- 15 Dec 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
Biased Sampling of Early Users and the Direction of Startup Innovation
New ventures catering to female customers should be aware that the underrepresentation of women among early users on digital platforms can reduce the venture’s growth and chances of survival. As a result of gaining fewer early users, these ventures reduce future product development and are less likely to raise VC funding.
- 08 Dec 2020
- Research & Ideas
Why Companies Hunt for Talent on Digital Platforms, Not in Resume Piles
Rather than sit back and wait for applicants to send resumes, companies are proactively targeting prospective employees on digital platforms and social media, often with a recruiter's help, says research by Rembrand Koning. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 10 Feb 2020
- In Practice
6 Ways That Emerging Technology Is Disrupting Business Strategy
How are AI, data analytics, and the Internet of Things changing the way business leaders think about strategy? Harvard Business School faculty members discuss how emerging technology has changed the rules of competition. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 09 Oct 2019
- Research & Ideas
For Better Ideas, Bring the Right People to the Brainstorm
Better ideas emerge when extroverts and people open to new experiences put their heads together, according to research by Rembrand M. Koning. But what about introverts? Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 18 Sep 2019
- Working Paper Summaries
Female Inventors and Inventions
Does the gender of inventors make a difference for who benefits from their inventions? Analysis of all U.S. biomedical patents issued between 1976 and 2010 shows that research teams with women were more likely to produce patents addressing women’s health conditions, especially when female researchers led the teams. This link suggests that the dearth of women inventors might also result in fewer female-focused inventions.
- 06 Sep 2019
- Working Paper Summaries
Experimentation and Startup Performance: Evidence from A/B Testing
Is experimentation the right strategy for startups? This analysis of the adoption of A/B testing technology by 35,000 global startups provides evidence that a strategy based on repeated experimentation will improve performance over time. However, the benefits of experimentation vary. Experimentation helps younger startups “fail faster,” while older firms may discover new, high-growth products.
- 25 Apr 2019
- Research & Ideas
Incubators Take Notice: Your Entrepreneurs Are Networking with the Wrong People
Startup incubators used by cities and companies to jump-start innovation have a problem to overcome. Attendees tend to network with people they already know, says research by Rembrand M. Koning. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 06 Feb 2019
- Working Paper Summaries
Does Public Ownership and Accountability Increase Diversity? Evidence from IPOs
Going public has no effect on workforce diversity, according to this study comparing changes in firms’ ownership type with longitudinal data on employment. For workforce diversity, the time to make a difference is probably not after an initial public offering but rather in the years just after firm founding.
- 25 Apr 2018
- Research & Ideas
We May Have Taken Too Much Credit for Easing Workplace Segregation
Racial integration of American businesses hasn't improved much despite 40 years of trying. Rembrand Koning discusses the unexpected reason why. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 16 Oct 2017
- Research & Ideas
The Most Successful Startups Have Hands-On Founders
Research by Rembrand Koning and colleagues says the best-performing startups are those where the founder is hands-on with people management. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 20 Jun 2017
- Working Paper Summaries
Conversational Peers and Idea Generation: Evidence from a Field Experiment
To develop a theory of innovator capability, this study extends existing research linking personality and creativity to take into account the social nature of idea generation. Using data from an experiment embedded in a bootcamp for aspiring entrepreneurs, results show that better ideas are generated by “open” innovators exposed to extroverted peers. Extroverts provide more raw information that innovators high in openness are best able to recombine into novel ideas.
- 19 Jun 2017
- Working Paper Summaries
Learning to Manage: A Field Experiment in the Indian Startup Ecosystem
This study of 100 high-growth startups in India finds that founder-executives can learn how to improve their management style from their peers at other firms. These interfirm network connections between founders may help explain why some companies are well managed and others less so. Despite the apparent value of this peer learning, founders don’t appear to naturally connect with peers who could help them improve their management style.
Is A/B Testing Effective? Evidence from 35,000 Startups
A/B tests help startup founders capitalize on good ideas—and move on from duds—faster, says research from Rembrand Koning. How can established companies benefit? Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.