Yoonkyung "Yoon" Jin

My current research primarily focuses on the tension between conformity and differentiation, drawing on the optimal distinctiveness literature. I extend this literature to internal organizational actors by examining the potential costs of implementing moderately distinctive strategies for employees and other members of the organization. 

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My research will continue along two primary streams. First, I examine how conflicting demands shape the experiences of internal organizational actors and how these actors influence firms' ability to navigate such tensions. Second, I will broaden this work beyond conformity and differentiation to a wider range of other types of competing expectations and strategic tensions.

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My work primarily draws on quantitative methods, complemented by machine learning and experiments. This combination allows me to examine the research questions from multiple perspectives and develop a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms.

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My dissertation aims to broaden the optimal distinctiveness literature by examining the costs that internal organizational actors may bear as firms seek to achieve an optimal position between conformity and differentiation. In my job market paper, I examine how the benefits of moderately distinctive strategies may come at a cost to employees, and when these costs can be mitigated.