Dr. Daniela Laureiro Martinez

Since 2011 I work at ETH Zurich, in the Technology and Innovation Management Group. Within this group, I lead the COLAB, a research area focused on cognition, learning and adaptive behavior. We try to understand how individuals change and adapt, and how they lead organizations in adjusting to change and generating innovation.

My previous research has examined the cognitive antecedents of decision-making and problem-solving in situations that involve tradeoffs (e.g. between exploration and exploitation, between profit and social outcomes, or between different temporal horizons). In past studies, I have combined qualitative methods (e.g. ‘Verbal Protocol Analyses’ and text analysis) with behavioral studies using experiments, neuropsychological tasks, and brain imaging studies using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

We have shown that brain networks and the cognitive abilities related to cognitive control (like attention control and cognitive flexibility) play an important role in shifting the type of thinking processes needed in new situations, and these cognitive processes are often related to better performance and adaptation.

My current research has two main goals. One is to find ways to improve the abilities related to attention and cognitive control and thus the decision-makers’ learning and performance. A second goal is to expand the focus on decision-making to better understand the individual abilities and external factors that play a role in the earlier stages of problem-solving.

I co-developed and co-teach “Innovation Leadership” (Master of Science), “Innovation, Creativity and Personality Traits” (MAS, post-experience master), Managerial Cognition (Ph.D.) and Qualitative Methods (Ph.D.). 

I hold a Ph.D. in Management (Strategy and Innovation) from Bocconi University. Prior to entering academia, I worked as a researcher and as a business and government consultant in areas related to small business development in Latin America. 

I am part of the Editorial Board of Organization Science and the Strategic Management Journal. I serve in the Executive Committee of the Behavioral Strategy Group of the SMS and co-organize the Carnegie School of Organizational Learning. I have served as representative-at-large for the Behavioral Strategy Interest Group of SMS, and for the Managerial and Organizational Cognition and the Technology and Innovation Management Divisions of AoM.

An easy way to check out past publications is this Google Scholar profile.