Alec R. Levenson

Senior Research Scientist

Research

Dr. Alec Levenson’s action research and consulting work with companies optimize job and organization performance and HR systems through the application of organization design, job design, human capital analytics and strategic talent management.

Four areas of primary focus include:

  • Talent management practices for the new generation of workers and world of work
  • Organization design and effectiveness
  • Human capital analytics to improve decisions around talent and work design
  • Organizational and talent strategies for global work & emerging markets

Research Partners & Clients

Dr. Levenson’s work with companies combines the best elements of scientific research and practical, actionable knowledge that companies can use to improve performance. He draws from the disciplines of economics, strategy, organization behavior, and industrial-organizational psychology to tackle complex talent and organizational challenges that defy easy solutions. His recommendations focus on the actions organizations should take to make lasting improvements in critical areas.

He has trained Human Resource professionals from a broad range of Fortune 500 and Global 500 companies in the application of human capital analytics.

Professional Work

Dr. Levenson’s research has been featured in numerous academic and business publications, and in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Economist, CNN, Associated Press, U.S. News and World Report, National Public Radio, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Marketplace, Fox News, and many other news outlets. Alec has received research grants from the Sloan Foundation, Russell Sage Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, U.S. National Science Foundation, China National Science Foundation, and National Institute for Literacy. He is on the editorial boards of Human Resource Management and Small Business Economics.


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Education


BA – University of Wisconsin, Madison

MA – Princeton University

PhD – Princeton University

Contact Information


alevenson@marshall.usc.edu

Recent Research


WEBINAR: Creating a Strategically Aligned HR Operating Model

With Max Blumberg, Alec Levenson, and Dave Millner In this webinar, we’ll explore the crucial intersections between organizational design, compensation frameworks, and the intended and unintended outcomes they shape. We’ll discuss a case study on incentives gone wrong, highlighting the legal and ethical pitfalls of misaligned pay plans.

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A killer app with huge upsides and dangerous downsides: Applying AI to People Analytics

Since its launch in November 2022, ChatGPT has sparked a significant surge of interest and investment in the realm of generative artificial intelligence (AI). The future trajectory of AI remains uncertain, but one application stands out with confidence: People Analytics (PA). AI's integration into PA holds tangible potential, offering substantial benefits and immediate realizations. However, this comes with inherent risks that are challenging to mitigate. This article delves into the promising advantages of applying AI in People Analytics while also addressing strategies to navigate and prevent potential pitfalls.

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A Strategically Aligned HR Operating Model

Proposal of a pivot in how HR is structured and works to focus more directly on the capabilities required for successful strategy execution.

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Organization capability: The missing piece connecting organization design and the operating model

Dr. Alec Levenson and Dr. Johanna Anzengruber lay a foundation in this working paper for drawing boundaries between the operating model, organization design and organization capability.

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Are we there yet? The high cost and slow speed of building new org capability

by Alec Levenson

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