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  • Organizational Behavior
    • Organizational Behavior
    • Program Requirements
    →

Organizational Behavior

Organizational Behavior

  • Program Requirements
In the field of Organizational Behavior, researchers draw on the methods and concepts of psychology and sociology to examine complex organizations and the ways that people behave within them.

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

Throughout the program, students will produce original research both independently and in collaboration with Harvard faculty members. You will also work with your faculty mentors to identify and refine a topic that will constitute the central piece of your dissertation research. Students will then prepare a dissertation prospectus, which must be reviewed by a prospectus committee typically comprised of at least three faculty members. The dissertation requires students to develop substantial original contribution to the field of Organizational Behavior; it can take the form of an extended study of one topic or a set of three or more related research papers.

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
Program Requirements

Profiles

Justine Murray

Organizational Behavior

Ryann Noe

Organizational Behavior

Jaylon Sherrell

Organizational Behavior
“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.”
Evan DiFilippis
2023 Graduate, Organizational Behavior
“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.”
Evan DiFilippis
2023 Graduate, Organizational Behavior

Recent Placement

Hanne Collins, 2024

University of California, Los Angeles, Anderson School of Management, Management and Organizations Department
Advisors: Michael I. Norton, Alison Wood Brooks, Leslie K. John, and Julia Minson

Evan DeFilippis, 2023

Harvard University, Department of Psychology, Greene Lab, Post-Doctoral Fellow
Advisors: Joshua Greene (Chair), Mina Cikara, and Jeffrey T. Polzer

Hayley Blunden, 2022

American University, Kogod School of Business
Advisors: N/A, Alison Wood Brooks, and Leslie K. John

Lumumba Seegars, 2021

Harvard Business School
Advisors: Robin J. Ely (Chair), Lakshmi Ramarajan, and Michele Lamont

Karen Huang, 2020

Georgetown University, McCourt School of Public Policy
Advisors: Alison Wood Brooks,  Max H. Bazerman, Joshua D. Greene, and Michael I. Norton

Stefan Dimitriadis, 2019

University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management
Advisors: Julie Battilana, Metin Sengul, Rembrand M. Koning, and Peter Marsden

Elizabeth Hansen, 2019

Harvard Kennedy School, The Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy, Research Fellow
Advisors: Michael L. Tushman (Chair), Julie Battilana, Leslie A. Perlow, and Christopher Winship

Julie Yen, 2024

Boston University, Questrom School of Business, Management and Organizations
Advisors: Julie Battilana (Chair), Lakshmi Ramarajan, and Daniel Schneider

Jeff Steiner, 2023

New York University, Stern School of Business, Assistant Adjunct Professor
Advisors: Lakshmi Ramarajan (Co-Chair), N/A, and Teresa M. Amabile

Ahmmad Brown, 2022

Northwestern University, School of Education and Social Policy
Advisors: Frank Dobbin(Co-chair), Lakshmi Ramarajan (Co-Chair), and Alexandra C. Feldberg

Yanhua Bird, 2020

Boston University, Questrom School of Management
Advisors: Julie Battilana (Chair), Ya-Wen Lei, Christopher Marquis, and Michael W. Toffel

Jeffrey Lees, 2020

Clemson University
Advisors: Francesca Gino, Mina Cikara, and Adam Waytz

Alexandra Feldberg, 2019

Harvard Business School
Advisors: Kathleen L. McGinn, Michael L. Tushman, Frank Dobbin, and Peter Marsden

Martha Jeong, 2019

Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST), Management Department
Advisors: N/A, Julia Minson, Leslie K. John, and Laura Huang

Nicole Abi-Esber, 2023

London School of Economics and Political Science, Organisational Behaviour, Assistant Professor
Advisors: Alison Wood Brooks (Chair), N/A, Lindred Greer, and Ethan Burris

Elliot Stoller, 2023

University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, School of Government
Advisors: Julie Battilana (Chair), Bart Bonikowski, and Daniel Carpenter

Ariella Kristal, 2022

Columbia Business School, Post-Doctoral fellow (2022-2024)
Advisors: Ashley V. Whillans (Co-Chair), Julian J. Zlatev (Co-Chair), Max H. Bazerman, Iris Bohnet, and David Laibson

Leroy Gonsalves, 2020

Boston University, Questrom School of Business
Advisors: Julie Battilana (Co-Chair), Frank Dobbin (Co-chair), Alexandra Killewald, and Andras Tilcsik

Alicia DeSantola, 2019

University of Washington, Foster School of Business, Department of Management and Organization
Advisors: Ranjay Gulati (Chair), Laura Huang, Rory McDonald, and Frank Dobbin

Catarina Fernandes, 2019

Emory University, Goizueta Business School
Advisors: Jeffrey T. Polzer, Lakshmi Ramarajan, Alison Wood Brooks, and Sujin Jang

Hanne Collins, 2024

University of California, Los Angeles, Anderson School of Management, Management and Organizations Department
Advisors: Michael I. Norton, Alison Wood Brooks, Leslie K. John, and Julia Minson

Julie Yen, 2024

Boston University, Questrom School of Business, Management and Organizations
Advisors: Julie Battilana (Chair), Lakshmi Ramarajan, and Daniel Schneider

Nicole Abi-Esber, 2023

London School of Economics and Political Science, Organisational Behaviour, Assistant Professor
Advisors: Alison Wood Brooks (Chair), N/A, Lindred Greer, and Ethan Burris

Evan DeFilippis, 2023

Harvard University, Department of Psychology, Greene Lab, Post-Doctoral Fellow
Advisors: Joshua Greene (Chair), Mina Cikara, and Jeffrey T. Polzer

Jeff Steiner, 2023

New York University, Stern School of Business, Assistant Adjunct Professor
Advisors: Lakshmi Ramarajan (Co-Chair), N/A, and Teresa M. Amabile

Elliot Stoller, 2023

University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, School of Government
Advisors: Julie Battilana (Chair), Bart Bonikowski, and Daniel Carpenter

Hayley Blunden, 2022

American University, Kogod School of Business
Advisors: N/A, Alison Wood Brooks, and Leslie K. John

Ahmmad Brown, 2022

Northwestern University, School of Education and Social Policy
Advisors: Frank Dobbin(Co-chair), Lakshmi Ramarajan (Co-Chair), and Alexandra C. Feldberg

Ariella Kristal, 2022

Columbia Business School, Post-Doctoral fellow (2022-2024)
Advisors: Ashley V. Whillans (Co-Chair), Julian J. Zlatev (Co-Chair), Max H. Bazerman, Iris Bohnet, and David Laibson

Lumumba Seegars, 2021

Harvard Business School
Advisors: Robin J. Ely (Chair), Lakshmi Ramarajan, and Michele Lamont

Yanhua Bird, 2020

Boston University, Questrom School of Management
Advisors: Julie Battilana (Chair), Ya-Wen Lei, Christopher Marquis, and Michael W. Toffel

Leroy Gonsalves, 2020

Boston University, Questrom School of Business
Advisors: Julie Battilana (Co-Chair), Frank Dobbin (Co-chair), Alexandra Killewald, and Andras Tilcsik

Karen Huang, 2020

Georgetown University, McCourt School of Public Policy
Advisors: Alison Wood Brooks,  Max H. Bazerman, Joshua D. Greene, and Michael I. Norton

Jeffrey Lees, 2020

Clemson University
Advisors: Francesca Gino, Mina Cikara, and Adam Waytz

Alicia DeSantola, 2019

University of Washington, Foster School of Business, Department of Management and Organization
Advisors: Ranjay Gulati (Chair), Laura Huang, Rory McDonald, and Frank Dobbin

Stefan Dimitriadis, 2019

University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management
Advisors: Julie Battilana, Metin Sengul, Rembrand M. Koning, and Peter Marsden

Alexandra Feldberg, 2019

Harvard Business School
Advisors: Kathleen L. McGinn, Michael L. Tushman, Frank Dobbin, and Peter Marsden

Catarina Fernandes, 2019

Emory University, Goizueta Business School
Advisors: Jeffrey T. Polzer, Lakshmi Ramarajan, Alison Wood Brooks, and Sujin Jang

Elizabeth Hansen, 2019

Harvard Kennedy School, The Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy, Research Fellow
Advisors: Michael L. Tushman (Chair), Julie Battilana, Leslie A. Perlow, and Christopher Winship

Martha Jeong, 2019

Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST), Management Department
Advisors: N/A, Julia Minson, Leslie K. John, and Laura Huang
See All Placement

Current Organizational Behavior Students

  • Jennifer Abel
  • Silvan Baier
  • Yajun Cao
  • Grace Cormier
  • Megan Gorges
  • Bushra Guenoun
  • Elizabeth Johnson
  • Akshita Joshi
  • Caleb Kealoha
  • Kai Krautter
  • Justine Murray
  • Mandi Nerenberg
  • C. Ryann Noe
  • Elizabeth Sheprow
  • Jaylon Sherrell
  • Yoon Jae Shin
  • David Shin
  • Erin Shirtz
  • Samantha Smith
  • Tiffany Smith
  • Channing Spencer
  • Yuval Spiegler
  • Emily Tedards
  • Aurora Turek
Current Organizational Behavior Students
  • Jennifer Abel
  • Silvan Baier
  • Yajun Cao
  • Grace Cormier
  • Megan Gorges
  • Bushra Guenoun
  • Elizabeth Johnson
  • Akshita Joshi
  • Caleb Kealoha
  • Kai Krautter
  • Justine Murray
  • Mandi Nerenberg
  • C. Ryann Noe
  • Elizabeth Sheprow
  • Jaylon Sherrell
  • Yoon Jae Shin
  • David Shin
  • Erin Shirtz
  • Samantha Smith
  • Tiffany Smith
  • Channing Spencer
  • Yuval Spiegler
  • Emily Tedards
  • Aurora Turek
Close

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 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
Close

Current HBS Faculty

  • Julie Battilana
  • Max H. Bazerman
  • David E. Bell
  • Ethan S. Bernstein
  • Alison Wood Brooks
  • Alex Chan
  • Edward H. Chang
  • Amy C. Edmondson
  • Robin J. Ely
  • Alexandra C. Feldberg
  • Amit Goldenberg
  • Boris Groysberg
  • Linda A. Hill
  • Jon M. Jachimowicz
  • Summer R. Jackson
  • Leslie K. John
  • Jillian J. Jordan
  • Rakesh Khurana
  • Shirley Lu
  • 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
  • Raffaella Sadun
  • Emily Truelove
  • Michael L. Tushman
  • Ashley V. Whillans
  • Letian Zhang
  • Ting Zhang
  • Julian J. Zlatev
Current HBS Faculty
  • Julie Battilana
  • Max H. Bazerman
  • David E. Bell
  • Ethan S. Bernstein
  • Alison Wood Brooks
  • Alex Chan
  • Edward H. Chang
  • Amy C. Edmondson
  • Robin J. Ely
  • Alexandra C. Feldberg
  • Amit Goldenberg
  • Boris Groysberg
  • Linda A. Hill
  • Jon M. Jachimowicz
  • Summer R. Jackson
  • Leslie K. John
  • Jillian J. Jordan
  • Rakesh Khurana
  • Shirley Lu
  • 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
  • Raffaella Sadun
  • Emily Truelove
  • Michael L. Tushman
  • Ashley V. Whillans
  • Letian Zhang
  • Ting Zhang
  • Julian J. Zlatev
Close

Current HBS Faculty & Students by Interest

Decision-making
  • Max H. Bazerman
  • David E. Bell
  • Alex Chan
  • Edward H. Chang
  • Leslie K. John
  • Edward McFowland III
  • Michael I. Norton
Diversity
  • Edward H. Chang
  • Robin J. Ely
  • Alexandra C. Feldberg
  • Summer R. Jackson
  • Shirley Lu
  • Jeffrey T. Polzer
  • Lakshmi Ramarajan
  • Letian Zhang
Conflict management
  • Amit Goldenberg
  • Kathleen L. McGinn
  • Lakshmi Ramarajan
Economic sociology
  • Summer R. Jackson
  • James W. Riley
  • Letian Zhang
Emotions
  • Amit Goldenberg
  • Jon M. Jachimowicz
Ethics
  • Max H. Bazerman
  • Leslie K. John
  • Joshua D. Margolis
Gender
  • Edward H. Chang
  • Robin J. Ely
  • Alexandra C. Feldberg
  • Kathleen L. McGinn
Group dynamics
  • Robin J. Ely
  • Amit Goldenberg
Human resource management
  • Ethan S. Bernstein
  • Raffaella Sadun
Leadership
  • Rakesh Khurana
  • Joshua D. Margolis
  • Jeffrey T. Polzer
  • Ryan L. Raffaelli
  • Emily Truelove
  • Michael L. Tushman
Incentives
  • Ashley V. Whillans
Negotiation
  • Max H. Bazerman
  • Leslie K. John
  • Kathleen L. McGinn
Organizational behavior
  • Max H. Bazerman
  • Ethan S. Bernstein
  • Edward H. Chang
  • Amy C. Edmondson
  • Boris Groysberg
  • Jon M. Jachimowicz
  • Summer R. Jackson
  • Leslie K. John
  • Rakesh Khurana
  • Joshua D. Margolis
  • Lakshmi Ramarajan
  • James W. Riley
  • Clayton S. Rose
Organizational change & transformation
  • Julie Battilana
  • Tsedal Neeley
  • Ryan L. Raffaelli
  • Emily Truelove
  • Michael L. Tushman
Power & influence
  • Julie Battilana
  • Robin J. Ely
Teams
  • Amy C. Edmondson
  • Jeffrey T. Polzer
Work/family balance
  • Leslie A. Perlow
  • Ashley V. Whillans
Current HBS Faculty & Students by Interest
Decision-making
  • Max H. Bazerman
  • David E. Bell
  • Alex Chan
  • Edward H. Chang
  • Leslie K. John
  • Edward McFowland III
  • Michael I. Norton
Diversity
  • Edward H. Chang
  • Robin J. Ely
  • Alexandra C. Feldberg
  • Summer R. Jackson
  • Shirley Lu
  • Jeffrey T. Polzer
  • Lakshmi Ramarajan
  • Letian Zhang
Conflict management
  • Amit Goldenberg
  • Kathleen L. McGinn
  • Lakshmi Ramarajan
Economic sociology
  • Summer R. Jackson
  • James W. Riley
  • Letian Zhang
Emotions
  • Amit Goldenberg
  • Jon M. Jachimowicz
Ethics
  • Max H. Bazerman
  • Leslie K. John
  • Joshua D. Margolis
Gender
  • Edward H. Chang
  • Robin J. Ely
  • Alexandra C. Feldberg
  • Kathleen L. McGinn
Group dynamics
  • Robin J. Ely
  • Amit Goldenberg
Human resource management
  • Ethan S. Bernstein
  • Raffaella Sadun
Leadership
  • Rakesh Khurana
  • Joshua D. Margolis
  • Jeffrey T. Polzer
  • Ryan L. Raffaelli
  • Emily Truelove
  • Michael L. Tushman
Incentives
  • Ashley V. Whillans
Negotiation
  • Max H. Bazerman
  • Leslie K. John
  • Kathleen L. McGinn
Organizational behavior
  • Max H. Bazerman
  • Ethan S. Bernstein
  • Edward H. Chang
  • Amy C. Edmondson
  • Boris Groysberg
  • Jon M. Jachimowicz
  • Summer R. Jackson
  • Leslie K. John
  • Rakesh Khurana
  • Joshua D. Margolis
  • Lakshmi Ramarajan
  • James W. Riley
  • Clayton S. Rose
Organizational change & transformation
  • Julie Battilana
  • Tsedal Neeley
  • Ryan L. Raffaelli
  • Emily Truelove
  • Michael L. Tushman
Power & influence
  • Julie Battilana
  • Robin J. Ely
Teams
  • Amy C. Edmondson
  • Jeffrey T. Polzer
Work/family balance
  • Leslie A. Perlow
  • Ashley V. Whillans
Close
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