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Doctoral

The management Ph.D. program at Wayne State University is designed to be small and hands-on, accepting only a few students at a time. Students specialize in either organizational behavior or strategy. This is a full-time, research-based program and takes four to five years to complete. Admitted students typically receive tuition waivers, an assistantship-based stipend and benefits for four years.

Our faculty members take an active role in student development from the first-semester socialization class that teaches students disciplinary norms all the way to dissertation defense. During their first few years, students work with multiple faculty members to hone their interests, gain exposure to a variety of research topics and methodologies, and build relationships and networks. This includes completing courses with students and faculty in other programs (e.g., I/O psychology).

After completing coursework and comprehensive exams, usually after the end of the second year, students will form their dissertation committee and invite a faculty member to become their advisor. Beginning in the third year, students teach undergraduate courses to gain teaching experience. During this time, students continue to work on research and their dissertation, attend and present their work at scholarly conferences, and engage in other professional development activities. Each year, students receive formal feedback from the Ph.D. Committee regarding their progress.

Learn more about the management Ph.D. curriculum.

Our Ph.D. program is a member of DocNet-Consortium of Business Doctoral Programs and the Ph.D. Project.

Doctoral admissions Ph.D. Program Handbook

Explore the program

  • Our management students began the program with a 645 average GMAT score.

    Our program graduates have all successfully earned tenure-track positions in universities consistent with their career goals. Initial placements and current positions are indicated below.

    • Tapan Seth, 2014 Robert Morris University (tenured/associate professor/assistant dean)
    • Ayse Karaca, 2016 Başkent University (assistant professor), now at Kütahya Dumlupinar University
    • Abere Kassa, 2017 SUNY-Potsdam (assistant professor), now at Millersville University
    • Lyo Laulie, 2017 University of Chile (assistant professor)
    • Agnes Shepard, 2017 Mercer University (assistant professor)
    • Mike Greiner, 2018 Oakland University (assistant professor)
    • Viva Nsair, 2022 Western Michigan University (assistant professor)

    As part of an R1 university, Ilitch School students have successfully published their research in respected peer-reviewed academic journals while at Wayne State. Faculty members continue to publish with students after their graduation, demonstrating that our mentorship does not end at graduation.

    • Greiner, M., and Lee, J., 2023. "Extending the market theory of corporate political activity," Long Range Planning,  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lrp.2023.102305
       
    • Laulie, L., Tekleab, A. G., & Rousseau, D. (2023). Psychological Contracts at Different Levels: The Cross-level and Comparative Multilevel Effects of Team Psychological Contract Fulfillment. Group & Organization Management.
       
    • Piszczek, M.M., Yestrepsky, J., & Thrasher, G., 2023. Age-aware organizations and the effects of shift work on psychological well-being across the lifespan. Work, Aging & Retirement. https://doi.org/10.1093/workar/waad014
       
    • Yestrepsky, J., Julian, S., Tekleab, A.G., & Grzebyk, T.  (2023) Interactions During Strategic Issue Diagnosis: How Uncertainty, Threat, and Opportunity Impact Response. Journal of Business Research, 164.
       
    • Greiner, M., Sun, J., in press. How corporate social responsibility can incentivize top managers: A commitment to sustainability as an agency intervention. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management. DOI: 10.1002/csr.2148.
       
    • Greiner, M., Julian, S.D. (2021). Should you reward your CEO with stock options? Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2021/01/should-you-reward-your-ceo-with-stock-options
       
    • Nsair, V., & Piszczek, M. (2021). Gender matters: The effects of gender and segmentation preferences on work-to-family conflict in family sacrifice climates. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 94(3), 509-530.
       
    • Laulié, L., Tekleab, A. G., & Lee, J. J. (2021). Why grant i-deals? Supervisors' prior i-deals, exchange ideology, and justice sensitivity. Journal of Business and Psychology, 36(1), 17-31.
       
    • Piszczek, M. M., Martin, J. E., Pimputkar, A. S., & Laulié, L. (2021). What does schedule fit add to work-family research? The incremental effect of schedule fit on work-family conflict, schedule satisfaction, and turnover intentions. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 94(4), 866-889.
       
    • Greiner, M., and Lee, J. (2020). "A supply-side approach to corporate political activity: Performance consequences of ideologically driven CPA." Journal of Business Research, 115:25-37
       
    • Greiner, M., Julian, S.D. (2020). Avoid making this strategic mistake in a recession. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2020/07/avoid-making-this-strategic-mistake-in-a-recession
       
    • Tekleab, A. G., Laulié, L., De Vos, A., De Jong, J. P., & Coyle-Shapiro, J. A. (2020). Contextualizing psychological contracts research: a multi-sample study of shared individual psychological contract fulfillment. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 29(2), 279-293.
       
    • Julian, S.D., Ofori-Dankwa, J., & Shepard, A. (2019). Cognitive antecedents of highlighting and decoupling in response to social pressure. Group & Organization Management, 44(3), 652-684. 
       
    • Martin, J. E., Laulié, L., & Lelchook, A. M. (2019). Antecedents of union member retention in Right-to-Work environments. Personnel Review.
       
    • Karaca, A., & Tekleab, A. G.  (2018). Team Conflict. In Oxford Bibliographies in Management. Ed. Ricky Griffin. New York: Oxford University Press.

Student services and opportunities

Benefit from the Ilitch School's rich student involvement, support services and invaluable opportunities.

I have been lucky to have two academic fathers in Drs. Amanuel Tekleab and Jaegul Lee. Without their faith in my abilities and their guidance, none of this would be possible.

Tapan Seth
Ph.D. ‘14
Read more

Meet the faculty

Our Ilitch School of Business professors are ready to take you to the next level. As accomplished researchers and seasoned business leaders, they know how to enrich your learning and sharpen your skills. See how their expertise can help shape your future.

See all management faculty

Amanuel Tekleab
Professor of Management
  • Psychological Contracts
  • Team Processes
  • Leadership
  • Organizational Change and Behavior
  • Training and Transfer

 

View Amanuel Tekleab's profile

atekleab@wayne.edu

Scott Julian
Professor of Management

Teaching Interests

Strategic management, Social Issues in Business, Corporate Social Responsibility, Strategic Issue Diagnosis, Sub-Saharan Africa, Diversity in Organizations

Research Interests

Nature and quality of interpersonal relations in the workplace with a specific focus on aggression and bullying; international intergroup and interpersonal conflict resolution, diversity in organizations, program development and evaluation, statistics and research methodology

View Scott Julian's profile

dv4761@wayne.edu

Matt Piszczek
Associate Professor of Management

Teaching

  • Human resource management
  • Employee/labor relations

Research

  • Work-life balance
  • Workforce aging
  • Remote work
  • Diversity/equity/inclusion
  • Commuting

 

View Matt Piszczek's profile

gl3558@wayne.edu

Career insights

This tool provides a broad overview of how major selection can lead to careers and is provided without any implied promise of employment. Some careers will require further education, skills, or competencies. Actual salaries may vary significantly between similar employers and could change by graduation, as could employment opportunities and job titles.

Contact the program advisor

Matt Piszczek

Professor of Management

Email: gl3558@wayne.edu
Profile: View profile

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