Behavioral Science in Business: Understanding People to Drive Results

The Behavioral Science in Business: Understanding People to Drive Results program equips executives with a deep understanding of behavioral science for business and the tools to implement and measure its impact of behavioral science, using a proprietary Full Cycle Approach to Applying Behavioral Science™.

The Full Cycle Approach to Applying Behavioral Science™ is a behavior change model that sets out the specific steps organizations should undertake to benefit from leveraging behavioral science in meaningful and sustainable ways. Organizations who adopt the seven key steps outlined in this model, supported by strong leadership and only modest resources, can quickly profit from what is increasingly becoming known as the ‘behavioral revolution’.

The program has been developed in collaboration with world-leading researchers and practitioners in the field. You will be learning from some of the most noted experts, leading scholars, and best-selling authors who are leaders not just in the theory of behavioral science, but also in its practice.

“Behavioral science shows that we can change behavior without necessarily changing minds.”

Behavioral Science 101: Participants are introduced to what they ‘need to know’ for their business to benefit from behavioral science led strategies and learn how to distinguish them from aspects that are just ‘nice to know’.

The Full Cycle Model of Behavior Change & Behavior Targeting: Participants will be be introduced to the Full Cycle Approach to Applying Behavioral Science™. They will learn how behaviors frequently come about rather than being thought about and examine the merits of changing minds over changing behaviors. The sessions will also explore the importance of defining behaviors and creating behavior maps that will make behaviors more understandable and easier to identify where to intervene and what to change.

The Engines of Change: This session explores the three most important human motivations at the heart of all influence and change.

Economic Triggers of Change: Participants will gain insights into when incentives work, when they backfire, and how context, motivation, knowledge, and implementation barriers shape behavioral outcomes. From habit formation to social norms, defaults to framing effects, participants will walk away with actionable strategies for designing more effective, targeted, and ethical behavioral interventions that drive real impact.

Insights from Data: Asking the Right Questions: Participants will learn the principles of Quantitative Intuition™—a decision-making framework designed for leaders navigating complex, data-driven environments. Through a dynamic blend of precision questioning, contextual analysis, and synthesis, participants will gain the tools to make sound decisions even with incomplete information. They’ll explore how to frame problems with clarity, uncover insights beyond surface-level data, and drive actionable outcomes.

Case Study: With participants now fully equipped with the Full Cycle Approach to Applying Behavioral Science™ they are divided into working teams to apply their new found knowledge and skills to an immersive and intriguing case study.

Networking Reception: At the end of our second day together participants are invited to share perspectives, build their networks and make new friends over cocktails and canapes.

Putting Theory Into Practice-Applying Behavioral Science Using the Full Cycle: Working in study groups participants use the Full Cycle Approach to come up with innovative and productive approaches to address the case study challenge before presenting their ideas back to Faculty

Projects and Applications Bringing it All Together The penultimate session provides participants with the chance to begin building their own change strategies in a unique setting with their program colleagues and Columbia faculty.

Case Study Reports Outs If You Don’t Know, then Test! : This session examines the importance of testing before implementation, demonstrates both the up-and downsides of intuition and provides a useful framework for prioritizing goals and outcomes.

Behavioral Science in Business is designed for professionals across industries who seek to apply cutting-edge insights from behavioral science to drive business outcomes and organizational change.

Ideal participants include those who: