Ella Miron-Spektor

Ella Miron-Spektor is an Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour at INSEAD. She is the co-founder of the INSEAD-Israel fund, and she serves as The INSEAD Dutch Alumni Fellow in Leadership, Diversity, and Governance.

Professor Miron-Spektor is broadly interested in how individuals and teams innovate and learn and how they cope with tensions and competing demands. Her recent research focuses on mindsets enabling individuals to innovate with scarce resources and on team formation processes that lead to entrepreneurial success. She also studies how individuals and teams evaluate and select creative ideas, learn from experience, and remain creative over time.

She received numerous awards and recognitions for her research including many best paper awards and best dissertation awards. Her work has been published in top management and psychology journals, including Organization Science, Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Annals, Academy of Management Discoveries, Journal of Applied Psychology, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, and Harvard Business Review. She received grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Israel Science Foundation (ISF), Fulbright, and the European Commission (Marie Curie) to study team characteristics that foster innovation, learning, and entrepreneurial success. She also co-founded and co-direct the INSEAD-Israel fund.

Professor Miron-Spektor serves as a Senior Editor at Organization Science, a guest editor of special issues of Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes and Academy of Management Discoveries, and a member of the editorial boards of these and other top journals. Ella has co-organized several international conferences, including the Academy of Management Specialized Conference, “From-Start-up to Scale-Up” (2018), the Israel Organizational Behavior Conference (2018, 2023), and the Paradox Subtrack at the European Group for Organization Studies.

At INSEAD, Ella teaches Organizational Behavior (core) in the MBA program, L.E.A.D in the Master in Management program, as well as in the Ph.D. program. In Executive Education programs, she teaches modules on leadership, creativity and innovation, organizational change, cross-cultural communication, and team management. She teaches in various programs and works with companies from different industries, such as Cleveland Clinic, Alstom, Merck, Bank Hapoalim, Elbit Systems, Screen, Gore, and others. Throughout her career, she received many Outstanding teaching awards. She was recently recognized as the favorite business professor of the MBA class of 2022.

She earned her Ph.D. from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and taught at Carnegie Mellon University. Before joining INSEAD, she was an Associate Professor at the Technion and a visiting professor at Bayes Business School, University of London. Ella has lived in the Middle East, North America, and Europe. Currently, she resides in France and teaches on the different INSEAD campuses.

Selected publications 2022

Think Funny, Think Female: The Benefits of Humor for Women’s Influence in the Digital Age
E Miron-Spektor, J Bear, E Eliav
Academy of Management Discoveries

Conceiving Opposites Together: Cultivating Paradoxical Frames and Epistemic Motivation Fosters Team Creativity
E Miron-Spektor, KJ Emich, L Argote, WK Smith
Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes

Bright Sparks and Enquiring Minds: Differential Effects of Goal Orientation on the Creativity Trajectory
E Miron-Spektor, RD Vashdi, H Gopher
Journal of Applied Psychology

Love at First Insight: An Attachment Perspective on Early-Phase Idea Selection
M Lazar, E Miron-Spektor, J Mueller
Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes

From a label to a meta-theory of paradox: If we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change
J.L. Sparr, E Miron-Spektor, W Smith, M Lewis
Academy of Management Collections

Forming entrepreneurial teams: Mixing business and friendship to create transactive memory systems for enhanced success
M Lazar, E Miron-Spektor, G Chen, B Goldfarb, M Erez, R Agarwal
Academy of Management Journal

Unlocking Creative Tensions with a Paradox Approach
M Rubin, E Miron-Spektor, J keller
Handbook of Organizational Creativity

Culture and Creativity in Organizations: New Directions and Discoveries
E Miron-Spektor, SBF Paletz
The Oxford Handbook of Culture and Organizations

Selected publications 2020-21

Digital transformation: What is new if anything? Emerging patterns and management research
G Lanzolla, A Lorenz, E Miron-Spektor, M Schilling, C Tucci
Academy of Management Discoveries

Entrepreneurial team formation
M Lazar, E Miron-Spektor, R Agarwal, M Erez, B Goldfarb, G Chen
Academy of Management Annals

The Lived Experience of Paradox: How Individuals Navigate Tensions during the Pandemic Crisis
C Pradies, I Aust, R Bednarek, J Brandl, S Carmine, J Cheal, M.P. Cunha, M Gaim, A Keegan, J.K. Le, E Miron-Spektor, R.K. Nielson, V. Pouthier, G. Sharma, J.L. Sparr, R Vince, & J Keller,
Journal of Management Inquiry

Collective Paradoxical Frames: Managing Tensions in Learning and Innovation
E Miron-Spektor, SBF Paletz
The Oxford Handbook of Group and Organizational Learning

You may be more original than you think: Predictable biases in self-assessment of originality
Y Sidi, I Torgovitsky, D Soibelman, E Miron-Spektor, R Ackerman
Acta Psychologica

Selected publications 2018-19

Microfoundations of organizational paradox: The problem is how we think about the problem
E Miron-Spektor, A Ingram, J Keller, WK Smith, MW Lewis
Academy of Management Journal 61 (1), 26-45

The role of paradox theory in decision making and management research
DA Waldman, LL Putnam, E Miron-Spektor, D Siegel
Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes

Middle ground approach to paradox: Within-and between-culture examination of the creative benefits of paradoxical frames.
AK Leung, S Liou, E Miron-Spektor, B Koh, D Chan, R Eisenberg, ...
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 114 (3), 443

How to Make Sure Good Ideas Don't Get Lost in the Shuffle
E Miron-Spektor, D Vashdi, TM Amabile, V Holzmann
Harvard Business Review

Psychological factors surrounding disagreement in multicultural design team meetings
SBF Paletz, A Sumer, E Miron-Spektor
CoDesign 14 (2), 98-114

Diversity in creative teams: Reaching across cultures and disciplines
SBF Paletz, I Pavisic, E Miron-Spektor, CC Lin
Handbook of culture and creativity: Basic processes and applied innovations

Selected publications 2016-17

Knowledge utilization, coordination, and team performance
R Reagans, E Miron-Spektor, L Argote
Organization Science 27 (5), 1108-1124

Humor and creativity
JB Bear, E Miron-Spektor, E Eliav
The Psychology of Humor at Work, 72-87

Looking at creativity through a paradox lens
E Miron-Spektor, M Erez
The oxford handbook of organizational paradox, 434-451

Selected publications 2014-15

Motivating creativity: The effects of sequential and simultaneous learning and performance achievement goals on product novelty and usefulness
E Miron-Spektor, G Beenen
Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes 127, 53-65

To create without losing face: The effects of face cultural logic and social‐image affirmation on creativity
E Miron‐Spektor, SBF Paletz, CC Lin
Journal of Organizational Behavior 36 (7), 919-943

A cultural lens on interpersonal conflict and creativity in multicultural environments.
SBF Paletz, E Miron-Spektor, CC Lin
Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts 8 (2), 237

Selected publications 2011-12

Organizational learning: From experience to knowledge
L Argote, E Miron-Spektor
Organization Science 22 (5), 1123-1137

The effect of conformist and attentive-to-detail members on team innovation: Reconciling the innovation paradox
E Miron-Spektor, M Erez, E Naveh
Academy of Management Journal 54 (4), 740-760

Paradoxical frames and creative sparks: Enhancing individual creativity through conflict and integration
E Miron-Spektor, F Gino, L Argote
Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes 116 (2), 229-240

Others' anger makes people work harder not smarter: The effect of observing anger and sarcasm on creative and analytic thinking.
E Miron-Spektor, D Efrat-Treister, A Rafaeli, O Schwarz-Cohen
Journal of Applied Psychology 96 (5), 1065

Why Conformists Are a Key to Successful Innovation
E Miron-Spektor
Harvard Business Review

To drive creativity, add some conformity
E Miron-Spektor, M Erez, E Naveh
Harvard Business Review 90 (3), 30

Selected publications before 2010

First, get your feet wet: The effects of learning from direct and indirect experience on team creativity
F Gino, L Argote, E Miron-Spektor, G Todorova
Organizational behavior and human decision processes 111 (2), 102-115

Do personal characteristics and cultural values that promote innovation, quality, and efficiency compete or complement each other?
E Miron, M Erez, E Naveh
Journal of organizational behavior 25 (2), 175-199

When and why prior task experience fosters team creativity
F Gino, G Todorova, E Miron-Spektor, L Argote
Creativity in groups

The effects of anger in the workplace: When, where, and why observing anger enhances or hinders performance
E Miron-Spektor, A Rafaeli
Research in personnel and human resources management 28 (153-178)

Paradox Mindset: The Source of Remarkable Creativity in Teams - INSEAD Knowledge, 2022

Contradictions at Work? Adopt a “Paradox Mindset” - Academy of Management Insights, 2019

How to Make Sure Good Ideas Don’t Get Lost in the Shuffle - Harvard Business Review, June 2018

Why Conformists are a Key to Succesful Innovation - Harvard Business Review, 2013

To Drive Creativity, Add Some Conformity - Harvard Business Review, March 2012

Why Some Employees Improve Their Creativity and Others Don’t - Harvard Business Review, 2021

The Special Bond Behind Every Brilliant Idea - INSEAD Knowledge, August 2022

Embrace the Paradox to Become a Better Leader - I by IMD, December 2021

Mixing Business and Pleasure for Competitive Advantage - INSEAD Knowledge, July 2021

Why Some Employees Improve Their Creativity and Others Don’t - INSEAD Knowledge, April 2021

How the Discomfort of Paradox Can Unlock Creativity - INSEAD Knowledge, Jan 2021

Start-ups: The Founding Team Is a Real Magic Bullet - INSEAD Knowledge, January 2020

Overwhelmed? Adopt a Paradox Mindset - INSEAD Knowledge, May 2020

You May Be More Original Than You Think - INSEAD Knowledge, January 2020

Embracing the Paradoxes of Leadership - INSEAD Knowledge, September 2019

Edited Special issues

Special issue: The role of paradox theory in decision-making and management research
Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes

Novel Perspectives on Creativity in Organizations
Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes

Digital Transformation: What is new if anything?
Academy of Management Discoveries

Editorial Roles

Senior Editor, Organization Science
Guest editor, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes
Guest editor, Academy of Management Discoveries

Editorial Board member

Journal of Organizational Behavior
Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes
Academy of Management Discoveries
Coller venture Review

Honors and Awards

The INSEAD Dutch Alumni in Leadership, Diversity and Governance Fellow, 2022
Best Paper Award, Finalist, Lazar, M., Miron-Spektor, E., Chen G. Goldfarb B., Erez. M., & Agarwal, R. “Forming new venture teams”. ENT division, Academy of Management. R. Kauffman Best Paper Awards in Entrepreneurial Cognition, 2020
Best Paper Award, Finalist. Lazar, M., Miron-Spektor, E., Chen, G., Goldfarb B., Erez. M., & Agarwal, R. “Forming new venture teams: The benefits of mixing business and relationships”. Israel Organizational Behavior Conference (IOBC), Tel Aviv, 2020
Best Paper Award. Lazar, Miron-Spektor & Mueller “Emotional attachment to new ideas: A cross-cultural comparison.”The 18th Organizational Studies and Human Resources Management Conference, Israel, 2017
Nominated for Yanai Prize for Excellence in Academic Education, 2016
Teaching Excellence Award, Technion (MBA, EMBA), 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Teaching Excellence Award, Technion, 2003, 2004, 2006
Best Student Paper Award, Finalist. Eliav, E. & Miron-Spektor, E. “The recovery effect: The creative potential of frequent interruptions”. Technology and Innovation Management Division (TIM), Academy of Management, 2015
Editorial Board Outstanding Reviewer, Journal of Organizational Behavior, 2014
Best Paper Award. Miron-Spektor, E., Gino, F. & Argote, L. “Fostering Ambidexterity through Paradoxical Frames: A Multilevel Perspective”. Subtrack of Exploring the Paradoxes of Organizing and Organizations, EGOS, 2012
Best Paper Award. Miron-Spektor, E., Erez, M. & Naveh, E. “The effect of conformists and attentive-to-detail members on team innovation: Reconciling the innovation paradox”. Innovation Management, EBS Business School, 2011
Best Dissertation Award, Sloan Industry Studies, Finalist, 2007
Best Student Paper Award, Finalist. Miron-Spektor, E., Erez, M. & Naveh, E. “Balancing innovation attention-to-detail and outcome-orientation to enhance innovative performance”. Technology and Innovation Management Division (TIM), Academy of Management, 2007
Fulbright, Post-Doctoral Fellow, ISEF-Rabin Award, 2006
Sylvia Rose Fine Fellowship, 2004
The Mitchner Award in Quality Sciences and Quality Management, 2003

Grants

INSEAD-Israel Fund, Co-founder, with Ziv Carmon.
NSF – National Science Foundation (SOO- 1759196). Entrepreneurial team formation and its effect on subsequent entrepreneurial outcomes. With Gilad Chen, Miriam Erez, Brent Goldfarb, and Rajshree Agarwal.
ISF – Israel Science Foundation. Creativity Momentum: How and Why Change in Creative Experience Overtime Affects Commitment and Turnover. With Dana Vashdi
Bank Hapoalim research grant
Coleman-Cohen Fund
Marie Curie (IRG). European Union’s – Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement number [IRG – PIRG07-GA-2010-268325]. Developing innovative capabilities in teams.
National Science Foundation (NSF, SES-0823283). The two wonders of working together: How matching what people know with what they do and shared frameworks contribute to Transactive memory system and team performance. With Linda Argote and Ray Reagans.
Fulbright & ISEF-Rabin, Post-Doctoral Fellow

Internal Research Grants

The Diversity and Inclusion Funds, INSEAD
The Patrick Cescau/Unilever Endowed Fund, INSEAD
The Diversity and Inclusion Funds, INSEAD
The Patrick Cescau/Unilever Endowed Fund, INSEAD
The Center for Organizational Learning, Innovation, and Performance, Carnegie Mellon University
The Samuel Neaman Institute, Technion, 2002, 2003, 2006

Executive Teaching Topics