Information Technology
→
- 09 Oct 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
Where the Cloud Rests: The Economic Geography of Data Centers
This study quantifies how data center managers make a trade-off between the setup and operational costs of running a facility and capturing local demand.
- 14 Sep 2020
- Research & Ideas
You're Right! You Are Working Longer and Attending More Meetings
A study of 3 million people confirms what many work-from-home employees already know: We're swamped. Research by Raffaella Sadun, Jeffrey Polzer, and colleagues. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 19 Jul 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
Open Source Software and Global Entrepreneurship
Does more activity in open source software development lead to increased entrepreneurial activity and, if so, how much, and in what direction? This study measures how participation on the GitHub open source platform affects the founding of new ventures globally.
- 29 Oct 2019
- Sharpening Your Skills
Robots in the Boardroom
Understanding cloud technology was the No. 1 imperative for executives this decade. Next up: How does artificial intelligence change business and management? Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 22 Oct 2019
- Research & Ideas
Use Artificial Intelligence to Set Sales Targets That Motivate
Setting sales targets has always been an inexact science, with serious consequences if done poorly. Using AI-based advanced analytics might be the answer, argues Doug Chung. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 05 Sep 2019
- Sharpening Your Skills
Making the Right Technical Hire
CEOs are usually more comfortable making key hires on the business side of the house than the technology side. Here is what executives need to understand about technical hires, according to Julia Austin. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 10 Jun 2019
- Working Paper Summaries
Going Digital: Implications for Firm Value and Performance
More and more nontechnology companies are adopting digital technologies like AI, data analytics, and machine learning. This study of the economic performance of nontech firms adopting new digital technologies finds a persistent future increase in valuation. However, investors only slowly incorporate the value implications of digital activities into prices. Nontech companies with senior executives with tech talent improve performance more than those without.
- 30 Mar 2018
- What Do You Think?
What Should Mark Zuckerberg Do?
SUMMING UP: Facebook doesn't necessarily need a better data-privacy policy, James Heskett's readers suggest. Instead, Mark Zuckerberg needs a new business model. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 21 Mar 2018
- Research & Ideas
Why Artificial Intelligence Isn't a Sure Thing to Increase Productivity
As companies adopt artificial intelligence to increase efficiency, are their employees skilled enough to use those technologies effectively? Prithwiraj Choudhury looks to the US Patent and Trademark Office for a case study. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 05 Mar 2018
- Working Paper Summaries
Nowcasting Gentrification: Using Yelp Data to Quantify Neighborhood Change
This study finds that data from digital platforms (in this case, Yelp) can help forecast which neighborhoods are gentrifying and provide new ways to measure business landscape changes that accompany demographic changes.
- 01 Mar 2018
- What Do You Think?
Two Decades Later, is the 'New Economy' Finally Here?
SUMMING UP Have recent advances in technology such as artificial intelligence ushered in (finally) the "new economy?" Not so fast, answer James Heskett's readers. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 21 Aug 2017
- Lessons from the Classroom
Companies Love Big Data But Lack the Strategy To Use It Effectively
Big data is a critical competitive advantage for companies that know how to use it. Harvard Business School faculty share insights that they teach to executives. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 15 May 2017
- Sharpening Your Skills
The Promises and Limitations of Big Data
Recent stories chart the rise of big data, its impact on business, and how it affects our lives every day. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 20 Oct 2016
- Cold Call Podcast
The Spectacular Fall and Fix of HealthCare.gov
Professor Len Schlesinger describes his case study around the enormous challenges involved with building, launching, and ultimately fixing HealthCare.gov—one of the largest IT fiascos ever. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 02 Mar 2016
- What Do You Think?
Is Apple’s Real Privacy Challenge Technology Innovation Itself?
SUMMING UP: Apple's battle with the FBI over the iPhone contents of one of the San Bernardino shooters raises a question for James Heskett. Given the relentless pace of technology, can any company guarantee the privacy and security of its users? What do YOU think? Closed for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 08 Feb 2016
- Research & Ideas
The Civic Benefits of Google Street View and Yelp
Cities are increasingly rich in citizen-created data, which can be used to improve programs and services, says Michael Luca and his research colleagues. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 05 Aug 2015
- What Do You Think?
What Happened to the ‘Innovation, Disruption, Technology’ Dividend?
SUMMING UP. Jim Heskett’s readers are divided on whether we are seeing productivity dividends from the latest round of technological innovation. Open for comment; 11 Comment(s) posted.
- 08 Apr 2015
- What Do You Think?
Are Technology Companies Ripe for Disruption?
SUMMING UP Jim Heskett's readers discuss the fate of tech companies that continue to stuff their products with unwanted bells and whistles. What do YOU think? Open for comment; 20 Comment(s) posted.
- 02 Feb 2015
- Research & Ideas
Disruptors Sell What Customers Want and Let Competitors Sell What They Don’t
By "decoupling" activities that consumers value from the ones they don't, enterprising digital startups are wreaking havoc on established firms. Thales Teixeira discusses his research on the second wave of Internet disruption. Open for comment; 8 Comment(s) posted.
IT Job Wages Are No Longer 'Exceptional'
Wage growth in IT jobs has moderated following the dot-com boom, according to new research by Ruiqing Sam Cao and Shane Greenstein. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.