Denise M. Rousseau

Denise M. Rousseau serves as the H.J. Heinz II University Professor of Organizational Behavior and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy and holds a secondary appointment at the Tepper School of Business. She chairs the Health Care Policy and Management program, directs the Project on Evidence-Based Organizational Practices, and holds leadership roles as Academic Board President of the Center for Evidence-Based Management (CEBMa) and Co-Chair of the Campbell Library’s Management and Business Coordinating Group.

Her academic credentials include:

• A.B. from University of California, Berkeley
• M.A. from University of California, Berkeley
• Ph.D. in Psychology and Anthropology from University of California, Berkeley

Rousseau pioneered the psychological contract theory examining how individual workers' understanding of employment relationships shapes organizational dynamics. Her research spans evidence-based management, worker well-being, career development, organizational effectiveness, change management, and industrial relations. She developed the influential concept of "I-Deals" (idiosyncratic deals) and emphasizes translating research into practice through evidence-based approaches. Her textbook Evidence-Based Management: How to Use Evidence to Make Better Organizational Decisions has been adopted by over 80 universities and forms the basis of an Open Learning Initiative course.

Her recent publications (2023-2025) reveal three dominant research streams: multilevel analyses of psychological contracts across team and organizational contexts, applications in emerging work arrangements like gig economy platforms, and methodological advancements in evidence-based management including systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Her work increasingly examines contextual factors like crisis economies and cross-cultural variations while maintaining focus on practical implementation of research findings.

Her distinguished recognition includes:

• Two-time Academy of Management George Terry Award winner (1996, 2006)
• Distinguished Scholar Award from Academy of Management
• Lifetime Achievement Award from Society for Industrial/Organizational Psychology
• Michael Losey Career Award from Society for Human Resource Management
• Honorary doctorates from Athens University and Tallinn Institute of Technology
• Fellowships in five major academic associations

Through the Evidence-Based Management Collaborative she founded, Rousseau connects global scholars, consultants, and practitioners to advance evidence-informed decision-making. Her grant-funded research has been supported by the National Science Foundation and Institute of Medicine, focusing on organizational effectiveness and evidence-based practices. She previously served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Organizational Behavior (1998-2007) and President of the Academy of Management (2004-2005).

As Academic Board President of CEBMa, she oversees the development of evidence-based management resources including learning modules and research databases. Her Project on Evidence-Based Organizational Practices develops frameworks for implementing research findings in real-world settings, while her Campbell Library coordination role advances systematic review methodologies in management research.