It seems trite to start听this letter with so obvious a phrase as 鈥渋t鈥檚 hard to believe it鈥檚 been a year since we launched the new DI website,鈥� but it鈥檚 true! Here I sit, amazed at where the last year has taken us and yet simultaneously certain that it must have been just last week that we sat down with our听听friends to dream up what the DI site could be.听
A website redesign is a funny thing, and it can be as big or small as you make it; we came to听ours in听pursuit of听a few truths:听
We knew we wanted to tell the story of the听incredible work already taking place at the intersection of business and technology in the HBS and 性视界 community.听As听a team听we听have an intimate view into the breadth of research,听depth听of questioning, and strength of conversations happening every day by dedicated individuals across 性视界 and beyond.听
To tell this story, we looked to our roots within the HBS Initiatives ecosystem. The HBS Initiatives are research-fueled 鈥渃ommunities of engagement鈥� where faculty听and听students听connect with practitioners in the field to develop insights that drive impact. They provide powerful platforms to address complex, multi-dimensional topics that demand a new managerial mindset.听听
We knew our work at the DI was to cover as wide a range of topics as the Initiatives themselves,听addressing the听digital transformation听issues听that businesses must address in an ever-changing global marketplace.听We saw, also, a growing demand from our听MBA听students,听who听increasingly ask the question, 鈥淗ow can I navigate the tech landscape听at HBS? Where in the tech industry can my HBS degree take me?鈥� To this end, we听hoped to serve as a bridge between HBS and the larger tech community.听We believed (and still do!) that HBS鈥檚 position as the premier destination for business education lends us a unique perspective to add to conversations around technology.听
Above all, we were certain of the importance and timeliness of this听work. Digital transformation is here to stay, and听the questions that are听at the heart of听our work听here at the DI听are听central to the daily lives of people all over the globe.听Don鈥檛 many of us听occasionally find ourselves wondering how AI might impact our livelihood or whether some听seemingly irrevocable aspect of our day-to-day existence will be replaced in 5 years by the continuing听Uberfication听of society?听听
What we have seen emerge over this past year has been in a word: incredible. Far beyond the scope of a simple website redesign, I have watched amazed and humbled as a real sense of community has taken root and flourished around this topic of the digital transformation,听both听through听our engaging听on-campus events and听curated discussion听here online.听
This past year we鈥檝e made new friends and听sparked thrilling conversations. We鈥檝e learned about the precarious state of cybersecurity and how to play to win at digital strategy. We鈥檝e explored how technology is impacting retail, finance, athletics, health care to name a few.听We asked ourselves, 鈥淲hat skills does the modern worker need to succeed and lead in the digital economy?鈥�听听
Of one thing I鈥檓 certain: even as technology contributes many great advances to our听world,听we听are just getting started.听As听we look around us and see examples of听technology听gone awry 鈥斺�痮f platforms听being used to corrupt public elections,听of听CEOs听struggling听to lead听technology ventures at scale,听of unseen ramifications creeping forth from exciting innovations 鈥� it is clear that now, more than ever, we听are in need of听great leaders who can make a difference in the world. On this score, HBS has always been uniquely and centrally positioned to take up that mantle.听听
I hope you enjoy this look back at some of our highlights from this past year, and moreover share in my excitement for听the things to come. Here鈥檚 to many听winding conversations to be had听and, perhaps, even a few answers to听be found.听
With gratitude and enthusiasm, onward,听
Theresa
Article highlights from the year
Driving Digital Strategy
In the digital landscape, the rules of strategy are changing. In this flash talk, Professor Sunil Gupta shares how to focus on the possibilities of technology 鈥� without missing the big picture.
The Secret is 鈥淭here are No Secrets鈥�
Thinking that fancy math and big numbers will increase our safety online? SEAS Professor James Mickens urges you to think again. In this talk from our 2017 Future Assembly conference, Mickens helps us understand how precarious the current state of cybersecurity is.
HBR Whiteboard Session: How Does Blockchain Work?
Just getting started learning about blockchain? This primer from DI professor, Karim Lakhani is the place to start. In this HBR Whiteboard Session, Professor Lakhani explains how the blockchain works and why we should care. Finally, Lakhani provides a brief roadmap for leaders looking to implement the promising technology within their own organizations.
Data Skills: They鈥檙e Not Just for Data Scientists
Data skills are in higher demand than ever, and the workforce is moving to fill the gap. In this article, Emily Glassberg Sands (Ph.D. ’14 in Economics) shares her observations on data upskilling trends gleaned from over 30 million learners at Coursera 鈥� some of them might surprise you!
The Triple-Strength Worker
What skills does the modern worker need to succeed and lead in the digital economy? DI Director David Homa makes the case for developing skills in computing, applied math, and at least one area of domain expertise (hint: it doesn’t have to be a STEM field at all).
The New Normal: Luxury in the Secondary Market
Modern shopping habits are changing. HBS alum Charles Gorra explains how by embracing rather than resisting these shifts in preferences, Rebag was able to build a successful business around secondhand luxury handbags.
Hiding Products From Customers May Ultimately Boost Sales
Assortment rotation 鈥� swapping out products that are displayed by a store 鈥� is a popular business strategy for brick-and-mortar and online stores alike. But when and how should stores release a few products at a time versus revealing an entire product line? This research from Assistant Professor Kris Johnson Ferreira and Visiting Scholar Joel Goh is helping retailers fine tune that answer.
Can Startup Invisibly Be the New Revenue Stream Publishers Dream Of?
With promises of making big money off of readers without relying on subscriptions and hundreds of alleged partners who鈥檝e signed on as early testers, publishing startup Invisibly might just be the next big thing/one of media鈥檚 best kept secrets. But if it鈥檚 not subscriptions, and it鈥檚 not advertising, what exactly is Invisibly鈥檚 play 鈥� and how can they be so confident it will translate into billions?
Will Ethereum be the Platform that Successfully Brings Blockchain into the Mainstream?
Blockchain is one of a handful of technologies poised to transform a multitude of industries, and yet its promise remains relatively unrealized. However, HBS alumnus Yezi Peng (MBA 2017) thinks that the blockchain platform Ethereum might just have the power to usher blockchain into widespread usage.
Software-Enabled Clinical Trials
Healthcare companies are lagging behind. Oftentimes, clinical trial research still uses old-school processes like physical protocol binders, paper diaries, and decade old-software. Furthermore, only 5% of the U.S. population participates in clinical research. Andrea Coravos (MBA 鈥�17) argues that the time is ripe for innovative technologies 鈥� from virtual trials and digital biomarkers to improved software tools 鈥� to transform clinical trial execution and encourage broader participation from the public.