Lauren Hajjar, PhD

Biography

Dr. Lauren Hajjar specializes in organizational change and relational practices that support high performing teams, organizations and communities. Her research has explored the coordination of inter and intra-organizational work in multiple contexts across the United States and in collaboration with colleagues from around the globe. Her recent research themes include organizational development and change, coordination, relational practices and policy implementation.

Hajjar is skilled in quantitative and qualitative analysis and uses diverse methodologies to answer research questions, including ethnographic methods such as interviews, focus groups, participant observation and field-based surveys. She has presented her research in papers and symposia at the Annual Meetings of Labor and Employment Relations Association, Academy of Management and other international forums. Recent research has been funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Nellie Mae Education Foundation, National Institute of Corrections and the Sawyer Business School.

Previously, Hajjar was the Director of Research at the Relational Coordination Collaborative at Brandeis University, a Research Fellow at the Moakley Center for Public Management and Lecturer at Suffolk University. Prior to her academic roles, Dr. Hajjar spent a decade providing services to adults with disabilities and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders in the nonprofit sector.

Honors and Recognitions

• Principal Investigator, Sawyer Business School Faculty Research Grant, High Performance Healthcare: The Role of Relational Coordination on Worker Outcomes, 2021-2022
• Co-Principal Investigator, Nellie Mae Education Foundation, Organizing for Student Success: The Role of Relational Coordination in Building a Collaborative Culture, 2018-2020
• Research Partner, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Using Readiness and Relational Interventions to Improve Police-Community Relationships in Columbia, South Carolina, 2018-2020
• Research Partner, New York Department of Education, The Bronx Collaborative School Model: Relational Mapping and Family Engagement, 2018-2019
• Research Partner, National Institute of Corrections, Transition from Jails to Communities: A Collaborative Approach, 2017-2019
• Co-Principal Investigator, Rochester City School District, Transforming Relationships to Promote Equity and Inclusion, 2017-2018.
• NIH Fellowship Recipient, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2010-2013

Professional Activities

• Hajjar, L.M. et al. (2021). Relational Coordination and Stakeholder Alignment: Integrating Theory and Methods for Systems Change. Chair of PDW Workshop at the 81st Annual Academy of Management Virtual Conference.
• Hajjar, L.M. (August 2019). Relational Organizing for Multi-Level Systems Change. Co-organizer of PDW Workshop at the Academy of Management Conference; Boston, MA.
• Hajjar, L.M. (August 2018). Understanding the Relational Dynamics of Multi-Level Systems Change. Co-organizer of PDW Workshop at the Academy of Management Conference; Chicago, IL.

Professional organization positions

• Member, Academy of Management
• Member, American Society of Public Administration
• Faculty Partner, Relational Coordination Collaborative, 2018-present.
• Advisory Board Member, Alliance of Climate Change and Environmental Stewards, 2019-present.

Publications

Recent Intellectual Contributions

Refereed Journal Articles

Hajjar, L.M., Cook, B.S., Domlyn, A., Alia Ray, K., Laird, D., & Wandersman, A. (2020). Readiness and Relationships are Crucial for Coalitions and Collaboratives: Concepts and Evaluation Tools. New Directions in Evaluation.

Gittell, J. & Hajjar, L. (2019). Implementing Patient Centered Care at the VHA: How the relational model of organizational change can help. Invited Editorial for Special Issue on Care Coordination. Journal of General Internal Medicine.

Other Publications

Hajjar, L.M., Moore, S., & Hoffer Gittell, J. (2019). Central Office Transformation in a Major Urban School District: A Relational Capacity Strategy. Submitted to Rochester City School District, Offices of Accountability and Student Equity and Placement.

Hajjar, L.M., Hoffer Gittell, J., Stojicic, D., & Olaleye, O. (2018). Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Care Redesign and Relational Coordination: Analysis of Interdisciplinary Team Huddles and Physician Rounds. Submitted to BIDMC Office of Improvement and Innovation.

Hajjar, L.M. (2016). Adoption of SPI Practices in Police Departments. Smart Policing Initiative Quarterly Newsletter Issue No. XVIII. Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance.

Intellectual Contributions

• Lauren Hajjar's Intellectual Contributions [PDF]

Media Highlights

• Hajjar, L. To Avoid Reopening Disasters, Real Engagement with Parents and Teachers is Crucial. Scholars Strategy Network, Policy Brief, September 2020.
• Hajjar, L. Connection, Not Homeschooling, Will Define Us as Parents During COVID-19. Medium, April 11, 2020.