This article has appeared in the journal "Business History", Volume 57, Issue 5, 2015. Abstract: How can business historians and evolutionary economists deepen their conversations? The paper argues that in doing detailed studies of how individual firms develop capabilities over time is where the concerns of business historians who want to tell the history of… More »
My Notes
Tips for Choosing Appropriate Level of Abstractions (especially for Chinese Researchers)
A lot of Chinese researchers simply want to imitate how top American journals in formulating theories without boundary conditions. This sounds like doing good science but more often its leads to superficial analyses that do not explain what is happening in China. I was asked to write a commentary on an article by Child and… More »
The role of home country demand in the internationalization of new ventures
My article with Salih Ozdemir and Deepak Sardana was just published in Research Policy. Abstract: International new ventures (INVs) have been documented to exist all around the world, but the literature is silent on the frequency of such companies in different countries. We contend that the propensity of new ventures to internationalize by forming international… More »
Murmann Lecture: What constitutes a compelling case study?
I gave a 50-min keynote lecture on what constitutes compelling case study. The video from the event at the Forum for Case-based and Qualitative Research in Business Administration may be useful for anyone who is attempting to publish case based studies in field of management.
The slides from the lecture are visible in the video and can also be downloaded here. Murmann Slides
The lecture is also available within China on the youku platform. Click here if you want to access video from China: China Video Access. Alternative China Video Access
Click on “more” for a written summary of lecture both in English and in Chinese.
March 23, 2015 · Innovation Teaching
Getting a better sense of just how small a nanometer is
I am doing a bit of research on history and prospects of nano technology. Since 2000 the US government has an a nano technology initiative to ensure that the country stays what people consider a radical new technology to create new materials and structures. The chips in our computers and smartphones are getting ever more powerful because engineers are able to use nano technology to pack ever more transistors onto a chip. In addition to providing useful short history of nanotechnology, Nano.gov gives an useful illustration just how small is “nano”?
Carol Dweck: Differences between Growth and Fixed Mindsets
Carol Dweck has spent her career studying how personality traits impact life outcomes. Here is it summarized into one chart.
You can see a larger image by clicking here: Full Size Image
Useful if you consider submitting to AMJ: Editorial Statement by Current Editor of AMJ
I just read the editorial statement of the current editor of AMJ. If you would like to write about big problems that managers are facing in a scholarly way, AMJ may be a great outlet. Gerry George writes: A compelling way to frame a study for theoretical contribution is by asking questions on important anomalies… More »
October 18, 2014 · Management Research
Superb Example of Strategy Process Research: New Paper by Laurent Mirabeau and Steve Maguire in SMJ
I just read a fantastic research paper that I recommend highly to anyone who is interested in strategy process research.
Mirabeau, L., & Maguire, S. 2014. From autonomous strategic behavior to emergent strategy. Strategic Management Journal, 35(8): 1202-1229.
The authors do wonderful job first summarizing the different strands in strategy process research. Then they present new findings on how autonomous strategic initiatives become emergent strategy. They introduce the new idea of Ephemeral Autonomous Behavior to balance out the traditional Mintzberg model of emergent strategies. I have added the paper to my list of exemplary case studies worthy of imitation.
The core of the paper is nicely summarized in these two figures.
(Right click on each figure to open it in a larger format on a new page.)
September 19, 2014 · Conferences Research
Will give two presentations at Strategic Management Conference in Madrid, Sep 21-22
1. The Strategic Process and Competitive Dynamics of Industry Convergence
Date: Sunday, September 21, 2014
Time: 11:15 – 12:30
Room: Viena
Session Co-Chairs:
Samina Karim, Boston University
John Prescott, University of Pittsburgh
Panelists:
* Alfonso Gambardella, Bocconi University
* Anita McGahan, University of Toronto
* Johann Peter Murmann, University of New South Wales
* Fernando Suarez, Boston University
Understanding how industries change has attracted considerable attention because it blurs industry boundaries, redefines the competitive landscape, creates opportunities for new strategies to emerge, destroys competitive advantages while solidifying others, challenges cognitive maps and establishes new institutional arrangements. In this session, expert panelists will bring us up-to-date on the phenomenon of industry convergence (IC) by sharing their perspectives regarding (1) the antecedents, dynamics, and consequences of IC; (2) how to conceptualize strategic management processes and how they may inform the dynamics of IC; (3) how scholars should evaluate the attractiveness of, and rivalry within, IC industries; and (4) promising research directions including theory development and empirical studies.
August 5, 2014 · Uncategorized Research
Who Matters More? The Impact of Functional Background and Top Executive Mobility on Firm Survival
Do some top executives matter more than others? Integrating insights from upper echelons and executive mobility research, we suggest that the functional roles performed by top executives shape their value to the firm. We examine the effects of inter-firm executive mobility on firm survival for New York City advertising firms from 1924 to 1996. We… More »