Ronald Burt

Ronald Burt studies the ways that social networks create competitive advantage in careers, organizations, and markets (see research tab on personal website for downloads). He joined the Chicago Booth faculty in 1993.

Originally a pre-med major, Burt wanted to better explain people's behavior. He went into physiological psychology, then social psychology, finally finishing his doctorate under mathematical sociologist James Coleman here at Chicago. He earned a bachelor's degree in social and behavioral science from Johns Hopkins University in 1971 and a PhD in sociology from the University of Chicago in 1977. He sought a better understanding of European business by spending two years as the Shell Professor of Human Resources at INSEAD, and came to better understand practical applications of his research by spending two years as the Vice President of Strategic Learning at Raytheon Company.

When commenting on the difference in environments at various institutions, he described Chicago as a place where "the risk of new ideas is higher than anywhere else because you are continually exposed to confrontation and contradiction between ideas. Most other places protect you from that."

Research Activities

Theory and research methodology describing the social structure of competitive advantage in careers, organizations, and markets.

Education:

• 1977, Ph.D., Sociology, University of Chicago
• 1973, M.A., Sociology, State University of New York at Albany
• 1971, B.A., Social & Behavioral Science, Johns Hopkins University

Experience

• University of Chicago - Hobart W. Williams Professor of Sociology and Strategy 1996 -
• Università Bocconi - Distinguished Professor Sep 2020 -
• Raytheon Company - Vice President of Strategic Leadership 2000 - 2003
• INSEAD - Shell Professor of Human Resources 1998 - 2001
• Columbia University - Department ChairmanD 1985 - 1990