Faculty & Research

Organizational Behavior

Organizational Behavior

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About the Unit

Through its research, teaching, and course development, the Organizational Behavior Unit creates and disseminates knowledge that advances the understanding of how to lead and manage with the aim of increasing personal and organizational effectiveness. Although specific research interests span a wide range of subjects, the faculty share a problem driven, interdisciplinary, multi method approach that has led to significant impact on theory and practice.

Our current intellectual agenda builds on the rich history of OB at HBS and focuses squarely on the organizational changes and challenges arising from today's increasingly global and more competitive economy. In the last decade, the faculty have been recognized for their work on leadership in an increasingly diverse and dynamic environment, the evolution of managerial careers in our society, managing diversity, and organizational design and change to meet evolving needs and expectations in a changing world.

Recent Publications

What are Agile Teams?

By: Tsedal Neeley
  • February 2021 |
  • Tutorial |
  • Faculty Research
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What is AI?

By: Tsedal Neeley
  • February 2021 |
  • Tutorial |
  • Faculty Research
Related

Action Plans

By: Tsedal Neeley
  • February 2021 |
  • Tutorial |
  • Faculty Research
Related

Cinépolis

By: Joshua D. Margolis and Fernanda Miguel
  • January 2021 |
  • Case |
  • Faculty Research
Two weeks after Cinepolis released a documentary film about corruption, a judge ordered its provisional suspension, claiming it had to be edited before it continued to be shown, against Mexican cinematography laws. Cinépolis, Latin America’s largest movie theater chain and the fourth largest in the world, welcoming 134 million moviegoers in 2011, had never distributed a film in its 40-plus years of existence, nor had there ever been an instance of pro-bono distribution in Mexico. Presumed Guilty, the country's highest grossing documentary, not only achieved commercial success but also fueled a revolution in Mexico’s judicial system. Alejandro (as he was called by everyone who worked with him) knew he faced a difficult decision. What risks would Cinépolis run if he chose to fight for freedom of speech? How far was he willing to take such a fight?
Keywords: Movies; Entertainment; Corruption; Risk Assessment; Communication Strategy; Crime And Corruption; Decision Making; Film Entertainment; Ethics; Leadership; Risk Management; Entertainment And Recreation Industry; Motion Pictures And Video Industry; Mexico; Latin America; North And Central America
Related

Rio Tinto Aluminum: Can Purpose Lead to Profit?

By: David Fubini and Agastya Muthanna
  • January 2021 |
  • Case |
  • Faculty Research
This case describes the tradeoffs Rio Tinto faces as it considers investments to ensure environmentally friendly, sustainability produced aluminum with the potential risks of competitive pricing and profit loses.
Keywords: Mining Industry
Related

Digital Transformation 2.0: CEO Elie Girard at Atos

By: Tsedal Neeley and James Barnett
  • January 2021 |
  • Case |
  • Faculty Research
Elie Girard has taken the helm as CEO of Atos—multinational IT giant—to lead the company into the next era of digital transformation. Noticing that customers’ digital needs were evolving to become even more specialized and global in scope, he made a bold first step as leader: restructure the organization from a service-based model to a portfolio built around specific industry verticals, while competitors were moving in the other direction with the conviction that digital disruption had dissolved industry barriers. Underpinning Girard’s new digital blueprint were four pillars—the cloud, data, cybersecurity, and decarbonization—which he had fortified with a steady M&A strategy resulting in nine acquisitions. But decarbonization—reducing carbon emissions into the atmosphere through strategic use of digital technology—was a brand-new dimension with big questions about its feasibility. The environmental approach was controversial in different parts of the world. To add to the uncertainty, the COVID-19 pandemic had suddenly turned the world upside down, forcing organizations to transition into remote work overnight. In the middle of a global health crisis and ensuing economic fallout, could Girard afford to make such drastic organizational structure changes that flew in the face of industry trends? Would his decision disqualify Atos from the race with competitors, or was it the only way to serve customers in even greater need of digital solutions?
Keywords: Restructuring; Change; Leadership; Technology Industry
Related

Tech with a Side of Pizza: How Domino's Rose to the Top

By: Boris Groysberg, Sarah L. Abbott and Susan Seligson
  • January 2021 (Revised February 2021) |
  • Case |
  • Faculty Research
After hitting an all-time low in 2008, Domino’s Pizza underwent a vigorous rebranding, product development, and embraced innovative technologies to become the world’s leading international fast-food retailer. Domino’s considered itself as much a tech company as it was a purveyor of fast food, with digital orders accounting for a high percentage of sales. Domino’s was run more like a Silicon Valley company than a fast food chain and was described by CEO Patrick Doyle as “a technology company that delivers pizza.” As it bested rivals like Pizza Hut and Papa John’s, Domino’s declared itself “The Official Food of Everything.” In 2020, as much of the world remained in lockdown Domino’s, which offered delivery options from drones to driverless vehicles, saw a jump in sales. How did Domino’s become the world’s leading restaurant?
Keywords: Digital Marketing; Digital Technology; Innovation; Scaling; Data Analytics; Technological Innovation; Technology; Strategy; Management; Marketing; Operations; Human Resources; Entrepreneurship; Change Management; Analysis; Performance; Customers; Growth And Development; Competitive Advantage; Employees; Training; Leadership Development; Food And Beverage Industry; Technology Industry; United States
Related

Rosalind Fox at John Deere

By: Anthony Mayo and Olivia Hull
  • January 2021 |
  • Teaching Note |
  • Faculty Research
Related
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Contact Information

Organizational Behavior Unit
Harvard Business School
Morgan Hall
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
OB@hbs.edu