Jody Hoffer Gittell serves as Professor of Management at Brandeis University's Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Faculty Director of the Relational Coordination Collaborative, and Chief Executive Officer of Relational Coordination Analytics. She also holds leadership roles as Program Director of the Academy of Management’s Organization Development and Change Division and former Chair of Brandeis University's Faculty Senate (2022-2023). Educational background: BA from Reed College MA from The New School PhD from Massachusetts Institute of Technology Dr. Gittell pioneered relational coordination theory , demonstrating how shared goals, shared knowledge, and mutual respect—enabled by frequent, timely communication—drive performance in interdependent work. Her research integrates organizational resilience , human well-being , and healthcare management , with applications in aviation and healthcare systems. She has authored six influential books including The Southwest Airlines Way and High Performance Healthcare , with a seventh book in progress on turbulent-era healthcare management. Her scientific recognition includes the Outstanding Young Scholar of the Year award, Sloan Industry Studies Best Book Award, and multiple Douglas McGregor Memorial Awards. Competitive funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and National Research Council supports her work. Dr. Gittell directs major research initiatives like the Commonwealth Fund's patient care coordination study and serves on governance boards including Reed College's Board of Trustees and Greater Seacoast Community Health (as Vice Chair). She actively mentors through the Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nursing Fellowship and advises federal agencies like AHRQ on team-based care measures. She leads the global Relational Coordination Collaborative—a cross-sector network for positive change—and co-founded Relational Coordination Analytics to operationalize her theory through data-driven tools. Her 'Relating Across Differences' curriculum integrates DEI principles with performance improvement in clinical settings.




