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Collaboration as an Intangible Asset

Harvard Business Review

Interestingly, intangible assets are all the rage these days on Wall Street. Most intangible assets are real but invisible, and the most important invisible ability is the ability (or, perhaps better said, the probability) to collaborate. So, the question is: What are the most critical intangible assets in your company?

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What’s Driving Superstar Companies, Industries, and Cities

Harvard Business Review

They come from all regions and sectors and include global banks and manufacturing companies, long-standing Western consumer brands, and fast-growing U.S. Often when superstar cities fall, they tend to be advanced economy cities, replaced by a developing economy city. times more economic loss today than 20 years ago.

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Why Financial Statements Don’t Work for Digital Companies

Harvard Business Review

Contrast Walmart’ $160 billion of hard assets for its $300 billion valuation against Facebook’s $9 billion dollars of hard assets for its $500 billion valuation. The economic purpose of these intangible investments is no different than that of an industrial company’s factories and buildings.

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A Novel Idea for Putting Sidelined Cash to Work

Harvard Business Review

Second, for small and rapid-growth technology companies, the problem is compounded by the fact that, while rich in intangible assets, they typically lack the kind of collateral (equipment, inventory, real estate, etc.) banks require to secure commercial loans.

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The Answer to Short-Termism Isn’t Asking Investors to Be Patient

Harvard Business Review

Too many companies prioritize quarterly earnings over long-term innovation, human capital investment, and brand development, and many people believe short-term shareholders are to blame. Gathering information on a firm’s intangible assets is costly, and so not worth doing if you own only a tiny bit of stock in a company.

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How NASA Uses Telemedicine to Care for Astronauts in Space

Harvard Business Review

Since the Expedition One launch to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2001 — the first long-duration stay on the orbital construction site — NASA’s Human Health and Performance team has been developing expertise in the planning and provision of medical support to crews staying in our world’s most remote environment.

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Startups Could Fundamentally Change the Way Big Investors Operate

Harvard Business Review

Small startup firms are already developing proprietary technologies — such as machine vision, deep learning, and other innovations —– that could help large investors evaluate opportunities and risks with far greater accuracy and efficiency than was previously possible. How is this state of affairs possible?