Technology →
- 05 Jul 2006
- Working Paper Summaries
Economic and Technical Drivers of Technology Choice: Browsers
Did Microsoft defeat Netscape in the browser war because its technology was better, or because MS created a better business strategy? The authors draw on the 1996-1999 browser battles to examine technical progress versus economic forces in driving diffusion on new technologies. Key concepts include: Rapid expansion of demand for PCs allowed Internet Explorer to capture new browser users and swamp the number of existing users of Netscape in the 1990s. More than better technology, better distribution can help second movers overcome first-mover advantage. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 05 Jul 2006
- Working Paper Summaries
Exploring the Structure of Complex Software Designs: An Empirical Study of Open Source and Proprietary Code
How does a product's design mirror the organization that develops it, and how does such a dynamic occur? To track the evolution of one design over time, this exploratory study compared software designs developed via different modes of organization-open source versus proprietary development. As it turned out, the architecture of the product developed by a highly distributed team of developers (Linux) was more modular than another product of similar size developed by a co-located team of developers (Mozilla). The study helped reveal potential performance tradeoffs from architectures with different characteristics. Key concepts include: The value of design is a managerial choice. There are important, measurable differences in modularity between different software systems of comparable size and function. Systems may vary dramatically in terms of their robustness to change, and the costs and efficiency of future enhancements. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 05 Jul 2006
- Working Paper Summaries
Why IT Matters in Midsized Firms
What does IT actually contribute to a business? Is IT a commodity like electricity or is it a crucial element of competitive advantage? In a study of over 600 medium-sized global firms to analyze the business benefits that IT can enable, the authors found that IT capability was key to profitable business growth. This was true in both the U.S. product and services sectors as well as in Germany and Brazil. Key concepts include: IT matters. IT enables firms to scale. The amount a company spends on IT is a poor indicator of IT functionality and business impact. Firms with business process scalability find it easier to overcome obstacles to growth, differentiate themselves from competitors, and quickly capitalize on opportunities. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 05 Jul 2006
- Working Paper Summaries
Information Technology Ecosystem Health and Performance
An IT ecosystem is "the network of organizations that drives the creation and delivery of information technology products and services." To understand the health and well being of the IT industry in the context of an ecosystem, the authors looked at three crucial IT ecosystem metrics: productivity, robustness, and innovation. Key concepts include: The IT ecosystem is strong in all three of the most important sectors of hardware, software, and services. Since the recession and retrenchment several years ago, the IT ecosystem has regained its health, competitiveness, and productivity. There are currently significant levels of innovation from both new market entrants as well as incumbent market leaders. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 10 Apr 2006
- Research & Ideas
Lessons from the Browser Wars
The first-mover advantage is well chronicled, but it didn't help Netscape when Microsoft launched Internet Explorer. What drives technology adoption, and do browser upstarts such as Firefox stand a chance? A Q&A with professor Pai-Ling Yin. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 12 Mar 2006
- Research & Ideas
New Research Explores Multi-Sided Markets
Dating clubs, credit cards, and video games are all examples of multi-sided markets, where firms need to get two or more distinct groups of customers on the same platform. Professor Andrei Hagiu discusses this new field of business research—and why it matters to you. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 24 Oct 2005
- Research & Ideas
Building an IT Governance Committee
Boards need to take more accountability for IT, argue professors Richard Nolan and Warren McFarlan. In this excerpt from their recent Harvard Business Review article, the authors detail what an IT governance committee should look like. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 12 Sep 2005
- Research & Ideas
The Broadband Explosion: Thinking About a Truly Interactive World
When true broadband arrives, everything will change—work, play, and society—say professors Robert Austin and Stephen Bradley. What a truly interactive world will look like is the subject of their new book The Broadband Explosion. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 13 Jun 2005
- Research & Ideas
From Turf Wars to Learning Curves: How Hospitals Adopt New Technology
Turf wars and learning curves influence how new technology is adopted in hospitals. HBS professors Gary Pisano and Robert Huckman discuss the implications of their research for your organization. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 06 Jun 2005
- Research & Ideas
Microsoft vs. Open Source: Who Will Win?
Using formal economic modelling, professors Pankaj Ghemawat and Ramon Casadesus-Masanell consider the competitive dynamics of the software wars between Microsoft and open source. Read our interview. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 16 May 2005
- Research & Ideas
Confronting the Reality of Web Services
Web services have made huge strides, but two hurdles remain, one technical, the other organizational, says HBS professor Andrew P. McAfee. "It is in fact getting easier to integrate applications, but it's never going to be easy." Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 28 Feb 2005
- Research & Ideas
Amazon, eBay and the Bidding Wars
"Sniping" is a popular way of winning a bid in the world of online auctions. But how far can it change the playing field? HBS professor Alvin Roth takes a look at how bidding rules change the way the game is played. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 28 Feb 2005
- Research & Ideas
How to Harness Auction Fever
HBS assistant professor Deepak Malhotra talks about the phenomena of "auction fever" in which bidders are driven to win at irrational costs. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 14 Feb 2005
- Research & Ideas
The World in Your Palm?
Cell phones are cameras, too. Music players are photo albums, too. PDAs browse the Internet, too. A Cyberposium panel looks at the limits of convergence. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 04 Oct 2004
- Research & Ideas
Start to Measure Your E-commerce Success
After the dot-com fallout, surviving companies needed to sharpen strategy and analyze metrics much better. Visiting professor Marc J. Epstein shows how to put metrics to work. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 05 Jul 2004
- Research & Ideas
Radical Change, Entrepreneurial Opportunity
A key to exploiting radical technological change is to clear your vision of historical constraints and see new opportunities with a fresh perspective. Michael J. Roberts interviews HBS professor Mary Tripsas. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 21 Jun 2004
- Research & Ideas
Music Downloads: Pirates—or Customers?
Professor Felix Oberholzer-Gee and co-author Koleman Strumpf floored the disbelieving music industry with their findings that illegal music downloads don’t hurt CD sales. Oberholzer discusses what the industry should do next. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 24 May 2004
- Research & Ideas
The Watsons: IBM’s Troubled Legacy
For over seventy years, Thomas Watson Sr. and Thomas Watson Jr. shaped and built IBM. In a new book, Professor Richard Tedlow explores the complex relationship between father and son. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 25 Aug 2003
- Research & Ideas
Why IT Does Matter
HBS professors F. Warren McFarlan and Richard L. Nolan respond to the much-discussed assertion by Nicholas Carr that company investments in IT are less and less likely to produce competitive advantage. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
Developing a Strategy for Digital Convergence
Technology was getting dull earlier this decade, says David Yoffie. But the sudden arrival of digital convergence has turned the tech world upside down. What are the right bets to place? Key concepts include: Digital convergence has arrived, creating entirely new products, services, and collaboration opportunities. The technology industry is tilting to horizontal. Players need to learn to complement each other as well as compete. Network effects create strong market advantages for companies that can capitalize on them. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.