IT’s future value proposition

Many executives expect IT will play a growing role in driving business results, according to a new survey. For that to happen, CIOs must broaden their profiles and prove IT’s effectiveness in areas such as digital and innovation.
IT’s future value proposition

Risk-Taking Leads to Digital Success

We asked respondents from our 2017 report on digital business, “Achieving Digital Maturity,” to indicate what factors managers needed to lead in a digital age. What was striking was that the most common responses didn’t involve technical skills or deep digital knowledge. Instead, they centered around the need for experimentation, taking risks, and challenging the status quo. Respondents indicated that figuring out how to manage organizational factors and expectations was more important and more difficult than selecting the best technology solutions.

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Risk-Taking Leads to Digital Success

The Upside of Being a Woman Among ‘Bros’

The new age of engineering and construction technology

New technologies are transforming all stages of the engineering and construction process. Here’s what companies need to know about the evolving landscape.
The new age of engineering and construction technology

Mapping tech’s profits

Networks and platforms reign within the high tech, media, and telecom industries—here’s a look at the leading profit spinners across the globe.
Mapping tech’s profits

Hit or myth? Understanding the true costs and impact of cybersecurity programs

Cybersecurity is a critical but often misunderstood aspect of companies’ technology infrastructures. Here’s how business and technology leaders can ensure that important corporate assets remain safe.
Hit or myth? Understanding the true costs and impact of cybersecurity programs

Industrial aftermarket services: Growing the core

OEMs may find untapped goldmines in aftermarket services by strengthening their core business in parts, repair, and maintenance.
Industrial aftermarket services: Growing the core

Using people analytics to drive business performance: A case study

A quick-service restaurant chain with thousands of outlets around the world is using data to drive a successful turnaround, increase customer satisfaction, and grow revenues.
Using people analytics to drive business performance: A case study

Sustainable Procurement Requires Perseverance

How will same-day and on-demand delivery evolve in urban markets?

Delivery start-ups have struck a chord with consumers. But brick-and-mortar retailers and parcel services could still compete by playing to their strengths.
How will same-day and on-demand delivery evolve in urban markets?

Why your call center is only getting noisier

Investing in digital solutions to reduce call volumes and costs may not pay off if customer experience isn’t central to the effort.
Why your call center is only getting noisier

Improving Customer Service and Security With Data Analytics

Creating value through sustainable design

Companies can promote sustainability by following good design practices to provide innovative and aesthetically pleasing solutions for customers and users.
Creating value through sustainable design

A business leader’s guide to agile

Agile promises rapidly evolving software and substantial business benefits, but it requires new habits from everyone: from IT and from business partners.
A business leader’s guide to agile

The CEO’s guide to competing through HR

Technological tools provide a new opportunity for the function to reach its potential and drive real business value.
The CEO’s guide to competing through HR

Video: Three Ways Businesses Use Artificial Intelligence

Leadership and strategic innovation in pharma

The CEO of Shire explains how he’s repositioning the company and gearing up for more change.
Leadership and strategic innovation in pharma

The digital future of work: What skills will be needed?

Robots have long carried out routine physical activities, but increasingly machines can also take on more sophisticated tasks. Experts provide advice on the skills people will need going forward.
The digital future of work: What skills will be needed?

The digital future of work: What will automation change?

Rapid advances in robotics and artificial intelligence are making inroads in the workplace, with machines carrying out physical and cognitive activities. What will this mean for employment?
The digital future of work: What will automation change?

The digital future of work: Policy implications of automation

The adoption of new technology and new work practices poses particular challenges to both business and policy makers. What are the key priorities they should look to address?
The digital future of work: Policy implications of automation

The digital future of work: Is the 9-to-5 job going the way of the dinosaur?

Independent work is on the rise, thanks in part to new digital platforms that allow people to find work and offer their skills. What will this do to traditional work routines?
The digital future of work: Is the 9-to-5 job going the way of the dinosaur?

When Jobs Become Commodities

Digital in chemicals: From technology to impact

What are the major opportunities from digital in chemicals, and what must leaders do to capture them?
Digital in chemicals: From technology to impact

Taming scope creep to keep public-sector projects on track

There’s a monster that eats projects: scope creep. To keep the creep at bay, organizations need discipline, collaboration, and a relentless focus on real user needs.
Taming scope creep to keep public-sector projects on track

Optimizing performance in infrastructure project delivery

To manage costs and schedules more effectively, a four-pronged strategy can identify and limit variability in process execution.
Optimizing performance in infrastructure project delivery

Out with the old: Why embracing new ideas can transform construction’s poor delivery habits

Construction lags behind other industries in its ability to manage complex projects, but two new approaches will help close the gap.
Out with the old: Why embracing new ideas can transform construction’s poor delivery habits

Culture for a digital age

Risk aversion, weak customer focus, and siloed mind-sets have long bedeviled organizations. In a digital world, solving these cultural problems is no longer optional.
Culture for a digital age

The changing landscape of social-impact investing

During the age of entrepreneurship, the gap between rich and poor grew rapidly. New business models directing capital in a more purposeful, moral way can help change that.
The changing landscape of social-impact investing

How cognitive technologies are transforming capital markets

The question for most banks is not whether to deploy artificial intelligence–based technology but how to do so effectively.
How cognitive technologies are transforming capital markets

The rising advantage of public-private partnerships

In the United States, governments are increasingly turning to public-private partnerships (P3s) to implement public infrastructure works. Here’s why the benefits of P3 project delivery, not just financing, will continue to shift the market in this direction.
The rising advantage of public-private partnerships

Merge to grow: Realizing the full commercial potential of your merger

Companies can protect existing, and drive new, revenue by focusing on seven activities.
Merge to grow: Realizing the full commercial potential of your merger

Raising returns on analytics investments in insurance

In an era of narrow margins and slow growth, insurers’ need to invest in analytics has never been greater. A few thoughtful initiatives can accelerate the analytics journey.
Raising returns on analytics investments in insurance

Moving Sales With Trajectory-Based Mobile Advertising

Faster Results From Supply Chain Analytics

Most companies employ supply chain analytics. But to get better strategic, operational, and tactical decisions from these analytics, the majority have found they need to decrease their “Analytics Insight Cycle Time” — the time required to identify a supply chain challenge or opportunity, perform the analytics to understand it, transform those analytics into insights, and then take action based on those insights.

In this webinar, MIT SMR authors Melissa Bowers, Adam Petrie, and Mary Holcomb discuss the phases of Analytics Insight Cycle Time, present case studies for actual success, and steps supply chain executives can take to reduce cycle times and to ultimately make supply chain analytics a transformational and competitive resource in their organizations.

Topics of discussion include:

• The five key levers critical to minimizing Analytics Insight Cycle Time
• How leading companies have successfully tackled this issue
• How to translate supply chain analytics into actionable insights

Faster Results From Supply Chain Analytics

A game plan for international specialty-chemical companies in China

To avoid getting left behind in China’s specialty-chemical market, international companies need a new approach.
A game plan for international specialty-chemical companies in China

Article Link List

Better design can make sense aesthetically, environmentally—and economically.
Article Link List

Reseeding growth in the Garden State

The Garden State can build a future-oriented, high-growth economy by addressing challenges in business, infrastructure, investment, and its workforce.
Reseeding growth in the Garden State

Improving construction productivity

McKinsey research finds seven levers can fix construction’s productivity problem, but they require a new approach from all players. We heard from industry leaders about which barriers to change are most likely to fall first.
Improving construction productivity

Your Time Is Limited, So Choose Your Projects Wisely

Construction: The next great tech transformation

Mired by underdigitization and fragmentation, construction must find a new way to build.
Construction: The next great tech transformation

Cracks in the ridesharing market—and how to fill them

For all of its remarkable growth, ridesharing is still far from ubiquitous. To boost miles traveled, the industry will need new solutions, including smarter design.
Cracks in the ridesharing market—and how to fill them

Video: The Impact of Machine Learning on Work Is Bigger Than You Think

Taking the pulse of enterprise IoT

A new survey suggests that the enterprise Internet of Things is poised for strong growth. Here are the trends companies need to understand.
Taking the pulse of enterprise IoT

Advanced social technologies and the future of collaboration

The next generation of social technologies is beginning to transform the way people communicate and work with each other, according to a new survey.
Advanced social technologies and the future of collaboration

A ‘nudge’ for the better in claims journeys

Companies tend to assume that customers, employees, and suppliers always behave rationally.
A ‘nudge’ for the better in claims journeys

The Fatal Flaw of AI Implementation

Stimulating digital adoption in Germany

Germany needs to do more to harness the potential of new digital and automation technologies to make the most of its strong competitive position, as the world moves further into the digital age.
Stimulating digital adoption in Germany

A better approach to airline costs

Aggregate views of airline costs have their limitations. A better approach looks in depth at cost drivers.
A better approach to airline costs

Does the global business services model still matter?

Yes, but for these centralized groups to succeed in a digital era, leaders must focus on agility, customer service, and talent development, in addition to cost reduction and process efficiency.
Does the global business services model still matter?

Infographic: What Is Digital Maturity?

Using data to get personal with consumers: An interview with Julien Boudet

The benefits of personalization at scale require understanding what “triggers” are and how they really work.
Using data to get personal with consumers: An interview with Julien Boudet

Competing in a world of sectors without borders

Digitization is causing a radical reordering of traditional industry boundaries. What will it take to play offense and defense in tomorrow’s ecosystems?
Competing in a world of sectors without borders

Learning from leaders in cloud-infrastructure adoption

A crucial benefit of cloud adoption is a decrease in time to market for new applications, which in turn can drive down costs and quickly improve product quality.
Learning from leaders in cloud-infrastructure adoption

Financial ecosystems: The next horizon for US banks

Banking ecosystems may represent the next frontier of banking innovation and a long-sought growth engine for banking profit pools.
Financial ecosystems: The next horizon for US banks

Entrepreneurship Is a Craft. Here’s Why That’s Important.

The Five Steps All Leaders Must Take in the Age of Uncertainty

The changing aftermarket game—and how automotive suppliers can benefit from arising opportunities

A host of geographical and technological developments will disrupt the automotive aftermarket over the next 5 to 10 years—automotive suppliers need a clear strategic focus to win this game.
The changing aftermarket game—and how automotive suppliers can benefit from arising opportunities

Using data and technology to improve healthcare ecosystems

A Verily Life Sciences executive explains how the company targets better patient outcomes by harnessing analytics, machine learning, and other digital tools.
Using data and technology to improve healthcare ecosystems

A CEO action plan for workplace automation

Senior executives need to understand the tactical as well as strategic opportunities, redesign their organizations, and commit to helping shape the debate about the future of work.
A CEO action plan for workplace automation

Perspectives on the future of space exploration

Five leaders from industry, academia, and business outline the realities of sending new technologies, research methodologies, and business models into orbit.
Perspectives on the future of space exploration

Ask the AI experts: What’s driving today’s progress in AI?

While the deep-learning technology behind many of today’s AI advances seems new to most, it has been around for decades—simply needing the data and power available today to fuel it.
Ask the AI experts: What’s driving today’s progress in AI?

Ask the AI experts: What will take AI capabilities to the next level?

Deep learning has allowed technologists to employ AI in numerous business and consumer applications, but researchers are working feverishly to master other techniques that will broaden AI’s reach.
Ask the AI experts: What will take AI capabilities to the next level?

Ask the AI experts: What are the applications of AI?

Automotive, financial services, utilities—in these and many other industries, businesses are already applying artificial intelligence to core business processes and to innovating products.
Ask the AI experts: What are the applications of AI?

Ask the AI experts: What advice would you give to executives about AI?

As executives consider where artificial intelligence can unlock business value, they’ll need to cut through the hype and find talent with both technical and business acumen.
Ask the AI experts: What advice would you give to executives about AI?

Ask the AI experts: Should we be afraid of AI?

AI researchers largely agree that fears about machines infused with artificial intelligence becoming self-acting and overpowering humans are overblown.
Ask the AI experts: Should we be afraid of AI?

Five questions brands need to answer to be customer first in the digital age

Having a consistent brand voice in the digital age is not easy. Here’s how to think about the challenges and opportunities.
Five questions brands need to answer to be customer first in the digital age

Platform Sprawl Leaves No Industry Behind

China’s electric-vehicle market plugs in

China has emerged as a leader in both the supply of—and demand for—electric vehicles.
China’s electric-vehicle market plugs in

Dynamics in the global electric-vehicle market

New research on electric mobility reveals Chinese OEMs produced 43 percent of EVs worldwide in 2016 and highlights other trends in supply and demand.
Dynamics in the global electric-vehicle market

The 10 Most Popular New MIT SMR Articles

In the first half of 2017, MIT Sloan Management Review website visitors showed high interest in articles about how artificial intelligence (AI) will affect the job market and organizations. In fact, three of the 10 most-read pieces of new MIT SMR editorial content during that period address some aspect of that question. But the other seven most popular new articles cover a wide range of topics — from dealing with negative emotions in the workplace to exploring the organizational implications of blockchain technology.

1. The Jobs That Artificial Intelligence Will Create

We’ve all heard about jobs that may be eliminated due to advances in AI. The most popular new article on the MIT SMR site explores the other side of the coin: It describes three categories of jobs that AI may create.

2. Analytics as a Source of Business Innovation

MIT Sloan Management Review’s seventh annual data and analytics global survey found that the percentage of companies deriving competitive advantage from analytics increased for the first time in four years.

3. The Smart Way to Respond to Negative Emotions at Work

Many executives try to ignore negative emotions in their workplaces. But that tactic can be counterproductive and costly, and this article advocates a more proactive approach.

4. The Most Underrated Skill in Management

The authors of this article argue that there are few management skills more powerful than the discipline of clearly articulating the problem you seek to solve before jumping into action.

5. How Blockchain Will Change Organizations

What effects will the technology underlying digital currencies such as bitcoin — technology commonly known as blockchain — have on the nature of companies?

6. The End of Corporate Culture as We Know It

MIT SMR editor in chief Paul Michelman raises an interesting question: How relevant will corporate culture remain in a world where business is increasingly characterized by collaboration via digital platforms?

7. Five Myths About Digital Transformation

If you want to lead your organization’s technology transition, the first step is grasping the realities of digital transformation — rather than getting seduced by the hype.

8. How to Thrive — and Survive — in a World of AI Disruption

The challenge we face today is not a “world without work” but a world with rapidly changing work, according to MIT Sloan professor Erik Brynjolfsson.

9. What to Expect From Artificial Intelligence

To understand how advances in AI are likely to change the workplace — and the work of managers — you need to know where AI delivers the most value.

10. Corporate Sustainability at a Crossroads

In the final report of an eight-year initiative examining how corporations address sustainability, MIT Sloan Management Review and the Boston Consulting Group examine the crossroads at which sustainability now finds itself.

The 10 Most Popular New MIT SMR Articles

Debt and (not much) deleveraging

Global debt has grown by $57 trillion and no major economy has decreased its debt-to-GDP ratio since 2007. High government debt in advanced economies, mounting household debt, and the rapid rise of China’s debt are areas of potential concern.
Debt and (not much) deleveraging

When People Don’t Trust Algorithms

Advanced analytics: Nine insights from the C-suite

Conversations with hundreds of business leaders reveal nine ways that they are—and are not—adapting to the analytics revolution.
Advanced analytics: Nine insights from the C-suite

The Paris Climate Accords Rely on the Power of Markets

Making sense of Chinese outbound M&A

Misperceptions of Chinese deal making can undermine otherwise good deals. Here’s a closer look behind persistent myths.
Making sense of Chinese outbound M&A

Video: Preparing for the Changes AI Will Bring to Tomorrow’s Jobs