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New research on business and management strategy from Harvard Business School faculty on issues including strategy development, execution, and gauging effectiveness.
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Iterative Coordination and Innovation

by Sourobh Ghosh and Andy Wu

Do Agile methodologies promote innovation? Results of a field experiment with Google show that increasing the frequency and goal orientation of stand-up meetings reinforces integration and value but reduces specialization and novelty in outcomes.

Will Challenged Amazon Tweak Its Retail Model Post-Pandemic?

by James Heskett

James Heskett's readers have little sympathy for Amazon's loss of market share during the pandemic. Has the organization lost its ability to learn? Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.

7 Successful Battle Strategies to Beat COVID-19

by Euvin Naidoo

The Agile methodology used to speed complex software development is also helpful for managing decision-making in today's crisis environment, says Euvin Naidoo. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.

Where Do Workers Go When the Robots Arrive?

by Rachel Layne

Marco Tabellini and colleagues investigate where workers go after losing their jobs to automation and Chinese imports. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.

Free Riding in Loan Approvals: Evidence From SME Lending in Peru

by Irani Arraiz, Miriam Bruhn, Benjamin N. Roth, Claudia Ruiz-Ortega, and Rodolfo Stucchi

Using data from a large Peruvian bank trying to expand credit access to small and medium enterprises, this study shows that competing lenders use one another’s loan approvals as an input into their own approval process. Such “free riding” has great impact on market outcomes and might warrant policy intervention.

Is There a Winner in Huawei’s Digital Cold War with the US?

Re: William C. Kirby

Bill Kirby discusses his case study of China-based Huawei’s growth and ultimate confrontation with the United States government, and China's response to the coronavirus. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.

Warring Algorithms Could Be Driving Up Consumer Prices

by Kristen Senz

Companies increasingly use software to conduct rapid price changes. Alexander MacKay explains why firms might benefit but consumers should be worried. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.

Consumer Protection in an Online World: An Analysis of Occupational Licensing

by Chiara Farronato, Andrey Fradkin, Bradley Larsen, and Erik Brynjolfsson

This paper uses new data collected by a digital platform to study the role of occupational licensing laws on individual choices and market outcomes. Results suggest that more stringent licensing laws restrict competition but do not lead to improvements in customer satisfaction.

Reinventing Retail: The Novel Resurgence of Independent Bookstores

by Ryan Raffaelli

Independent booksellers in the United States have proven resilient in the face of multiple technological and business model shifts in the bookselling industry. By tapping into a larger social movement that promotes the value of shopping local and a desire to cultivate community, successful booksellers are differentiating themselves from online and big box competitors.

6 Ways That Emerging Technology Is Disrupting Business Strategy

by Danielle Kost

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.

Does Apple Anchor a Shopping Mall? The Effect of the Technology Stores on the Formation of Market Structure

by Doug J. Chung, Kyoungwon Seo, and Reo Song

Anchor stores are the key tenants in a mall, occupying most of the gross leasable area and generating much of the foot traffic. This research provides a framework to understand why new and traditional anchor stores join a shopping mall and how their decisions affect mall configuration.

Lessons for Retailers from the Rebirth of Indie Bookstores

by Michael Blanding

Independent bookstores are resurging. Their strategies offer lessons for many disrupted industries to compete against Amazon and other digital retailers, says Ryan Raffaelli. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.

Rethinking Business Strategy in the Age of AI

by Dina Gerdeman

For the first time in 100 years, new technologies such as artificial intelligence are causing firms to rethink their competitive strategy and organizational structure, say Marco Iansiti and Karim R. Lakhani, authors of the new book Competing in the Age of AI. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.

6 Skills That Wise Companies Harness for World-Changing Innovation

by Kristen Senz

What does it take to truly change the world? In The Wise Company, Hirotaka Takeuchi shares the practices that help leading companies turn knowledge into lasting breakthroughs. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.

Under Pressure, Oxxo Rethinks the Convenience Store

Re: Tatiana Sandino

Mexican convenience store chain Oxxo dominated its market—until its chief rival doubled in size almost overnight. Professor Tatiana Sandino discusses her recent case study CEO Eduardo Padilla's response. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.

Identify Great Customers from Their First Purchase

by Kristen Senz

Using data from their very first transaction, companies can identify shoppers who will create the best long-term value, says Eva Ascarza. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.

Corporate Innovation Increasingly Benefits from Government Research

by Michael Blanding

Nearly a third of US patents rely directly on government-funded research, says Dennis Yao. Is government too involved in supporting private sector innovation—or not enough? Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.

Should Non-Compete Clauses Be Abolished?

by James Heskett

SUMMING UP: Non-compete clauses need to be rewritten, especially when they are applied to lower-income workers, respond James Heskett's readers. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.

Brick-and-Mortar Stores Are Making a Comeback

by Jen McFarland Flint

Left for dead alongside the retail highway, physical stores are suddenly finding new ways to compete, say Jill Avery and Antonio Moreno. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.

Birds of a Feather ... Enforce Social Norms? Interactions Among Culture, Norms, and Strategy

by Hongyi Li and Eric J. Van den Steen

Does culture eat strategy for breakfast? By analyzing the role of a company's social norms—how they develop and why people reinforce them, despite their personal beliefs—this paper offers new insights about the power of culture.