Managerial and Organizational Behavior

Managerial and organizational behavior (MOB) focuses on how people use information and make decisions and how they interact with one another in dyads, groups, and organizations. Studies in this area draw on theory and research from cognitive and social psychology, economics, and other related fields.

MOB applies these disciplines to the study of human behavior relevant to a range of different managerial contexts. Examples include:

• cognitive processes of judgment and decision making
• psychological aspects of economic behavior
• learning, reasoning, and problem solving by individuals, groups, and organizations
• processes of negotiations
• power and influence
• teamwork and group processes
• organizational decision making

Students may design their research based on their intellectual interests in business and other areas as well as on their career intentions. MOB students take courses in other departments such as psychology, sociology, public policy, and economics, depending on what is most relevant to their research.

Joint PhD Program in Psychology and Business

The Joint Program in Psychology and Business was established in the 2009 - 10 academic year and is overseen jointly by the Department of Psychology in the Division of Social Sciences and MOB dissertation area at Chicago Booth. The aim of this program is to connect the large number of social, cognitive, and organizational psychologists at Chicago Booth and the Department of Psychology. Students wishing to apply to the Joint PhD Program in Psychology and Business should indicate their interest by selecting both the MOB dissertation area and the Joint Program options on the Booth PhD Program application.

For details on the specifics of managerial and organizational behavior as a dissertation area and a support area, see General Examination Requirements - By Area in the PhD Program Guidebook (PDF).

To learn more about the research being done by current PhD students, please view a listing of proposals and defenses across dissertation areas.

For managerial and organizational behavior faculty, please access the faculty directory to sort by academic area.

Actions