World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Business and Management

D-Index
64
Citations
39590
World Ranking
410
National Ranking
191

Research.com Recognitions

  • Dean of Fellow, Academy of Management
  • Fellow of the Strategic Management Society
  • Dean of Fellow, Academy of Management
  • Fellow of the Strategic Management Society
  • Dean of Fellow, Academy of Management
  • Fellow of the Strategic Management Society

Overview

Edward J. Zajac is affiliated with Northwestern University in the United States. Their research primarily spans the field of Business, Management, and Accounting, with a significant focus on several subfields including Accounting, Strategy and Management, Economics and Econometrics, Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management, and Sociology and Political Science.

The scientist's work addresses key topics within Corporate Finance and Governance, Family Business Performance and Succession, Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting, Political Influence and Corporate Strategies, International Business and Foreign Direct Investment, Firm Innovation and Growth, and Elite Sociology and Global Capitalism.

Some of the recent papers authored by or involving Edward J. Zajac include:

  • "Taking chances? The effect of CEO risk propensity on firms' risky internationalization decisions" (2021), Journal of International Business Studies
  • "Lost and Found in Translation: How Firms Use Anisomorphism to Manage the Institutional Complexity of CSR" (2022), Journal of Management Studies
  • "Strength and Weakness in Numbers? Unpacking the Role of Prevalence in the Diffusion of Reverse Mergers" (2020), Academy of Management Journal
  • "Unpacking the dynamics of a contested practice: the case of executive compensation and the shareholder value orientation in the USA" (2020), Socio-Economic Review
  • "When the Principal Is the Firm's Problem: Principal Costs and Their Corporate Governance Implications" (2024), Academy of Management Review

Frequent co-authors include:

  • Seok-Hyun Hwang
  • Ivana Naumovska
  • Sheen S. Levine
  • Hamid Boustanifar
  • Jun Xia

Edward J. Zajac has published extensively in various venues, with a notable number of publications in the Academy of Management Proceedings. Other frequent publication venues include the SSRN Electronic Journal, Journal of Management Studies, Academy of Management Review, and Journal of International Business Studies.

  • Academy of Management Proceedings
  • SSRN Electronic Journal
  • Journal of Management Studies
  • Academy of Management Review
  • Journal of International Business Studies

Their work involves a blend of empirical and theoretical approaches centered on governance and organizational strategies. The research explores dynamics such as executive compensation, institutional complexity in corporate social responsibility, and governance issues related to principal costs.

Awards received by Edward J. Zajac include designation as a Dean of Fellow of the Academy of Management as well as a Fellow of the Strategic Management Society.

Best Publications

  • Substance and Symbolism in CEOs' Long-Term Incentive Plans

    James D. Westphal;Edward J. Zajac

  • FROM TRANSACTION COST TO TRANSACTIONAL VALUE ANALYSIS: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE STUDY OF INTERORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGIES*

    Edward J. Zajac;Cyrus P. Olsen

  • Who Shall Govern? CEO/Board Power, Demographic Similarity, and New Director Selection

    James D. Westphal;Edward J. Zajac

  • Managerial Incentives, Monitoring, and Risk Bearing: A Study of Executive Compensation, Ownership, and Board Structure in Initial Public Offerings

    Randolph P. Beatty;Edward J. Zajac

  • The Symbolic Management of Strategic Change: Sensegiving Via Framing and Decoupling

    Peer C. Fiss;Edward J. Zajac

  • Modeling the dynamics of strategic fit: a normative approach to strategic change

    Edward J. Zajac;Matthew S. Kraatz;Rudi K. F. Bresser

  • Director reputation, CEO-board power, and the dynamics of board interlocks

    Edward J. Zajac;James D. Westphal

  • The Diffusion of Ideas over Contested Terrain: The (Non)adoption of a Shareholder Value Orientation among German Firms:

    Peer C. Fiss;Edward J. Zajac

  • Made to Fit: How Practices Vary As They Diffuse

    Shahzad M. Ansari;Peer C. Fiss;Edward J. Zajac

  • How Organizational Resources Affect Strategic Change and Performance in Turbulent Environments: Theory and Evidence

    Matthew S. Kraatz;Edward J. Zajac

  • TOP MANAGEMENT INCENTIVES, MONITORING, AND RISK-BEARING: A STUDY OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION, OWNERSHIP, AND BOARD STRUCTURE IN INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERINGS.

    Randolph P. Beatty;Edward J. Zajac

  • SUBSTANCE AND SYMBOLISM IN CEOS' LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLANS.

    James D. Westphal;Edward J. Zajac

  • Exploring the Limits of the New Institutionalism: The Causes and Consequences of Illegitimate Organizational Change

    Matthew S. Kraatz;Matthew S. Kraatz;Matthew S. Kraatz;Edward J. Zajac;Edward J. Zajac

  • The symbolic management of stockholders: Corporate governance reforms and shareholder reactions

    James D. Westphal;Edward J. Zajac

  • Perceptual and archival measures of Miles and Snow's strategic types: a comprehensive assessment of reliability and validity.

    Stephen M. Shortell;Edward J. Zajac

  • When will boards influence strategy? Inclination × power = strategic change

    Brian R. Golden;Edward J. Zajac

  • Decoupling policy from practice: The case of stock repurchase programs

    James D. Westphal;Edward J. Zajac

  • Changing generic strategies: Likelihood, direction, and performance implications

    Edward J. Zajac;Stephen M. Shortell

  • Who Shall Succeed? How CEO/Board Preferences and Power Affect the Choice of New CEOs

    Edward J. Zajac;James D. Westphal

  • BLIND SPOTS IN INDUSTRY AND COMPETITOR ANALYSIS: IMPLICATIONS OF INTERFIRM (MIS)PERCEPTIONS FOR STRATEGIC DECISIONS

    Edward J. Zajac;Max H. Bazerman

  • Status Evolution and Competition: Theory and Evidence

    Marvin Washington;Edward J. Zajac

Frequent Co-Authors

James D. Westphal
James D. Westphal University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
Stephen M. Shortell
Stephen M. Shortell University of California, Berkeley
Max H. Bazerman
Max H. Bazerman Harvard University
Margaret A. Neale
Margaret A. Neale Stanford University
Henk W. Volberda
Henk W. Volberda University of Amsterdam
Frans van den Bosch
Frans van den Bosch Erasmus University Rotterdam
Igor Filatotchev
Igor Filatotchev King's College London
Michael C. Jensen
Michael C. Jensen Harvard University
David Stark
David Stark Columbia University
Ranjay Gulati
Ranjay Gulati Harvard University

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Report an issue

We appreciate your kind effort to assist us to improve this page, it would be helpful providing us with as much detail as possible in the text box below:

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Exploring related online degrees can significantly boost your career prospects in business and management. Many professionals are turning to specialized programs that align with growing sectors and emerging trends.

For those interested in leadership roles within the construction industry, a best online construction management degree can offer the skills needed to manage large-scale projects and teams. This pathway merges technical knowledge with business strategy, making graduates highly sought after.

An executive online mba is ideal for mid- to senior-level professionals seeking to deepen their expertise and prepare for executive leadership. These flexible programs often attract working managers who want to balance learning with ongoing job responsibilities.

If cost is a concern, consider affordable master's degrees online. Many institutions now offer budget-friendly options across a variety of business specializations, making advanced education more accessible than ever.

Finally, the demand for data-savvy leaders is growing. A masters in data analytics can position graduates at the forefront of data-driven decision making, opening doors not just in business but in technology and consulting as well.

Best Scientists Citing Edward J. Zajac

Trending Scientists

Recently Published Articles