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Data & Analysis

Data has the power to unlock unprecedented insights. And while the promise of data is ubiquitous, there’s a long way to go before that potential is fully realized. Many questions still linger for data stewardship, from ensuring truly clean data to collecting data without being creepy.

The Transformative Impact of Data, Analytics, and AI on Business: Insights from Industry Leaders

As artificial intelligence (AI), data, and analytics reshape industries worldwide, leaders in the Middle East are forming our understanding of these technologies and their impact, both in their own region and globally. On November 7, 2024, the Harvard Business School Digital Data Design Institute (D^3) hosted a panel featuring prominent voices from sectors such as […]

Navigating the Ripple Effects of Regulation: Lessons from China’s Tech Industry

With the rise of tech giants across the globe, there has been increasing concern about the consequences their dominance creates for market competition. Governments in various countries have responded by implementing antitrust regulations to curtail the power of these digital platforms. In China, the introduction of the Anti-Monopoly Guidelines for the Platform Economy in February […]

Revealing Value: The Economic Power of Open Source Software

Open source software (OSS) underpins much of today’s digital infrastructure, and is prevalent in everything from operating systems to cloud services. Thus, understanding the real economic impact of OSS is essential for fostering sustainable development and guiding strategic investments, especially for policymakers. To highlight the significant, yet often invisible, contributions of OSS on the global […]

Big Data’s Influence on Institutional Lending

The growth of big data, particularly the availability of real-time information through alternative sources, may be reshaping the dynamics of institutional lending. A recent paper, “Gone with the Big Data: Institutional Lender Demand for Private Information”, by HBS Assistant Professor of Business Administration and researcher at D^3’s Digital Value Lab, Jung Koo Kang, explores these […]

Inflation in the Age of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic brought both a public health crisis and a significant shift in economic dynamics. Consumer spending patterns changed rapidly, highlighting the way inflation is measured. Alberto Cavallo, Harvard Business School professor and co-director of D^3’s Pricing Lab described this issue in his research, “Inflation with Covid Consumption Baskets,” first published in 2020 in […]

Navigating the Waves of Change: The Impact of CEO Turnovers on Organizational Communication

Leadership transitions are pivotal events that can redefine the course of an organization. CEO turnovers, in particular, are marked by significant shifts not just in strategic direction but in the very fabric of internal communications. A recent study, “Communication Within Firms: Evidence from CEO Turnovers”, published in 2024 in Management Science (and previously at the […]

Navigating the Climate Crisis: Strategic Insights for Business Leaders

In an era of increasing environmental concerns, the corporate march toward a low-carbon economy presents both challenges and a wealth of opportunities. In a recent article, “Ten Questions for a Winning Climate-Transition Business Strategy“, HBS Professor and faculty PI in D^3’s Climate and Sustainability Impact Lab, George Serafeim, describes research emphasizing the need for executives […]

Balancing Algorithms and Human Expertise: Unlocking the True Potential of Data-Driven Decisions 

In the rapidly advancing world of data-driven decision-making, algorithms hold tremendous promise for organizations, but their effectiveness depends on how they are applied. A recent study, “Decision Authority and the Returns to Algorithms,” by Hyunjin Kim, professor at INSEAD Business School, Edward L. Glaeser, professor at Harvard University, Andrew Hillis, head of data science and […]

Smarter Business Decisions with Mixture Adaptive Design (MAD)

In a rapidly evolving business landscape, decision-makers must be agile. In a recent paper, Biyonka Liang, PhD candidate in Statistics at Harvard University, and Iavor Bojinov, Assistant Professor of Business Administration at HBS and PI at D^3’s Data Science and AI Operations Lab, discuss their development of the Mixture Adaptive Design (MAD) to allow industry […]

A cartoon of a consumer-interface design team

Understanding Webmunk: A Game-Changer for Online Behavior Research

The internet’s dominance in modern economic and social activities makes understanding online behavior critical for businesses, policymakers, and researchers. However, traditional tools for measuring this behavior have significant limitations, especially for independent researchers without access to proprietary user data from technology companies. In response to this challenge, Webmunk, an open-source tool, offers a promising solution. […]

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