Phanish Puranam
Professor of Strategy
Biography
Phanish Puranam is a Professor of Strategy, the Roland Berger Chaired Professor of Strategy and Organisation Design at INSEAD.
Phanish’s research in organization science focuses on how organizations work, and how we can make them work better. His current work focuses on different ways in which intelligent algorithms relate to organizations, in their roles as tools (e.g., machine learning applied to organizational data), team-mates (e.g., human-AI collaboration), and as templates for organizing ( blockchain, metaverse).
Besides publishing his research extensively in peer reviewed journals (see link to Personal Website above), Phanish has also written several books. The Microstructure of Organizations (Oxford University Press, 2018) offers researchers a new perspective on organization design. Phanish’s books for practitioners include Corporate Strategy: Tools for analysis and decisions (co-authored with Bart Vanneste, Cambridge University Press, 2016) which is used as a reference in MBA programs around the world. India Inside (co-authored with Nirmalya Kumar, Harvard Business Review Press, 2012) won critical acclaim for its balanced look at the prospect of India emerging as a global hub for innovation. Recently, he also released Ver1.0 of the free The Organizational Analytics E-Book: A guide to data driven organization design (with Julien Clement). He is currently working on two new books. “Rethinking Organizations” (Penguin Random House Publishers) explores what organizations of the future might look like, in the light of rapid changes in technology and culture, and “Hierarchy in Organizations” reviews what we have learned about the emergence, growth, stability and adaptive properties of hierarchies, as well as their limits.
At INSEAD Phanish Puranam directs the Transforming Your Business with AI programme.
Phanish obtained his PhD at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 2001, and was on the faculty of London Business School till 2012. Reflecting his commitment to doctoral training, he has served as the Academic Director for the PhD Program at both London Business School and INSEAD.
Phanish’s research in organization science focuses on how organizations work, and how we can make them work better. His current work focuses on different ways in which intelligent algorithms relate to organizations, in their roles as tools (e.g., machine learning applied to organizational data), team-mates (e.g., human-AI collaboration), and as templates for organizing ( blockchain, metaverse).
Besides publishing his research extensively in peer reviewed journals (see link to Personal Website above), Phanish has also written several books. The Microstructure of Organizations (Oxford University Press, 2018) offers researchers a new perspective on organization design. Phanish’s books for practitioners include Corporate Strategy: Tools for analysis and decisions (co-authored with Bart Vanneste, Cambridge University Press, 2016) which is used as a reference in MBA programs around the world. India Inside (co-authored with Nirmalya Kumar, Harvard Business Review Press, 2012) won critical acclaim for its balanced look at the prospect of India emerging as a global hub for innovation. Recently, he also released Ver1.0 of the free The Organizational Analytics E-Book: A guide to data driven organization design (with Julien Clement). He is currently working on two new books. “Rethinking Organizations” (Penguin Random House Publishers) explores what organizations of the future might look like, in the light of rapid changes in technology and culture, and “Hierarchy in Organizations” reviews what we have learned about the emergence, growth, stability and adaptive properties of hierarchies, as well as their limits.
At INSEAD Phanish Puranam directs the Transforming Your Business with AI programme.
Phanish obtained his PhD at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 2001, and was on the faculty of London Business School till 2012. Reflecting his commitment to doctoral training, he has served as the Academic Director for the PhD Program at both London Business School and INSEAD.
Latest posts
To Use AI Tools Smartly, Think Like a Strategist
Phanish Puranam
Consider how specific AI tools will impact your own skills and capabilities.
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Leave Intuition to the Machines
A. Lawson, M. Lobo, P. Puranam
Is it time for System 3 thinking by humans?
How to Rapidly Test New Organisation Designs
Phanish Puranam
Instead of blindly adopting industry best practice, companies can use gamified randomised control trials to pilot new organisation designs.
How Organisation Design Can Rescue the SDGs
Phanish Puranam
We're not on track to meet any SDGs by 2030. Organisation designers can help.
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ChatGPT and the Future of Business Education
P. Puranam, P. Dutt, P. Wibbens, A. Ovchinnikov, V. Sevcenko, T. Evgeniou, P. Parker
How ChatGPT can help – and hinder – research and learning at business schools.
Why Hierarchies in Organisations Aren’t All Bad
P. Puranam, Ö. Koçak, D. A. Levinthal
Hierarchical structures can be useful even for teams that need to be agile.
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Can AI Help You Strategise Better?
P. Puranam, P. Sen
Machine learning algorithms can uncover intricate patterns in big data and enable managers to strategise with more confidence.
Why Communication Breaks Down
P. Puranam, Ö. Koçak
As workplaces become more diverse and work becomes more distributed, it is more important than ever to converge on a common code for effective communication.
Better Human-AI Collaboration May Depend on Workflow Design
P. Puranam, R. Mehra
Improving how humans work with algorithms could simply be a matter of redesigning workflow.
Organising in the Metaverse: Five FAQs for Managers
V. F. He, P. Puranam
An explainer on how social interaction in all its forms might take place in the virtual universe.
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Creating People-Centric International Organisations With AI
R. McLachlin, K. Tatarinov, T. Ambos, P. Puranam
The United Nations is both a fascinating playground for artificial intelligence applications and a showcase of AI implementation problems and solutions.
The Start-Up Blind Spot That Trips New Ventures
Phanish Puranam
Having a great business plan is not enough. Start-ups also need good organisation design.
Making Sure That Everyone Knows Their Place
A. Yap, N. Madan, P. Puranam
Why formal structures and greater diversity create status disagreements and how to fix the issue.
Should Employees Be Allowed to Choose What They Want to Do?
P. Puranam, M. Raveendran
The degree of specialisation is the deciding factor.
How Should Humans Collaborate With AI?
Phanish Puranam
When bringing algorithms and employees together, businesses should respect rather than ignore human preferences.
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A ‘Lab in the Field’ Approach to Evidence-Based Management
P. Puranam, J. Singh, H. Rao
Simplified experimentation in the field may be the best of both worlds, provided its results are viewed with the proper perspective.
Prospects and Pitfalls for the Post-Pandemic Organisation
Phanish Puranam
Big changes are coming for organisations and organisation designs. Whether they will be for good or ill depends on how leaders confront three key possibilities uncovered by the pandemic.
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Organisational Data: The Silver Lining in the Covid-19 Cloud
P Puranam, J. Clément
The shift to virtual working has produced a data boom that could revolutionise organisations – if they know what to do with it.
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