The PhD program in International Management Studies (IMS) is offered by the
Organizations, Strategy and International Management (OSIM) area and focuses on the scholarly analysis
of international, strategic and organizational management issues. Topics such as multinational
management, global business strategy, organizational design and change, technological and industrial
development, corporate governance, managerial decision-making, leadership, trust and workforce
management are examined.
Students have the opportunity to be involved in ongoing research projects under the mentorship of
experienced faculty. The emphasis is on student involvement in research early in their graduate careers.
Close interaction with faculty members enables students to quickly learn to identify and develop
research ideas and create their own research agenda. Our IMS PhD students are a multinational, energetic
and collegial group coming from countries such as China, Germany, India, South Korea, Turkey and the
United States. They are intelligent, hard-working and active in research, publishing academic papers
during and after they graduate from our program (see Student
Publications section below).
Students also develop teaching competence under faculty mentorship through teaching one or two sections
of an undergraduate course, a relatively light teaching load compared to many other PhD programs’
requirements. Several of our PhD students (current and former), Nan Guo, Miranda Welbourne-Eleazar,
Xiaoou Bai, Brian Pinkham, Canan Mutlu and Yasuhiro Yamakawa, won the Best Teacher Award in the “TA/PhD
Instructor” category in the Jindal School of Management, indicating that they were the best instructors
among over 100 PhD students of the school. Another graduate, Sergey Lebedev, won the Best Dissertation
Award at the Jindal School of Management.
Connect with the Director
Seung-Hyun Lee, PhD
PhD Area Coordinator, Strategy and International Management
Welcome to the PhD Program in International Management Studies. IMS was the first graduate degree
offered by the Jindal School of Management, which started in the 1970s and has remained a center of
excellence ever since.
Our program is deliberately kept small. All admitted students are offered a competitive assistantship
package consisting of a stipend and a tuition scholarship. Since 2005, all of our graduates have secured
tenure-track assistant professorships at business schools that offer graduate degrees, such as Georgia
State University, Virginia Tech University, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Iowa,
University of Massachusetts at Amherst and University of Notre Dame as well as City University of Hong
Kong, Tsinghua University and University of Warwick. During and shortly after their tenure in our
program, they have successfully published in the Academy of Management Journal,
Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of Business Venturing, Journal of
International Business Studies, Management Science, Organization
Science, Strategic Management Journal as well as other leading journals.
Suyash Garg – Semi-Finalist of the Best Ph.D. Student Paper Award, the 42nd
Strategic Management Society Annual Conference, for the Paper Titled “Board Caste Diversity in
Indian MNEs: The Interplay of Stakeholder Norms and Social Embeddedness,” (Suyash Garg,
Zhiang Lin, and Haibin Yang), 2022.”
Miranda Welbourne-Eleazar – Honorable mention for the Best Dissertation Award
hosted by the Office of Graduate Education
2021
Jung-Hyun Kwon
Winner (1st place), Award & Scholarship ($3,000 and other supports from the PDMA),
PDMA−Journal of Product Innovation Management Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Competition,
Journal of Product Innovation Management Research Forum, 2021 Product Development and
Management Association (PDMA) Annual Conference, Online, Nov. 2021
Recipient, Award & Scholarship ($1,000), Samsung Economic Research Institute Best
Dissertation Award, Association of Korean Management Scholars (AKMS), 2021 Academy of
Management Annual Meeting, Online, Aug. 2021
Suyash Garg – Finalist of the Best Paper Award in Emerging Economics Research,
Academy of International Business, for the Paper Titled “Do Firms in India Embrace Board
Diversity? The Roles of Social Embeddedness in Firms’ Strategic Adaptation to Stakeholder
Norms,” (Suyash Garg and Zhiang Lin), 2021.”
Nan Guo – Jindal School of Management Outstanding Teaching Award Winner (PhD
student category): one of the two awardees (September 9th, 2021)
Yundong Yeo – Three Minute Dissertation Video Competition Award Winner
2020
Hun Nguyen – Winner of the Sumantra Ghoshal Research and Practice Award, Academy of
Management, for the Paper Titled “Stakeholder Dependency and Female CEO Succession,” (Huy
Nguyen and Zhiang Lin), 2020.”
Ashley Leete – Semi-Finalist of the Best Ph.D. Student Paper Award, Strategic
Management Society, for the Paper Titled “An Institutional-Based Property Rights Perspective on
Foreign IPO Failures,” (Ashley Leete and Zhiang Lin), 2020.”
Jinsil Kim & Miranda Welbourne-Eleazar – Best Paper Award for Careers, Social
Issues, Diversity Issues, Ethics Track, Southern Management Association Annual Meeting for Kim, J.,
Astvansh, V., & Welbourne Eleazar, M. J. Product Recalls and Lobbying: Managing Multi-Stakeholder
Impressions and Perceived Hypocrisy
2019
Miranda Welbourne-Eleazar – Jindal School of Management Outstanding Teaching Award
Winner (PhD student category)
Canan Mutlu – Jindal School of Management Outstanding Teaching Award Winner (PhD
student category)
Steve Sauerwald – Winner of Distinguished Paper Award, the Business Policy and
Strategy Division, the 2013 Academy of Management Annual Meeting, for the Paper Titled “Board
Social Capital and Excess CEO Compensation,” (Steve Sauerwald, Zhiang Lin, and Mike Peng),
2013.
2006
Yasuhiro Yamakawa – Jindal School of Management Outstanding Teaching Award Winner
(PhD student category)
Placements
With a strong emphasis on training the next generation of researchers, the Organization, Strategy and
International Management (OSIM) program provides students with a challenging and dynamic learning
environment. Our faculty members are committed to student success in research and extensively collaborate
with students on crafting research papers. Some of our faculty members, such as John Lin and Riki
Takeuchi, have been recognized for their dedication to student development.
The goal of the OSIM program is to educate future researchers in management. Students graduate from the
program with the knowledge and skill set for producing quality research. Nearly all of our recent graduates
have secured tenure-track positions at universities offering graduate degrees.
Selected University Placements – PhD in International Management Studies
Year
Name
Placement
2025
Suyash Garg
University of North Texas
2025
Jia Shen
University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley
2025
You-Xiang Song
University of Auckland
2024
Nan Guo
Chinese University of Hong Kong
2024
Deng Shu
University of Mississippi
2024
Ryan Teschner
City University of New York
2024
Jiyu Wang
Marymount University
2023
Pavithra Balaji
McMaster University, Ontario, Canada
2023
Minjung Lee
St. Louis University
2023
Jianan Li
Towson University
2023
Yu (Luna) Liu
Stevens Institute of Technology
2022
Jung H. Kwon
University of Denver
2022
Nishant Kathuria
Towson University
2022
Yundong Yeo
San Diego State University
2021
Dong Shin Kim
University of North Georgia
2021
Jyun Kim
Pusan University, Pusan South Korea
2021
Xiaoou Bai
Georgia State University
2021
O. Dorian Boncouer
University of Notre Dame
2021
Miranda Welbourne Eleazar
University of Iowa
2019
Jihyun Eun
Salisbury University
2019
Congying Wang
St. Cloud State University
2018
Young-Hoon Jung
California State University, Bakersfield
2018
Ayenda Kemp
Virginia Tech
2018
Xiujuan Li
University of Warwick
2018
Huy Nguyen
Montclair State University
2018
Cristina Vlas
University of Massachusetts Amherst
2017
Jinsil Kim
College of New Jersey
2017
Soo Jung Kim
Texas A&M University at Central Texas
2016
Pawinee Changphao
Narusuan University
2016
Sergey Lebedev
San Francisco State University
2016
Carliss Miller
Sam Houston State University
2016
HoWook Shin
Bowling Green State University
2015
Canan Mutlu
Kennesaw State University
2014
Craig Macaulay
California State University at Long Beach
2014
Steve Sauerwald
University of Illinois at Chicago
2013
Dane Blevins
Binghamton University, SUNY
2013
Omer Gokalp
Suffolk University
2013
Jing ‘Martina’ Quan
Renmin University of China
2013
Ciprian Stan
Florida Atlantic University
2013
Weichieh Su
National Chengchi University
2012
Sungjin Hong
Queen’s University Belfast
2012
Brian Pinkham
Ivery Business School
2012
Erin Pleggenkuhle-Miles
University of Nebraska at Omaha
2011
Hao Chen
Tsinghua University
2011
David H Weng
City University of Hong Kong
2010
Sunny Li Sun
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Student Publications
Most of our students succeed in publishing quality research. Even before graduation, some students have
already published their work in leading journals, often in collaboration with faculty and recent
graduates. Some outlets are commonly regarded as top journals, such as the Academy of Management
Journal, Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of International Business
Studies, Management Science, Organization Science and
Strategic Management Journal.
Below are examples of students’ journal publications with our faculty, including those in the UTD 24 leading business
journals and the Financial Times top 50 journals.
2025
Lee, M. J., Eun, J., & Jung, Y. H. 2025. Market performance and the loss aversion behind
green management. Journal of General Management, 50(1), 203–219.
Qian, C., Liu, Y., Takeuchi, R., & Wu, J.2025. Stakeholder treatment disparity and employee whistleblowing: A multi-stakeholder
framework. Strategic Management Journal, 46(4): 898-928.
Takeuchi, R., Li, J. T., Kim, H., & Shay, J. P. 2025. The impacts of structural configurations on expatriates’ organizational commitment and assignment completion intention. Journal of International Business Studies, 56(1): 244-258.
Takeuchi, R., Qian, C., Liu, Y., & Wu, J. 2025, March 6th. Research: Whistleblowing is more common when CEOs are overpaid. Harvard Business Review.
Takeuchi, R., Shay, J. P., & Kim, H. 2025, January 27th. Research: How companies can support managers they send abroad. Harvard Business Review.
2024
Liu, Y., Park, H. D., & Velamuri, R. 2024.
How different institutional logics affect the female CEO gender effect on IPO underpricing in China.
Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, 48(2): 451-477.
Qian, C., Balaji, P., Crilly, D., & Liu, Y.
2024. Better safe than sorry: CEO regulatory focus and workplace safety.
Journal of Management, 50(4): 1453-1487.
2023
Garg, S., Lin, Z., & Yang, H. 2023. Board caste
diversity in Indian MNEs: The interplay of stakeholder norms and social embeddedness. Journal
of International Business Studies, 54(5): 797-828.
Oh, S. H., Hur, W. M., & Kim, H.. 2023. Employee creativity in
socially responsible companies: Moderating effects of intrinsic and prosocial motivation.
Current Psychology, 42(21): 18178-18196.
Jiang, H., Luo, Y., Xia, J., Hitt, M., & Shen, J.2023. Resource
dependence theory in international business: Progress and prospects. Global Strategy
Journal, 13(1): 3-57.
Peng, M. W., Wang, J. C., Kathuria, N., Shen,
J., & Welbourne Eleazar, M. J.2023. Toward an institution-based view.
Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 40: 353-382.
Takeuchi, R., Way, S. A., Guo, N., & Tian, A. 2023. A
cross-level investigation of high-investment human resource systems on group/individual performance:
Role of justice climates. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 34(8):
1584-1618.
2022
Hu, L., Jiang, N., Huang, H., & Liu, Y. 2022. Perceived competence overrides gender
bias: Gender roles, affective trust and leader effectiveness. Leadership & Organization
Development Journal, 43(5): 719-733.
Kim, S. J., Lee, S.-H., & Yeo, Y. D. 2022. Work-family conflict
and microfinance diversion. Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, 16(3): 552-572.
Shin, H. W., Lee, S.-H., & Lee, M. J. 2022. Impact of the
liability of foreignness, domicile of incorporation and an institutional change on reverse merger
firms’ capital-raising performance. Multinational Business Review, 30(1): 81-102.
Welbourne-Eleazar, M. J. 2022. Immoral entrenchment: How crisis reverses the ethical
effects of moral intensity. Journal of Business Ethics, 180: 71-89.
Welbourne Eleazar, M. J., & Park, H. D. 2022. Who will stay when
crisis strikes? Venture capitalist threat-defiant learning response to ventures in crisis.
Academy of Management Journal, 65(4): 1218-123.
2021
Jiang, H., Wang, Z., Yang, L., Shen, J., & Hahn, J. 2021. How rewarding are your
rewards? A value-based view of crowdfunding rewards and crowdfunding performance.
Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 45(3): 562-599
Kwon, J. H., Park, H. D., & Deng S. 2021. When
do firms trade patents? Organization Science, 33(3): 1212-1231.
Peng, M. W., & Kathuria, N. 2021. COVID‐19 and the Scope of the
Firm. Journal of Management Studies, 58(5): 1431-1435.
Peng, M. W.,Kathuria, N., Viana, F. L. E., & Lima, A. C. 2021.
Conglomeration, (de) globalization, and COVID-19. Management and Organization Review,
17(2): 394-400.
Takeuchi, R., Guo, N., Teschner, R. S., &
Kautz, J. 2021. Reflecting on death amidst COVID-19 and individual creativity:
Cross-lagged panel data analysis using four-wave longitudinal data. Journal of Applied
Psychology, 106(8): 1156-1168
Yeo, Y. D., & Lee, S. H. 2021. Real options flexibility or risk
diversification: Risk management of U.S. MNEs when facing risk of war. Multinational Business
Review, 29(4):476-500.
2020
Bai, X., Tsang, E.W.K., & Xia, W. 2020. Domestic versus foreign
listing: Does a CEO’s educational experience matter? Journal of Business Venturing,
35(1): 105906.
Chen, H., Richard, O. C.. Boncoeur, O. D., &
Ford, D. L., Jr. 2020. Work engagement, emotional exhaustion, and counterproductive
work behavior. Journal of Business Research, 114: 30-41.
Richard, O. C.*,Boncoeur, O. D.*, Chen, H., &
Ford, D. L., Jr. 2020. Supervisor abuse effects on subordinate turnover intentions
and deviant behavior: The role of power distance orientation and perceived HR climate. Journal
of Business Ethics, 164: 549-563
2019
Blevins, D.P., Ingram, A., Tsang, E.W.K., & Peng,
M.W. 2019. How do foreign initial public offerings attract investor attention? A
study of the impact of language. Strategic Organization, 17(3): 363-384.
Richard, O. C., Avery, D., Luksyte, A., Boncoeur, O. D., &
Spitzmüller, C. 2019. Improving organizational newcomers’ creative job performance through creative
process engagement: The moderating role of synergy diversity climate. Personnel
Psychology, 72: 421-444
Triana, M., Richard, O. C. & Su, W. 2019. Gender diversity in senior
management, strategic change, and firm performance: Examining the mediating nature of strategic
change in high tech firms. Research Policy, 48(7): 1681-1693.
Wang, J.C., Markoczy, L.,Sun, S.L., & Peng,
M.W. 2019. She-E-O compensation gap: A role congruity view. Journal of
Business Ethics, 159(3): 745–760.
Yang, C., Guo, N., Wang, Y., & Li, C. (2019). The effects of mentoring on hotel
staff turnover: Organizational and occupational embeddedness as mediators. International
Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 31: 4086-4104.
Yi, J., Meng,S., Macaulay, C.D., & Peng, M.W. 2019. Corruption and
foreign direct investment phases: The moderating role of institutions. Journal of
International Business Policy, 2(2): 167-181.
Zhu, S., Ma, X., Sauerwald, S., & Peng, M.W. 2019. Home country
institutions behind cross-border acquisition performance. Journal of Management, 45(4):
1315-1342.
2018
Kim, J., Weng, D., & Lee, S.-H. 2018. How does home country bribery
affect firms’ foreign market focus? The case of firms in transition economies. Multinational
Business Review, 26(3): 225-249.
Lee, S.-H.,Ozer, M., & Baik, Y. 2018. The impact of political
connections on government bailout: The 2008 credit crunch in the United States. Economics of
Governance, 19(4): 299-315.
Macaulay, C., Richard, O.C., Peng, M.W., &
Hasenhuttl, M. 2018. Alliance network centrality, board composition, and corporate
social performance. Journal of Business Ethics, 151(4): 997-1008.
Mutlu, C.C., van Essen, M., Peng, M.W., Saleh, S., & Duran, P.
2018. Corporate governance in China: A meta-analysis. Journal of Management Studies,
55(6): 943–979.
Peng, M.W.,Lebedev, S., Vlas, C., Wang,
J.C., & Shay, J. 2018. The growth of the firm in (and out of) emerging
economies. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 35(4): 700-729.
Peng, M.W.,Nguyen, H.W., Wang, J.C.,
Hasenhuttl, M., & Shay, J. 2018. Bringing institutions into
strategy teaching. Academy of Management Learning and Education, 17(3): 259-278.
Peng, M.W., Sun, W., Vlas, C., Minichilli, A., & Corbetta, G. 2018.
An institution-based view of large family firms. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice,
42(2): 187–205.
Sauerwald, S., van Oosterhout, J., van Essen, M., and Peng, M.W.
2018. Proxy advisors and shareholder dissent: A cross-country comparative study. Journal of
Management, 44(8): 3364-3394.
Weng, D.H., & Peng, M.W. 2018. Home bitter home: How labor
protection influences firm offshoring. Journal of World Business, 53(5): 632-640.
Gokalp, O.N., Lee, S.-H., & Peng, M.W. 2017.
Competition and corporate tax evasion: An institution-based view. Journal of World
Business, 52(2): 288–269.
Peng, M.W., & Lebedev, S. 2017. Intra-national business (IB).
Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 34(2): 241–245.
Pinkham, B.C., & Peng, M.W. 2017. Overcoming institutional voids
via arbitration. Journal of International Business Studies, 48(3):
344–359.
Sun, S.L., Peng, M.W., & Tan, W. 2017. Institutional relatedness
behind product diversification and geographic diversification. Asia Pacific Journal of
Management, 34(2): 339–366.
2016
Sauerwald, S., Lin, Z., & Peng, M.W. 2016. Board
social capital and excess CEO returns. Strategic Management Journal,
37(3): 498-520.
Su, W., Peng, M.W., Tan, W., & Cheung, Y. 2016. The signaling effect
of corporate social responsibility in emerging economies. Journal of Business Ethics,
134(3): 479-491.
2015
Blevins, D.,Tsang, E.W.K., & Spain, S.M. 2015. Count-based research
in management: Suggestions for improvement. Organizational Research Methods, 18(1):
47-69.
Bruton, G., Peng, M.W., Ahlstrom, D., Stan, C.V., & Xu, K. 2015.
State-owned enterprises around the world as hybrid organizations. Academy of Management
Perspectives, 29(1): 92-114.
Jiang, Y., Peng, M.W., Yang, X., & Mutlu, C. 2015. Privatization,
governance, and survival: MNE investments in private participation projects in emerging economies.
Journal of World Business, 50(2): 294-301.
Lebedev, S., Peng, M.W., Xie, E., & Stevens, C. 2015. Mergers and
acquisitions in and out of emerging economies. Journal of World Business, 50(4):
651-662.
Mutlu, C., Zhan, W., Peng, M.W., & Lin, Z. 2015.
Competing in and out of transition economies. Asia Pacific Journal of Management,
32(3): 571-596.
Peng, M.W.,Mutlu, C., Sauerwald, S., Au, K., & Wang, D. 2015.
Board interlocks and corporate performance among firms listed abroad. Journal of Management
History, 21(2): 257-282.
Peng, M.W.,Sun, S.L., & Markoczy, L. 2015. Human
capital and CEO compensation during institutional transitions. Journal of Management
Studies, 52(1): 117-147.
Richard, O.C.,Su, W., Peng, M.W., & Miller,
C.D. 2015. Do external diversity practices boost focal firm performance? The case of
supplier diversity. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 26(17):
2227-2247.
Su, W., & Tsang, E.W.K. 2015. Product diversification and financial
performance: The moderating role of secondary stakeholders. Academy of Management
Journal, 58(4): 1128-1148.
Tsang, E.W.K., & Blevins, D.. 2015. Beyond information asymmetry: A
critique of the management and entrepreneurship underpricing literature. Strategic
Organization, 13(3): 247-258.
Yamakawa, Y., Peng, M.W., & Deeds, D. 2015. Rising from the ashes:
Cognitive determinants of venture growth after entrepreneurial failure. Entrepreneurship
Theory and Practice, 39(2): 209-236.
2014
Ford, D.L., Jr., & Miller, C.D. 2014. Leadership and motivation in
Africa and the African diaspora: Summary and epilogue. Canadian Journal of Administrative
Sciences, 31(4): 270-279.
Peng, M.W.,Lee, S.-H., & Hong, S.J. 2014.
Entrepreneurs as intermediaries. Journal of World Business, 49: 21-31.
Peng, M.W., & Su, W. 2014. Cross-listing and the scope of the firm.
Journal of World Business, 49: 42-50.
Shi, W., Markoczy, L., & Stan, C.V. 2014. The continuing importance
of political ties in China. Academy of Management Perspectives, 28: 57-75.
Shi, W., Sun, S.L., Pinkham, B., & Peng, M.W. 2014.
Domestic alliance network to attract foreign partners: Evidence from international joint ventures in
China. Journal of International Business Studies, 45: 338-362.
Stan, C.V.,Peng, M.W., & Bruton, G. 2014. Slack and the performance
of state-owned enterprises. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 31: 473-495.
2013
Ismail, K., Ford, D.L., Jr., Wu, Q., & Peng, M.W.
2013. Managerial ties, strategic initiatives, and firm performance in Central Asia and the Caucasus.
Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 30: 433-446.
Lee, S.-H., & Weng, D.H. 2013. Does bribery in the home country
promote or dampen firm exports? Strategic Management Journal, 34:
1472–1487.
Markoczy, L., Sun, S.L., Peng, M.W., Shi, W., & Ren, B. 2013. Social
network contingency, symbolic management, and boundary stretching. Strategic
Management Journal, 34: 1367-1387.
Sauerwald, S., & Peng, M.W. 2013. Informal institutions, shareholder
coalitions, and principal-principal conflicts. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 30:
853-870.
Yamakawa, Y., Khavul, S., Peng, M.W., & Deeds, D. 2013. Venturing from emerging
economies. Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, 7: 181-196
2012
Chen, H., Ford, D.L., Jr., Kalyanaram, G., & Bhagat, R. 2012.
Boundary conditions for turnover intentions: Exploratory evidence from China, Jordan, Turkey, and
the United States. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 23(4): 846-866.
Shi, W., Sun, S.L, & Peng, M.W. 2012. Sub-national institutional contingencies,
network positions, and IJV partner selection. Journal of Management Studies, 49: 1221-1245.
2011
Dess, G.G.,Pinkham, B.C, & Yang, H. 2011.
Entrepreneurial orientation: Assessing the construct’s validity and addressing some of its
implications for research in the areas of family business and organizational learning.
Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice, 35 (5): 1077-1090.
Lee, S.-H.,Yamakawa, Y., Peng, M.W., & Barney, J.B.
2011. How do bankruptcy laws affect entrepreneurship development around the world? Journal of
Business Venturing, 26: 505-520.
Yang, H., Lin, Z., & Peng, M.W. 2011. Behind
acquisitions of alliance partners: Exploratory learning and network embeddedness.
Academy of Management Journal, 54: 1069-1080.
2010
Ismail, K., & Ford, D.L., Jr. 2010. Organizational leadership in
Central Asia and the Caucasus: Research considerations and directions. Asia Pacific Journal of
Management, 27(2): 321-340.
Ismail, K., Ford, D.L., Jr., & Richard, O.C. 2010.
Network building behaviors of U.S. and Central Eurasian leaders: Role of institutional background
and individual factors. Eurasian Journal of Business and Economics, 3(6): 1-26.
Lee, S.-H., Oh, K., & Eden, L. 2010. Why do firms bribe? Insights
from residual control theory. Management International Review, 50: 775-796.
Ofori-Brobbey, K., Ford, D.L., & Mammo, W. 2010. Exogenous
determinants of international corporate tax rates: A gravity theory approach. Journal of
International Management Studies, 5(2): 205-215.
Peng, M.W., Yamakawa, Y., & Lee, S.-H. 2010.
Bankruptcy laws and entrepreneur-friendliness. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 34
(3): 517-530.
Qian, G., Khoury, T., Peng, M.W., & Qian, Z. 2010. The performance
implications of intra- and inter-regional geographic diversification. Strategic
Management Journal, 31 (9): 1018-1030.
Yang, H., Lin, Z., & Lin, Y. 2010. A multilevel framework of firm
boundaries: Firm characteristics, dyadic differences, and network attributes.
Strategic Management Journal, 31: 237-261.
Admission Procedures
Students may enter the IMS doctoral program after previous graduate training or directly from
undergraduate programs. Desirable educational backgrounds include graduate or undergraduate degrees in
areas such as business administration, economics, sociology, psychology, political science, mathematics
and engineering. Applicants with other academic backgrounds are considered as well.
Competition to enter our program is strong. Since 2005, the IMS program only admits 3-5 students per
year, representing about 5% of the total number of applicants. It is unlikely that we will increase the
number of admitted students in the foreseeable future. Clearly, our emphasis is quality, not quantity.
The IMS program is designed for full-time students. Since the completion of a PhD requires a time
commitment that is inconsistent with full-time or part-time employment elsewhere, the school will not
consider applications for part-time status. PhD students are required to work part-time (20 hours per
week) for our school as a Teaching or Research Assistant. Every student receiving an assistantship will
be eligible for a year-long research fellowship for four consecutive semesters (summer, fall, spring and
summer). The fellowship aims to help them initiate their research activities early in the program.
Students choose a faculty advisor and develop a quality research paper to be presented at the end of the
fellowship year.
For detailed application procedures and admission requirements, please visit our PhD Admissions page.
Degree Requirements
The IMS PhD curriculum includes a business foundation, core courses, advanced seminars, a methodology
requirement, directed readings and independent research courses and the dissertation. All students must
take the PhD courses that are offered in each of the first two years in the program. Students must
satisfy a first-year research paper requirement, which will be due at the end of the first year (also
known as the preliminary exam). Students must also pass the comprehensive qualifying examination, which
is administered at the end of the second year when all the relevant course requirements (Core Courses,
Advanced Seminars, Research Methods) have been satisfied. It is intended to assess the student’s mastery
of the fundamental theories and methodologies central to the program and to evaluate the student’s
potential to do original research in an area of specialization. PhD students must successfully complete
the preliminary and qualifying examinations, respectively, to enter PhD candidacy. The area faculty will
determine whether a student has successfully completed the exam requirements based on the student’s
performance. Criteria to evaluate students may include results from the in-class written portion of the
exams, quality of research papers and/or presentations, performance in particular courses (e.g. seminar
courses), satisfactory GPA as determined by area faculty and other forms of assessment as required by
the student’s area. An unsatisfactory performance in any one of the criteria for either the preliminary
examination or the qualifying examination may result in dismissal from the program.
After passing the qualifying exam, each student writes a dissertation proposal. The proposal is defended
before a faculty committee appointed in consultation with the student, dissertation chair and PhD
advisor. This committee also serves as the supervising committee for the dissertation after the proposal
is approved. The Dissertation Proposal must be successfully defended at least one semester prior to the
term of graduation. The requirements for the proposal defense should be discussed with the dissertation
committee prior to scheduling the defense. Dissertation Proposal Defenses will be open to all faculty
and PhD students of the Jindal School of Management.
Curriculum (minimum of 75 hours)
Core Courses (33 hours)
Courses are required in strategic management, entrepreneurship, international business, organization
theory and behavior, group and intergroup processes, social network theory and organizational
decision-making. To prepare for a career in teaching, students take a doctoral teaching and writing
seminar.
Research Methods (15 hours)
Methods courses are designed to improve and develop research skills. Courses include research
methodology and classes in statistics and quantitative methods. Students are encouraged to take
courses related to additional methods consistent with their research interests.
Dissertation (minimum of 12 hours)
The PhD degree is conferred when the dissertation is successfully defended.
Start your PhD application
Before you apply, get familiar with the admission requirements and application process for Jindal School PhD programs at UT Dallas.
