Dr. Z. W. (Zhiyan) Wu

Rotterdam School of Management (RSM)
Erasmus University Rotterdam
Associate Member ERIM
Field: Strategy & Entrepreneurship
Affiliated since 2019

Zhiyan “Z” Wu is an Associate Professor of Strategy at Erasmus University. His research explores the sociopolitical dimension of firms, with a particular focus on corporate governance, social activism, and nonmarket strategy. Z often adopts an abductive approach to his research and is committed to methodological rigor, with a strong emphasis on causal inference. His work has been accepted for publication in the Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Management, Management Science, and Organization Science. His research has earned the EBS Best Paper Award, gained recognition in major news outlets in the Netherlands and Sweden, and was featured on the INFORMS podcast, Resoundingly Human.

In his educational roles, Z teaches MSc, MBA/EMBA, and Ph.D. courses at Erasmus University, particularly highlighting causal inference. His innovative teaching methods have earned him the Best New Course of the Year Award in the area of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, and he has been nominated for the prestigious RSM Innovative Teaching Award by his students.

Z has been actively contributing to the Strategic Management Society, where he serves as a representative-at-large in the Research Methods Community and co-organizes panels on causal inference, field experiments, and the usage of AI and machine learning in strategy research.

Outside of academia, Z enjoys gardening, where he applies the same patience and attention to detail that he brings to his professional work.

For more information about his research, teaching, and service, please visit his personal website: sites.google.com/view/zwu.

Publications

  • Academic (5)
    • Wu, Z., & Klingebiel, R. (2024). A Behavioral Theory of Leviathan Inc: State Firms’ Responses to Performance Shortfalls. Strategic Organization. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/14761270241261141

    • Wu, Z., & Liu, S. (2024). Corporate Responses to Social Activism: A Review and Research Agenda. Journal of Management, 50(6), 2046-2072. https://doi.org/10.1177/01492063231208971

    • Wu, Z., Naldi, L., Wennberg, K., & Uman, T. (2024). Learning from Their Daughters: Family Exposure to Gender Disparity and Female Representation in Male-Led Ventures. Management Science, 70(2), 671-693. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4727

    • Mitchell, W., Wu, Z., Bruton, G., & Gautam, D. (2022). Microlevel Analysis of Institutional Intermediation in a Rudimentary Market-Based Economy: Entrepreneurship in Kathmandu’s Indrachok Market. Organization Science, 33(6), 2106-2134. https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2021.1531

    • Krause, R., Wu, Z., Bruton, G., & Carter, S. (2019). The Coercive Isomorphism Ripple Effect: An Investigation of Nonprofit Interlocks on Corporate Boards. Academy of Management Journal, 62(1), 283-308. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2017.0064

PhD in Strategic Management & Entrepreneurship
  • Role: Daily Supervisor
  • PhD Candidate: Guanyi Song
  • Time frame: 2021 -
Past
  • Causal Inference (2023/2024)
  • Behavioral Strategy & Entrepreneurial Behavior (2022/2023)
2022
December
13
2022
April
12
Research Seminar
As: Coordinator
2022
March
29
Research Seminar
As: Coordinator
2022
March
03
Research Seminar
As: Coordinator
2021
December
14
Research Seminar
As: Coordinator
2021
October
05
Research Seminar
As: Coordinator
2021
September
21
2021
July
06
2021
May
04
Research Seminar
As: Coordinator
2021
April
06
2020
December
08
2020
November
10
2020
October
27
2020
October
13
2019
March
12

Address

Visiting address

Office: Mandeville Building T07-41
Burgemeester Oudlaan 50
3062 PA Rotterdam

Postal address

Postbus 1738
3000 DR Rotterdam
Netherlands