Ryan Buell
About Ryan Buell
Ryan Buell is the C.D. Spangler Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, specializing in empirical service operations and behavioral operations. His research examines the influence of operational choices on customer behavior and company performance, with a focus on the impact of technology on service delivery.
Current Position at Harvard Business School
Ryan Buell holds the position of C.D. Spangler Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. He has been in this role since 2022, contributing to the academic community in Boston, Massachusetts. His work focuses on empirical service operations and behavioral operations, emphasizing the influence of operational choices on customer behavior and company performance.
Educational Background
Ryan Buell completed his MBA in General Management at Harvard Business School from 2005 to 2007. He further pursued a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) at the same institution, specializing in Technology and Operations Management from 2007 to 2012. Prior to his graduate studies, he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Marketing and Computer Information Systems from the University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business, studying from 1996 to 2000.
Previous Work Experience
Before his tenure at Harvard Business School, Ryan Buell gained diverse industry experience. He worked at General Motors Corporation as a Sales and Marketing Analyst in 1997 and as a Fixed Asset Analyst in 1998. He also served as a Production Supervisor at Delphi Automotive Systems for a brief period in 1999. Additionally, he was a Summer Associate at McKinsey & Company in 2006.
Research Focus and Contributions
Ryan Buell's research primarily investigates how operational choices in service contexts affect customer behavior and organizational performance. He has a particular interest in the impact of technology on service delivery. His contributions to faculty research at Harvard Business School include authoring a case study titled 'Scaling Seven Starling' in collaboration with Carin-Isabel Knoop.
Academic Roles at Harvard Business School
Throughout his career at Harvard Business School, Ryan Buell has held various academic positions. He served as an Assistant Professor of Business Administration from 2012 to 2017, followed by the role of UPS Foundation Associate Professor of Service Management from 2017 to 2021. He was a Professor of Business Administration for 11 months before becoming the C.D. Spangler Professor.