J.F., Barnes, L.Y. (2019). Has Sexual Harassment at Work Decreased Since #MeToo? Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2019/07/has-sexual-harassment-at-work-decreased-since-metoo

Keplinger, K., Johnson, S.K., Kirk, J.F., Barnes, L.Y. (2019). Women at work: Changes in sexual harassment between September 2016 and September 2018. PloS one 14 (7), e0218313. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0218313

Van Wagoner, P., Embry, E ., Barnes, L.Y., Rivin, J.M., Rick Reed, R . Hekman, D.R., Volpone, S.D., & Johnson, S.K. 2019. Leveraging Diversity to Enhance Inclusion Efforts for Team Processes and Outcomes. Academy of Management Proceedings. Boston, August 2019. https://doi.org/10.5465/AMBPP.2019.15302abstract 

Becker, W. J., Cropanzano, R.,  Van Wagoner, H. P.,  &  Keplinger, K.  (2018). Emotional labor within teams: Outcomes of individual and peer emotional labor of perceived team support, extra-role behavior, and turnover intentions.  Group and Organization Management, 43  (1) ,  38-71.  https://doi.org/10.1177/1059601117707608  [Included in the Editor’s Choice Collection.]

Cropanzano, R.,  Kirk, J., F.,  & Discorfano, S. M. (2017). Organizational justice. In S. G. Rogelberg (Ed.),  Encyclopedia of Industrial/Organizational Psychology  (2 nd  Ed., pp. 1118-1122). Sage Publications.

Hekman, D.R., Johnson, S.K. Foo, M.D. & Yang, W. 2017. Does diversity-valuing behavior result in diminished performance ratings for nonwhite and female leaders? Academy of Management Journal. 60: 771-797. Also summarized and included in the Women and Public Policy Program's Gender Action Portal (GAP – gap.hks.harvard.edu) Highlighted in the following media outlets: • CNN, March 24, 2016 • The Atlantic, April 4, 2016 • Huffington Post, March, 29, 2016 • Fivethirtyeight.com, March 25, 2016 

Hekman, D.R., Johnson, S.K., Cropanzano, R., Kirk, J. , Chan, E., Lamb, M. 2016. How Executive Pay Leads to Racial and Gender Bias, Aggression and Worse Executive Performance. Academy of Management Proceedings. Anaheim, August 2019. 

Johnson, S.K., Hekman, D.R., & Chan, E.T. 2016. If There’s Only One Woman in Your Candidate Pool, There’s Statistically No Chance She’ll Be Hired. Harvard Business Review. April 26, 2016.  https://hbr.org/2016/04/if-theres-only-one-woman-in-your-candidate-pool-theres-statistically-no-chance-shell-be-hired

York, J., Vedula, S., Conger, M. , Hekman, D.R. (2016) Green to Gone: How Institutional Logics Impact the Survival of Social Entrepreneurs. Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research: Vol. 36 : Iss. 15, Article 4. 

Cropanzano, R., Fortin, M., &  Kirk, J. F.  (2015). How do we know when we are treated fairly? Justice rules and fairness judgments. In M. R. Buckley, A. R. Wheeler, & J. R. B. Halbesleben (Eds.),  Research in Personnel and Human Resources Management  (Vol. 33, pp. 279-350). Emerald Publishing. 

Van den Bos, K., Cropanzano, R.,  Kirk, J.,  Jasso, G., & Okimoto, T. G. (2015). Expanding the horizons of social justice research: Three essays on justice theory.  Social Justice Research, 28  (2) ,  229-246.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11211-015-0237-7

Learn more about

Research requirements

Teaching Requirements

• Harvard Business School →
• Doctoral Programs →
• PhD Programs
• Accounting & Management
• Business Economics
• Health Policy (Management)

Organizational Behavior

• Technology & Operations Management
• Program Requirements

Scholars in the doctoral program in Organizational Behavior at Harvard Business School are prepared to pursue an interdisciplinary inquiry into issues that are broadly related to the functioning of individuals within groups, at either the micro or macro level. Graduates of our program go on to become the leading researchers and thinkers in organizational behavior, shaping the field and advancing theoretical understanding in posts at schools of management or in disciplinary departments.

The Organizational Behavior program is jointly administered by the faculty of Harvard Business School and the Department of Sociology in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and students have the opportunity to work with faculty from both the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Harvard Business School.

Curriculum & Coursework

Our program offers two distinct tracks, with research focused either on the micro or macro level. Students who choose to focus on micro organizational behavior take a psychological approach to the study of interpersonal relationships within organizations and groups, and the effects that groups have on individuals. In macro organizational behavior, scholars use sociological methods to examine the organizations, groups, and markets themselves, including topics such as the influence of individuals on organizational change, or the relationship between social missions and financial objectives.

Your core disciplinary training will take place in either the psychology or sociology departments, depending on the track that you choose. You will also conduct advanced coursework in organizational behavior at HBS, and complete two MBA elective curriculum courses. Students are required to teach for one full academic term in order to gain valuable teaching experience, and to work as an apprentice to a faculty member to develop research skills. Upon completion of coursework, students prepare and present a dossier that includes a qualifying paper, at least two other research papers, and a statement outlining a plan for their dissertation. Before beginning work on the dissertation, students must pass the Organizational Behavior Exam, which presents an opportunity to synthesize academic coursework and prepare for an in-depth research project.

Research & Dissertation

Examples of doctoral thesis research.

• Cross-group relations, stress, and the subsequent effect on performance
• Internal group dynamics of corporate boards of directors
• Organizational mission and its effect on commitment and effort
• Psychological tendencies and collaboration with dissimilar others

Aurora Turek

Justine Murray

Jaylon Sherrell

“ In HBS’s Organizational Behavior program I receive outstanding, rigorous training in disciplinary methods and also benefit from the myriad resources that HBS has to offer. HBS scholars are looking to apply their research to real-world problems, come up with interventions, and make a real difference. ”

Current Harvard Sociology & Psychology Faculty

• George A. Alvarez
• Mahzarin R. Banaji
• Jason Beckfield
• Lawrence D. Bobo
• Mary C. Brinton
• Joshua W. Buckholtz
• Randy L. Buckner
• Alfonso Caramazza
• Susan E. Carey
• Paul Y. Chang
• Mina Cikara
• Christina Ciocca Eller
• Christina Cross
• Fiery Cushman
• Frank Dobbin
• Samuel J. Gershman
• Daniel Gilbert
• Joshua D. Greene
• Jill M. Hooley
• Rakesh Khurana
• Alexandra Killewald
• Talia Konkle
• Max Krasnow
• Michèle Lamont
• Ellen Langer
• Joscha Legewie
• Ya-Wen Lei
• Patrick Mair
• Peter V. Marsden
• Katie A. McLaughlin
• Richard J. McNally
• Jason P. Mitchell
• Ellis Monk
• Matthew K. Nock
• Orlando Patterson
• Elizabeth A. Phelps
• Steven Pinker
• Robert J. Sampson
• Daniel L. Schacter
• Theda Skocpol
• Mario L. Small
• Jesse Snedeker
• Leah H. Somerville
• Elizabeth S. Spelke
• Tomer D. Ullman
• Adaner Usmani
• Jocelyn Viterna
• Mary C. Waters
• John R. Weisz
• Christopher Winship
• Xiang Zhou

Current HBS Faculty

• Teresa M. Amabile
• Julie Battilana
• Max H. Bazerman
• David E. Bell
• Ethan S. Bernstein
• Alison Wood Brooks
• Edward H. Chang
• Julian De Freitas
• Amy C. Edmondson
• Robin J. Ely
• Alexandra C. Feldberg
• Carolyn J. Fu
• Amit Goldenberg
• Boris Groysberg
• Ranjay Gulati
• Linda A. Hill
• Nien-he Hsieh
• Jon M. Jachimowicz
• Summer R. Jackson
• Leslie K. John
• Jillian J. Jordan
• Rakesh Khurana
• Joshua D. Margolis
• Edward McFowland III
• Kathleen L. McGinn
• Tsedal Neeley
• Michael I. Norton
• Leslie A. Perlow
• Jeffrey T. Polzer
• Ryan L. Raffaelli
• Lakshmi Ramarajan
• James W. Riley
• Clayton S. Rose
• Arthur I Segel
• Emily Truelove
• Michael L. Tushman
• Ashley V. Whillans
• Letian Zhang
• Julian J. Zlatev

Current Organizational Behavior Students

• Jennifer Abel
• Yajun Cao
• Hanne Collins
• Grace Cormier
• Megan Gorges
• Bushra Guenoun
• Elizabeth Johnson
• Caleb Kealoha
• Kai Krautter
• Justine Murray
• C. Ryann Noe
• Dominika Randle
• Elizabeth Sheprow
• Jaylon Sherrell
• Yoon Jae Shin
• Erin Shirtz
• Samantha N. Smith
• Tiffany Smith
• Channing Spencer
• Yuval Spiegler
• Emily Tedards
• Aurora Turek
• Julie Yen

Current HBS Faculty & Students by Interest

Recent placement, nicole abi-esber, 2023, elliot stoller, 2023, ariella kristal, 2022, leroy gonsalves, 2020, alicia desantola, 2019, catarina fernandes, 2019, rachel arnett, 2018, evan defilippis, 2023, hayley blunden, 2022, lumumba seegars, 2021, karen huang, 2020, stefan dimitriadis, 2019, elizabeth hansen, 2019, erin frey, 2018, jeff steiner, 2023, ahmmad brown, 2022, yanhua bird, 2020, jeffrey lees, 2020, alexandra feldberg, 2019, martha jeong, 2019.

PhD, Organizational Behavior Program

• Find and Compare Programs
• PhD, Organizational Behavior

Who's It For?

Students graduating with a PhD in Organizational Behavior from this program have received valuable initial placements at schools including Louisiana State University, San Francisco State University, University of Missouri, and the University of Hong Kong. 

Program Type Doctoral

Location On Campus

Time Commitment Full Time

Start Date August

Learn More About Our Program

Top Management Researchers

Research and Teaching

A typical student pursuing the PhD in Organizational Behavior would take the following core courses during the first two years of the program: Organizational Behavior, Individual & Interpersonal Processes, Leadership & Group Processes, Research Methods, Strategic Management, and Social Psychology.

All students in the PhD in Business also complete a core curriculum. Follow the link below for details.

Chester A. Schriesheim

Cecily D. Cooper

Terri A. Scandura

Linda L. Neider

Meet your program coordinator.

Related Programs

PhD in Management Science Program

PhD in Operations Management Program

Start Your Miami Journey

• Current Undergraduate Students
• Current Graduate Students

BC.EDU LINKS

• Boston College
• Campus Life
• Jesuit, Catholic
• Academic Calendar
• BC Magazine
• Directories
• Offices, Services, Resources
• Agora Portal
• Maps & Directions
• Ph.D. Programs

• Ph.D. in Accounting
• Ph.D. in Finance
• 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

Recent news.

Decoding Hierarchies in Business: When is Having a Boss a Benefit for an Organization?

“What dream job? Gen Z and millennials are being forced to confront a difficult job market,” Business Insider

BBA Students Develop Targeted Marketing Strategies for Start-Up Mental Health App

Small Changes Can Save Lives: How a Police Officer’s First Words Can Transform Communities 

“Why some ads for the new movie ‘Migration’ are promoting a nonprofit bird rescue,” Fast Company

“A couple that works full-time earns an extra five-figures each month from the 2 franchises they own. They explain 4 keys to creating passive income through franchise investing.” Business Insider

“The dark and bright sides of power,” The Economist

Virtual Reality Revolutionizes Classroom Learning

Introducing the 2023 Sheth Fellows

Goizueta Faculty and Staff Shine with Prestigious Accolades and Honors

IMPACT Students Offer Fresh Solutions for Big Brands and Business Challenges

Pride Month: Working to Help the LGBTQ+ Community Thrive

Pursuing a phd in o&m.

PhD in Organizational Behavior

Develop a high level of professional creativity and interpersonal competence in Weatherhead School of Management’s PhD in Organizational Behavior program. The first of its kind, graduating our first PhD students in 1964, our full-time program sets the standard for universities worldwide. 

United by a passion for generating new knowledge of enduring consequence through scholarly research, inquiry and writing as well as deeply reflective practice, you’ll study in a department consistently ranked among the best in the world—and learn from renowned faculty members who are committed to your success.

At a Glance

The weatherhead way.

At Case Western Reserve, you’ll study at one of the nation’s leading research universities—in one of the country’s most culturally robust neighborhoods. You’ll live and learn in a city known for industry and healthcare innovation, where nearly 40% of Fortune 500 companies are represented. You’ll learn breakthrough business concepts from the people who wrote the book on them.

Plus, you’ll:

• Learn more than just the core skills of business management,
• Discover yourself better as a person and as a leader, and
• Build the skills you need to reach beyond problem solving to solution innovation.

Want to find out how?

Request Information Today

Your PhD, Your Way

Market-driven Curriculum

Our interdisciplinary course of study covers key social science domains such as psychology, sociology, learning theory, organization theory, living systems theory, management science and the organizational dimensions of global sustainability and change. 

Expansive Options

Through mentoring, guidance and professional colleagueship, relationships developed with faculty and fellow students often turn into lifelong networks of personal friendships and professional development.

Become In Demand

Organizational behavior is a vital and growing field of knowledge that is concerned with human and developmental processes across levels of analysis from individuals and groups through organizations, inter-organizational systems and societies. 

The academic roots of the field span the disciplines of individual and social psychology, sociology, anthropology, political science and social philosophy. Organizational behavior situates the knowledge and tools of those disciplines in the context of the human dimensions of organizational life. 

Your Next Step Starts Now

Ready to develop transformational ideas for the betterment of business and society? That’s the Weatherhead way. Get started today:

About Cambridge Judge

• Overview of the Business School
• History and today
• External recognition
• Diversity and inclusion
• Virtual tours
• Jobs at Cambridge Judge
• Giving overview
• Fundraising priorities
• How to give
• Impact and recognition
• Recruiters and organisations overview
• Recruit from Cambridge Judge
• Student consultancy projects
• Develop your talent
• Corporate speaker opportunities
• Special interest groups and societies
• News overview
• Announcements
• Programme news
• Student and alumni news
• Faculty news
• Research centre news
• Fundraising news
• Media coverage
• News room (for journalists)

FT Responsible Business Education Awards: 2 wins for Cambridge Judge

Purpose of Finance course wins top Teaching award and a study on paedophile hunters wins Academic Research award, while Cambridge Judge is Highly Commended for School-wide activities in the Financial Times awards for business education responsibility and impact.

Degree programmes

• Masters degrees overview
• Executive MBA
• Executive Master of Accounting
• Master of Finance (MFin)
• MSt in Entrepreneurship
• MSt in Social Innovation
• MPhil in Management
• MPhil in Technology Policy
• PhD and research masters overview
• PhD pathways
• Business Doctorate
• Master of Research in Management
• MPhil in Finance
• MPhil in Innovation, Strategy and Organisation

MPhil in Strategy, Marketing and Operations

• Management Studies (Tripos)
• Virtual tours of the Business School
• Cambridge life
• Entrepreneurship at Cambridge Judge
• Financial aid
• Admission events

Non-degree programmes

• Entrepreneurship programmes overview
• Accelerate Cambridge
• Enterprise Tuesday
• Venture Creation
• EnterpriseTECH
• EnterpriseWOMEN
• Social Venture Weekend
• First Certificate in Business overview
• For learners
• For organisations
• Executive Education overview
• Online ExecEd programmes
• Open programmes for individuals
• Custom programmes for organisations

Need help funding your degree programme studies at Cambridge Judge?

Explore our scholarship and loan opportunities.

Executive Education

• Open programmes for individuals overview
• Programme finder
• New programmes
• Online programmes
• Managing People
• Managing Organisations
• Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
• Strategy and Growth
• Innovation and Technology
• Professional Service Firms
• Custom programmes for organisations overview
• Open programmes for organisations
• Clients and case studies
• Psychometric services
• Professional service firms
• Certificate of Achievement
• B Corp certification
• Digital certificates
• Visa information
• Meet the team

Not sure which programme is for you?

Search our portfolio of over 40 well-crafted programmes that will expand your skills and understanding in service of your organisational, personal development and career objectives.

• Research and teaching staff
• Honorary appointments
• Subject groups overview
• Economics and Policy
• Operations and Technology Management
• Organisational Behaviour
• Organisational Theory and Information Systems
• Strategy and International Business
• Research centre finder
• Alternative Finance
• Behavioural Economics and Policy
• Business Research
• Chinese Management
• Circular Economy
• Digital Innovation
• Endowment Asset Management
• Energy Policy Research Group
• Entrepreneurship
• Experimental & Behavioural Economics Group
• Finance, Technology and Regulation
• Financial Reporting and Accountability
• Future of Work
• Health Leadership and Enterprise
• India and Global Business
• International Human Resource Management
• Process Excellence and Innovation
• Psychometrics
• Regulatory Genome Project
• Risk Studies
• Social Innovation
• Wo+Men’s Leadership
• Impact and practitioner engagement overview
• Collaborate with our faculty
• Publications overview
• The Cadbury Archive
• Information and Library Services overview
• Research seminars

Faculty and research

• AI and technology
• Behavioural economics
• Career and personal development
• Entrepreneurship and innovation
• ESG and sustainability
• Equality, diversity and inclusion
• Finance and accounting
• Future of work
• Global strategy and international business
• Governance, economics, and policy
• Leadership and organisational behaviour
• Operations management
• Philanthropy
• Social impact

Exploring the rise of the global B Corp movement

The B Corp movement is helping to shift the focus of capitalism from shareholders to all stakeholders: find out how Cambridge fits in.

Find an expert

We have faculty, who can speak on many current UK and global issues, and are happy to be contacted by journalists.

• All insights
• Alumni council
• Regional Alumni groups
• Alumni Special Interest Groups (ASIGs)
• Alumni toolkit
• Alumni profiles
• Get involved
• CJBS network
• CJBS Connects: Worldwide

Join us in achieving real world impact

We invite you to invest in our future and help us to remain at the forefront of global business research and education.

• PhD & research …
• Specialising via a PhD pathway

The Organisatio…

The Organisational Behaviour PhD pathway

• Why a CJBS PhD?
• Accounting PhD pathway
• Business Economics PhD pathway
• Finance PhD pathway
• Marketing PhD pathway
• Operations and Technology Management PhD pathway
• Organisational Behaviour PhD pathway
• Organisational Theory and Information Systems PhD pathway
• Strategic Management PhD pathway overview
• PhD pathways overview

Master of Research (MRes)

• Financing your PhD
• Current students
• Job market candidates
• Visiting students overview
• External PhD scholars
• The Business Doctorate

Organisational Behaviour (OB) is an applied science aimed at understanding individuals and groups in organisations by drawing from various related disciplines such as social and organisational psychology, behavioural economics, and management. OB researchers adopt a micro-perspective, looking into individual psychology and behaviour as well as group processes and emergent states, to understand how they contribute to organisational success and survival.

The Organisational Behaviour faculty at Cambridge Judge comprise some of the leading OB scholars in the world. Their research encompasses a range of topics, including creativity, innovation, psychometrics, big data, the future of work, human-artificial intelligence (AI) collaboration, personality, diversity, decision-making, social networking, culture, helping behaviours, and voice behaviour.

Professor Andreas Richter talks about the Organisational Behaviour pathway.

Hi. My name is Andreas. And I’m a faculty member in Organisational Behaviour, or OB. I’m here to tell you a few things you need to know if you wish to pursue a PhD in OB.

What is OB all about? OB is about how individuals act within society and in organisations, and how their actions in both environments affect each other. Understanding these social processes from a micro perspective is essential for improving how leaders, managers, and individual employees contribute to the effectiveness of an organisational.

Organisational Behaviour at Cambridge Judge Business School is an applied science built on contributions from the behavioural sciences, including social and organisational psychology, decision-making and judgments, behavioural economics and management. And Organisational Behaviour focuses mainly on the effects that individuals and group dynamics such as personality and teamwork have on human Behaviour. It is concerned with how people’s feelings, motivations, and cognitions influence their Behaviour in the organisation and group settings.

At CJBS, OB is an interdisciplinary pathway where faculty from various subject groups are involved. These faculty members studied the areas of leadership, emotions, teams, personality, and other characteristics of executives, big data, and consumers’ self-conceptions in the area of marketing. OB researchers apply a large variety of methods, such as experimental and survey research, archival data analysis, and qualitative methods.

So with these words, I’d like to encourage you to contact us if you are interested in pursing a PhD in OB. And we will be looking forward to talking to you and to hearing from you.

View video with transcript

The pathway

To start on the Organisational Behaviour 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 OB 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

Organisational Behaviours researchers at Cambridge Judge Business School are leading scholars who make significant theoretical and practical contributions to the literature as well as real-world organisations. Their research topics include:

• creativity and innovation
• future of work
• human-artificial intelligence (AI) collaborations
• social network
• decision-making
• personality
• psychometrics

What we expect from you

Our expectations of prospective candidates are high. 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.

You should have a strong motivation to pursue an academic career in a business school and a genuine interest in collaborating with external organisations. Ideal candidates would have a background in psychology, behavioural economics, the social and natural sciences, or other quantitatively oriented subjects, as we seek individuals who are keen to conduct quantitative research. To be considered, it is essential to demonstrate exceptional writing skills and to provide strong evidence of your quantitative abilities. This can be showcased through successful performance in statistics and calculus courses at the university level, or by submitting GRE scores (although GRE scores are not mandatory for your application). While practical management experience is beneficial, it is not a mandatory requirement for application.

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

What you can expect from us

Upon joining us, you can expect an exhilarating journey into the realm of Organisational Behaviour research. Collaborating with world-leading scholars, you will have the opportunity to publish journal articles that significantly expand the current literature, leaving a tangible impact on real-world outcomes. We are committed to providing you with the support and resources necessary to thrive in your research and make a meaningful difference in our field.

• Become part of our team from the outset, you will be treated as a junior colleague rather than a student. Experience a true apprenticeship in the best sense of that word. 
• Work with and be trained by the Organisational Behaviour Group to become an independent researcher. 
• Experience an exciting research programme and produce a portfolio of academic papers that will help you succeed in the job market and gain a junior faculty position following your PhD. 
• Work with faculty on joint research projects for publication in leading academic journals. 
• Take a series of courses focused on research methodology and the foundations of the discipline as well as more advanced research seminars. 
• Learn to critique recent publications and current working papers, enabling you to shape and position your own work as a significant contribution to the academic literature in Organisational Behaviour.  
• Engage in practical research training, where you will develop and execute research projects jointly with faculty members. 
• Develop a coherent and innovative research programme with expert guidance that will form the basis for an interesting and influential academic career.  
• Your research programme may comprise laboratory research, organisational field research and secondary data analysis. 

PhD supervisors

Your principal supervisor will be a senior academic from within the Organisational Behaviour 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: 

Prithviraj Chattopadhyay

Professor of organisational behaviour, read more about prithviraj.

Research interests

Prithviraj Chattopadhyay’s research interests include relational demography and diversity, social identification, employment externalisation, managerial cognition and affect. He works on combining his various interests to develop a more comprehensive understanding of diverse teams.

View Prithviraj's profile

Alberto Feduzi

Management practice professor, read more about alberto.

Decisions often have to be made in situations of extreme uncertainty and in the face of what are sometimes called “unknown unknowns” and the possible “Black Swans” these may give rise to. Alberto Feduzi’s research is concerned with (a) characterising the different types of uncertainty that decision-makers might face in different situations, (b) understanding how decision-makers typically deal with these different types of uncertainty; and (c) developing heuristic approaches to decision-making that might help decision-makers improve the quality of their decisions in situations of uncertainty.

View Alberto's profile

Elizabeth George

Kpmg professor of management studies, read more about elizabeth.

Elizabeth George’s research interests include nonstandard work arrangements and how they affect individuals and organisations, and how dissimilarity in a team affects both the team and the organisation. More recently she’s been exploring the longer terms implications of both nonstandard work and dissimilarity for individual and organisational effectiveness.

View Elizabeth's profile

Yeun Joon Kim

Associate professor in organisational behaviour, read more about yeun.

Creativity and leadership are among the most important momentums for organisational effectiveness and performance. Yeun Joon Kim’s research addresses the questions of (1) how organisations can improve employee creativity, (2) how organisations recognise employees’ creativity given that employees do have many creative ideas, but these ideas die out due to the lack of recognition, and (3) what are the factors that drive specific leadership behaviours.

View Yeun's profile

Andreas Richter

Read more about andreas.

Andreas Richter researches how a team’s context factors (e.g. diversity) and processes affect employee creativity and innovation in both experimental and field settings.

View Andreas' profile

David Stillwell

Professor of computational social science, read more about david.

A large part of our lives is mediated through digital devices which collect big data about us. David Stillwell’s research asks how can we better understand customers, employees or managers from behavioural traces like their social media activity, emails, or purchase records?

View David's profile

PhD advisory team

Dr Jochen Menges and Dr Patrizia Vecchi supervise MPhil dissertations and can be a member of a PhD advisory team.

Organisational Behaviour faculty

Learn more about the faculty that teach on this pathway.

Learn more about the Organisational Behaviour subject group

Learn more about the application process and deadlines

Explore fees and funding options

Contact the admissions team

Management of Organizations

Phd program.

The Management of Organizations (MORS) PhD program trains future academics in the areas of Micro Organizational Behavior (OB) and Macro Organizational Behavior (OB). Topics studied by students and faculty in Micro OB include judgment and decision making, status and power, organizational culture, diversity, negotiations, and nonverbal interaction. Topics studied by students and faculty in Macro OB include social networks, innovation, economic sociology, organizational culture, and entrepreneurship.

Learn more about the MORS PhD program

Next: Seminar