Justin M. Berg

Assistant Professor, Organizational Behavior

Justin M. Berg

Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior

Academic Area:

Research Statement

Justin M. Berg’s research focuses on creativity and innovation. He studies how to successfully develop, evaluate, and implement creative ideas in and outside organizations. This includes research on job crafting, which is the process of employees creatively redesigning their own jobs to better suit their personalities and interests.

Research Interests

  • Creativity
  • Innovation
  • Job Crafting

Bio

Berg received his PhD in management from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and his BA in organizational studies and psychology from the University of Michigan. He has done research with and consulted for a variety of organizations, including Cirque du Soleil, Google, VMware, Burt’s Bees, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. His work has been published in Administrative Science Quarterly, Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, Journal of Applied Psychology, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, and Organization Science, as well as featured in TIME, BusinessWeek, Fast Company, Forbes, The AtlanticWall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Harvard Business Review.

Prior to graduate school, Berg was an R&D Consultant for the Center for Positive Organizations at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. During this time, he led the invention of the Job Crafting™ Exercise (along with Jane Dutton and Amy Wrzesniewski), which is a tool that helps people creatively redesign their jobs.

Academic Degrees

  • PhD, Management, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, 2015
  • BA, Organizational Studies and Psychology, University of Michigan

Awards and Honors

  • Finalist, Best Published Paper Award, Academy of Management OMT Division, 2023
  • Organization Science Top Reviewer Award, 2019
  • Hank McKinnell-Pfizer Inc. Faculty Scholar, 2018–2020
  • Best Published Paper Award, Academy of Management OMT Division, 2017
  • Outstanding Author Contribution, Emerald Publishing, 2014
  • Wharton Baker Center Ph.D. Research Grant, 2013
  • Penn Prize for Excellence in Teaching by Graduate Students, 2012
  • Litton Industries Scholarship, Wharton Center for Human Resources, 2010 & 2011
  • Finalist, Best Paper in Journal of Organizational Behavior, 2010
  • Finalist, Best Paper in Positive Organizational Scholarship, 2010

Publications

Journal Articles

Justin M. Berg, Amy Wrzesniewski, Adam M. Grant, Jennifer Kurkoski, Brian Welle
Journal of Applied Psychology
January 2023 Vol. 108 Issue 1 Pages 152–166
Justin M. Berg
Administrative Science Quarterly
September 2022 Vol. 67 Issue 3 Pages 630-675
Justin M. Berg, Alisa Yu
Academy of Management Journal
August 2021 Vol. 64 Issue 4 Pages 1191–1212
Alisa Yu, Justin M. Berg, Julian Zlatev
Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes
March 2021 Vol. 164 Pages 116-135
Justin M. Berg
Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes
September 2019 Vol. 154 Pages 96-117
Justin M. Berg
Administrative Science Quarterly
July 2016 Vol. 61 Issue 3 Pages 433-468
Justin M. Berg
Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes
September 2014 Vol. 125 Issue 1 Pages 1-17
Adam M. Grant, Justin M. Berg, Daniel M. Cable
Academy of Management
August 2014 Vol. 57 Issue 4 Pages 1201-1255
Ariane Ollier-Malaterre, Nancy P. Rothbard, Justin M. Berg
Academy of Management Review
October 2013 Vol. 38 Issue 4 Pages 645-669
Justin M. Berg, Adam M. Grant, Victoria Johnson
Organization Science
September 2010 Vol. 21 Issue 5 Pages 973-994
Justin M. Berg, Amy Wrzesniewski, Jane E. Dutton
Journal of Organizational Behavior
February 2010 Vol. 31 Issue 2-3 Pages 158-186

In the Media

Insights by Stanford Business

March 17, 2023
Research-based approaches for bringing fresh ideas to teams and organizations.
December 12, 2022
A sampling of the big ideas and timely research produced by Stanford GSB faculty this year.
December 12, 2022
Eleven articles to help you work, lead, and collaborate better.
July 05, 2022
Changing yourself and your role takes effort, but it can produce lasting benefits.
April 11, 2022
An analysis of 3 million songs explores the question: Is it better to churn out than to fade away?
December 03, 2021
In this podcast episode, we share common mistakes that can stifle ideas and why managers should stay involved in the creative process.
November 15, 2021
A study of movie development shows the dangers of late-stage handoffs.
May 13, 2021
Leaders who recognize employees’ feelings are tapping into an important way to build trust.
December 10, 2019
Research shows we can be more creative by selecting better initial ideas.
December 19, 2016
Read 10 Stanford Business stories from the past year, including pieces on work-life balance, power, and management.
January 26, 2016
A professor turns to circus acts to determine how to predict the success of ideas.
January 22, 2016
A scholar who studies job crafting says you may be less stuck in your job than you think.

School News

October 06, 2015
New faculty and lecturers offer unique perspectives and experience to augment program offerings.