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Why Leaders Are Still So Hesitant to Invest in New Business Models

Harvard Business Review

As technology continues to change and challenge even the most successful incumbent organizations in every industry, the cost of inertia is growing. Consider the dramatic shift in the types of assets that create market value. Despite the shift to intangible assets, executives and their strategists are sticking to the status quo.

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How to Navigate a Digital Transformation

Harvard Business Review

Manufacturers invest most of their capital into physical assets, while high-tech firms invest in R&D to create new intellectual capital. But all assets are not created equal, especially as the technological landscape changes. There’s no question why legacy organizations are tackling digital transformation now.

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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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Profit Is Less About Good Management than You Think

Harvard Business Review

Revenue moats are usually linked to intangible assets (including brands and patents), high switching costs, and network economies. Cost moats are linked to the ownership of cheaper or faster processes, favorable locations, unique assets, or firm size.

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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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What It Will Take to Fix HR

Harvard Business Review

Baseline financial skills are still essential, but international experience, industry knowledge, investor relations acumen, technology expertise, and strategic prowess are now just as much part of the package. In the early 1980’s, sixty percent of corporate value creation emanated from the optimization of tangible assets.

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What Apple, Lending Club, and AirBnB Know About Collaborating with Customers

Harvard Business Review

Today, however, by exploiting new digital technologies, firms like Apple, Lending Club, and AirBnB have made customer co-creation of value central to their business models and in doing so now rank among the world’s most innovative and valuable firms. Evaluate your leadership team’s openness to co-creation as well.

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