PhD
Organization Studies
Organization Studies is a multidisciplinary group that brings together the concepts and research methodology of social psychology, sociology, anthropology, and other social sciences. The Organization Studies research group focuses on interactions across individuals, groups, organizations, and institutions, as well as organizational processes themselves. Faculty members—including Deborah Ancona, Kate Kellogg, Erin Kelly, Ray Reagans, and John Carroll—study topics such as distributed leadership, AI in everyday work, social capital, and the future of work.
Research from Organization Studies Faculty
How ‘learnrights’ would compensate creators for AI model training
Learnright laws would give copyright holders the exclusive right to license their content for artificial intelligence model training.
How generative AI ‘persuasion bombs’ users — and how to fight back
When professionals try to validate outputs, generative AI often responds not with corrections or candor but with escalating persuasion tactics.
From Simulation to Strategy: Climate Modeling Motivates Action at the Top
New research by MIT Sloan finds that leaders who participate in engagements using an interactive climate policy simulator, En-ROADS, demonstrated a stronger understanding of climate solutions
Use this AI tool to ask better questions, get more authentic results
The new Question Burst Catalyst tool from MIT Sloan’s Hal Gregersen helps leaders use LLMs as a creative thought partner to help surface ideas that truly matter.
Select Organization Studies Faculty
Standing Faculty
Deborah L. Ancona
Seley Distinguished Professor of Management
Deborah Ancona is the Seley Distinguished Professor of Management, a Professor of Organization Studies, and the Founder of the MIT Leadership Center at the MIT Sloan School of Management. Her pioneering research into how successful teams operate has…
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Jared R. Curhan
Gordon Kaufman Professor of Management
Jared Curhan is the Gordon Kaufman Professor and a Professor of Work and Organization Studies at the MIT Sloan School of Management, as well as Faculty Director of MIT’s Behavioral Research Lab. Curhan specializes in the psychology of negotiation…
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Example PhD Thesis Topics
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Raquel Kessinger (2024)
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James Mellody (2024)
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Alan Zhang (2024)
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Vanessa Conzon (2021)
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Jenna Myers (2021)