Elizabeth Ravlin

Competing Through People, PMBA (MGMT 770), Managing Cross-Border Teams, Masters (IBUS 717), Organizational Behavior, Undergraduate (MGMT 376), Managing Teams in the Workplace, Undergraduate (MGMT 402)

We continue to hear from our executive and management advisors that an understanding of and skills in interpersonal behavior are some of the most important things they look for in a potential new hire. I teach these principles in both Organizational Behavior and my Teams courses to help students embrace the importance of these skills to management, and to provide opportunities for any student to interact more effectively with others.

My research examines how people with dissimilar backgrounds (culture, demographics, values) perceive their work in different ways and how they can learn to work better together.

Demographic, social and economic trends lead more people to work with others who are quite different from themselves. Research shows that organizations need skills to resolve issues created by differences and to leverage these differences for improved performance.

I am currently looking at how business-to-business sales agents pursue relationships with targets who are different from themselves. In addition, I am examining how cross-cultural relationships are developed to provide added value, and the role of status perceptions in the development of these relationships.

Doctoral students work on my research projects, either leading the project or working closely with me to develop theory, design studies, create surveys, analyze data, and write manuscripts. I work with both Masters and Undergraduates when they are interested in my research.

Finding an answer about some aspect of human behavior is like solving a very complex, fascinating, and important puzzle. I enjoy sharing what I’ve learned with students, who then go on to use this knowledge in their work lives and beyond.

Traveling, outdoor activities, visiting with my family.