Ajay Ponnapalli
Title
Assistant Professor of Management
Office
Mike Ilitch School of Business
2771 Woodward Avenue
Room 471
Detroit, MI 48201
Academic Programs
- Management
Ajay Ponnapalli
Biography
Dr. Ajay Rama Ponnapalli is Assistant Professor in the Department of Management at Wayne State University’s Mike Ilitch School of Business. He earned his doctorate degree in Business Administration from Florida International University. He also earned a master’s degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Florida International University and a bachelor's degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering from Osmania University, India.
Dr. Ponnapalli’s research interests lie in remote work, leadership, and inclusion in organizations. His work has been published in several management journals including Personnel Psychology, Organizational Research Methods, The Leadership Quarterly, and Group & Organization Management. He has presented his research at numerous national and international conferences and has received awards from the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology and the Indian Academy of Management.
Prior to joining Wayne State University, Dr. Ponnapalli worked in executive leadership development and also worked with some multinational organizations.
Education
- Ph.D. Florida International University, Miami, FL
- M.S. Florida International University, Miami, FL
- B.E. Osmania University, Hyderabad, India
Expertise
Remote Work, Leadership, Inclusion in Organizations
AACSB specialty
ManagementResearch and teaching interests
Teaching
- Human Resources (HR)
- People Analytics
Research
- Remote Work
- Leadership
- Inclusion at Work
Publications
Gajendran, R. S.*, Ponnapalli, A. R.*, Wang, C.*, & Javalagi, A*. (forthcoming). A dual pathway model of remote work intensity: A meta-analysis of its simultaneous positive and negative Effects. Personnel Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/peps.12641
* equal first author contribution.
Wang, C, Ponnapalli, A. R., & Sin, H.P. (forthcoming). A purposeful approach to LMX differentiation: The role of LMX with key members. Group & Organization Management. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/10596011241230702
Sanchez, J. I., Wang, C., Ponnapalli, A. R., Sin, H-P., Xu, L., Lapeira, M., & Song, M. (2023). Assessing common-metric effect sizes to refine mediation models. Organizational Research Methods. https://doi.org/10.1177/10944281231169943
Xu, L., Zhao, Y., Wang, C., & Ponnapalli, A. R. (2021). Corporate social responsibility and corporate reputation: the moderating roles of CEO and state political ideologies. Social Responsibility Journal. https://doi.org/10.1108/SRJ-08-2020-0318
Hiller, N. J, Sin, H-P., Ponnapalli, A. R., & Ozgen, S. (2019). Benevolence and authority as WEIRDly unfamiliar: A multi-language meta-analysis of paternalistic leadership behaviors from 152 studies. The Leadership Quarterly, 30(1), 165-184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2018.11.003
Beane, D., Ponnapalli, A. R., & Viswesvaran, C. (2017). Workplace religious displays and perceptions of organization attractiveness. Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal, 29(2), 73-88. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10672-016-9286-9
Presentations
-----Recent Conference Presentations-----
Xu, L., Ponnapalli, A. R., & Wang, C. (2024, August). Tournament incentives and firm productivity in the context of CEO–TMT vertical pay gap. Paper presentation at the 2024 Meeting of the Southern Management Association, San Antonio, TX.
Buchanan, C.L., & Ponnapalli, A.R. (2024, August). Promotions are Too Much Work: An Employee-Centric Approach to Promotion Decisions. Paper presentation at 84th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Chicago, IL.
Xu, L., Ponnapalli, A. R., & Wang, C. (2024, August). CEO–TMT Vertical Pay Gap and Firm Productivity: A Tournament Theory Perspective. Paper Presentation at the 84th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Chicago, IL.
Ponnapalli, A. R., Tekleab, A., & Yestrepsky, J. (2024, August). In Iqbal, A., Davis, M. C., & Robinson, M. (Chairs), Breaking Traditions – Navigating Remote and Hybrid Work Models and the Impact on Employee Life. [Symposium]. 84th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Chicago, IL.
Piszczek, M., Yestrepsky, J., Ponnapalli, A. R., & Sharda, S. (2024, August). In Kossek, E. (Chair), Navigating Changing Dynamics and Control Over the Work-Nonwork Boundary. [Symposium]. 84th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Chicago, IL.
Piszczek, M., Yestrepsky, J., Ponnapalli, A. R., & Sharda, S. (2024, August). In Piszczek, M. & Savard, Y. P. (Chairs) Boundary Control and Work-Family Processes. [Symposium]. 2024 Work and Family Researchers Network Conference, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Ponnapalli, A. R., Yestrepsky, J. M., & Tekleab, A. G. (2024, April). In Birnbaum, A. & Gonzalez-Moralez (Chairs), Virtually Possible: Understanding Employee Preferences in Remote Work Environments. [Symposium]. 38th Annual Conference of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Chicago, IL.
Wang, C., Ponnapalli, A. R., & Nsair, V. (2023, October). A quantitative synthesis of the literature on authenticity at work. Paper presentation at the 2023 Meeting of the Southern Management Association, St. Pete Beach, FL.
Ponnapalli, A. R., Gajendran, R. S., & Sethi, D. (2023, August). Extreme Extra-Organizational Events and Employee Effectiveness: The Case of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Paper presentation at the 83rd Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Boston, MA.
Ponnapalli, A. R., Yestrepsky, J., & Tekleab, A. (2023, August). Blessing in Disguise? Remote Work Modality and Psychological Contract Fulfillment. Paper presentation at the 83rd Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Boston, MA.
**Ponnapalli, A. R., Gajendran, R. S., Wang, C., & Javalagi, A. (2022). A Quantitative Synthesis of the Remote Work Literature. Poster presented at the 37th Annual Conference of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Seattle, WA.
Selected as one of ten Top Posters at the 2022 SIOP Annual Conference**
