Zhiling (Alex) Lin 

I am Zhiling (Alex) Lin, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Management and Human Resources at the Wisconsin School of Business, University of Wisconsin–Madison.

 

My research examines how organizations adapt to dynamic environments by investigating the behavioral processes through which organizations interpret information and translate it into strategic action. As organizations increasingly rely on artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, and abundant data, understanding the behavioral foundations of organizational adaptation has become more important than ever. Drawing on the Behavioral Theory of the Firm and related perspectives in strategy and entrepreneurship, my research seeks to advance our understanding of organizational adaptation, innovation, and entrepreneurial decision-making.

 

My research program consists of two interconnected streams. The first, which forms the foundation of my dissertation, advances the Behavioral Theory of the Firm by uncovering the behavioral mechanisms through which organizations interpret performance feedback, form aspirations, and direct problemistic search. The second extends this behavioral perspective to entrepreneurship by examining how organizational structures, communication patterns, and venture characteristics shape entrepreneurial adaptation, particularly strategic pivoting and organizational design.