Dr. James Riley

Assistant Professor

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Biography

James W. Riley is an Assistant Professor in the Organizational Behavior Unit at Harvard Business School, where he teaches the LEAD course in the MBA curriculum. As an economic sociologist, his work focuses on ethnographic research that produces qualitative studies examining the roles of status, norms, and social valuations within organizations. His research explores how these elements influence organizational culture, particularly in innovation-driven organizations and creative industries. Professor Riley's fieldwork aims to identify and distill complex informal governance structures and relational mechanisms that generate theories grounded in observations of organizational actors' strategic behavior. He earned his Ph.D. from the MIT Sloan School of Management, an M.S. in Urbanization and Development from the London School of Economics, and a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Southern California.

Research Interests

Experience

Assistant Professor

— Present

Harvard Business School • Boston, MA

Teaches Organizational Behavior and conducts ethnographic research in economic sociology.

Requirements for Harvard Business School

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
GMAT
GRE General
TOEFL
Total
Required:100
IELTS
Overall
Required:7.5
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree or equivalent Strong quantitative and analytical background
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Transcripts
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Resume/CV
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Writing Sample (Optional/Recommended)
Specialization Notes

The PhD in Business Administration is the primary doctoral degree encompassing various areas of study including Business Economics, Accounting, and Strategy.