Publications

Article

Is Wikipedia Biased?

By: Shane Greenstein and Feng Zhu

2001
Working Paper

Strategies to Fight Ad-sponsored Rivals

By: Ramon Casadesus-Masanell and Feng Zhu

We analyze the optimal strategy of a high-quality incumbent that faces a low-quality ad-sponsored competitor. In addition to competing through adjustments of tactical variables such as price or the number of ads a product carries, we allow the incumbent to consider... View Details

Keywords: Advertising; Business Model; Competition; Competitive Strategy

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15 Nov 2011
First Look

First Look: November 15

Imitation: The Case of Sponsor-Based Business Models Authors:Ramon Casadesus-Masanell and Feng Zhu Publication:Strategic Management Journal (forthcoming) Abstract This paper provides the first formal model... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

December 2019
Article

What Is Different About Digital Strategy?: From Quantitative to Qualitative Change

By: Ron Adner, Phanish Puranam and Feng Zhu

The recent attention paid to the challenge of digital transformation signals an inflection point in the impact of digital technology on the competitive landscape. We suggest that this transition can be understood as a shift from the quantitative advances that have... View Details

Keywords: Information Technology; Transformation; Strategy; Digital Transformation

June 2020
Article

Frenemies in Platform Markets: Heterogeneous Profit Foci as Drivers of Compatibility Decisions

By: Ron Adner, Jianqing Chen and Feng Zhu

We study compatibility decisions of two competing platform owners that generate profits through both hardware sales and royalties from content sales. We consider a game-theoretic model in which two platforms offer different standalone utilities to users. We find that... View Details

Keywords: Compatibility; Platform Competition; Profit Foci; Digital Platforms; Competition; Profit; Decision Making

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04 Sep 2018
First Look

New Research and Ideas, September 4, 2018

to firms that are finding themselves outside the action as the clout of a handful of cities grows. Publisher's link: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=54944 forthcoming Marketing Science U-Shaped Conformity in Online Social Networks By: Sun, Monic,... View Details

Keywords: Dina Gerdeman

July 2020
Technical Note

Digital Platforms: An Introduction

By: Chiara Farronato, Michael W. Toffel and Feng Zhu

Keywords: Technology Industry

Educators

08 Jun 2010
First Look

First Look: June 8

Epstein, and Kristi Yuthas Publication:In Scaling Social Impact: New Thinking, edited by Paul Bloom and Edward Skloot. Palgrave Macmillan, forthcoming An abstract is unavailable at this time. Order this Book:... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

August 2015 (Revised January 2017)
Technical Note

From Correlation to Causation

By: Feng Zhu and Karim R. Lakhani

To make sound business decisions, managers must be comfortable with the concepts of correlation and causation. This background note provides an overview of correlation and causation using examples and explains why the former does not imply the latter. It also describes... View Details

Keywords: Statistics; Regression; Data Analytics; Decisions; Forecasting and Prediction; Judgments

Educators

September 2023
Supplement

Super Quantum: Using Artificial Intelligence to Transform Asset Management (B)

By: Feng Zhu and Kerry Herman

Dr. Zhang, CEO of Super Quantum, an AI-driven hedge fund, is considering an investor’s request to withdraw their funds as the markets experience volatility. Should he pull the investor’s funds? View Details

Keywords: Hedge Fund; Volatility; Decision Choices and Conditions; Asset Management; Investment Funds; Financial Services Industry

June 2023
Exercise

Clash of Two Giants Simulation Exercise Instructions

By: Feng Zhu and Marco Iansiti

Many markets are organized around platforms that connect consumers with complimentary applications and services. These platforms are two-sided because both sides - consumers and those providing applications or services - need access to the same platform to interact. A... View Details

Keywords: Platform Strategies; Technology Platform; Customer Acquisition; Network Effects; Digital Platforms; Marketplace Matching; Strategy

November 2019
Teaching Note

JD: Envisioning the Future of Retail (A) and (B)

By: Feng Zhu and Shirley Sun

Teaching Note for HBS Nos. 618-051 and 619-079. View Details

Keywords: E-commerce

Article

Products to Platforms: Making the Leap

By: Feng Zhu and Nathan Furr

Following the path of companies such as Apple and Amazon, more and more firms are trying to become not just product purveyors but also platform providers, facilitating direct connections between customers and other groups. Although launching a platform can generate new... View Details

Keywords: Product; Digital Platforms; Expansion

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2010
Article

Impact of Online Consumer Reviews on Sales: The Moderating Role of Product and Consumer Characteristics

By: Feng Zhu and Michael Zhang

This article examines how product and consumer characteristics moderate the influence of online consumer reviews on product sales using data from the video game industry. The findings indicate that online reviews are more influential for less popular games and games... View Details

Keywords: Internet Marketing; Online Consumer Reviews; Word Of Mouth; Long Tail; Internet and the Web; Marketing Reference Programs; Digital Marketing; Video Game Industry

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05 Sep 2006
First Look

First Look: September 5, 2006

believing concentration is increasing even when it isn't, and to discuss possible reasons. What Is the Impact of Software Patent Shifts? Evidence from Lotus v. Borland Authors:Josh Lerner and Feng Zhu... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

13 Jan 2009
First Look

First Look: January 13, 2009

purchase that follows an ad-click (CPA). Our analysis extends classic auction results by allowing players to make bids using two different pricing schemes, while the driving information for bidders' endogenous selection—the conversion... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

August 2024 (Revised March 2025)
Case

DBS' AI Journey

By: Feng Zhu, Harold Zhu and Adina Wong

Headquartered in Singapore, DBS Bank, one of Asia's leading financial services groups, embarked on a multi-year digital transformation under CEO Piyush Gupta in 2014. It was then that DBS also began experimenting with AI to drive value for the business and customers.... View Details

Keywords: Corporate Governance; AI and Machine Learning; Digital Transformation; Risk Management; Value Creation; Banking Industry; Financial Services Industry; Asia; Singapore

Educators