Prof. Altman's research interests include innovation, strategy, organizational change, platform-based businesses and their related ecosystems. Her work focuses on the impact to incumbent organizations as platform-based highly networked business models become more prevalent in the global economy. Altman’s research projects focus on organizational and managerial challenges to firms as they transition from operating in traditional product-centric industries to ones where competition is platform-based. She studies firms that themselves transition to platform businesses and also accessory and application providers that join platform-related ecosystems.
Elizabeth J. Altman
Visiting Scholar
Visiting Scholar
Elizabeth J. Altman (Twitter: @lizaltman) is an assistant professor of strategic management at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Dr. Altman teaches strategy courses in the graduate management programs in the Manning School of Business, and pursues a research agenda centered on firms building platform-based businesses and creating and joining business ecosystems. She is also a visiting scholar at the Harvard Business School where she continues her research in collaboration with Prof. Clayton Christensen and other colleagues.
Elizabeth J. Altman (Twitter: @lizaltman) is an assistant professor of strategic management at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Dr. Altman teaches strategy courses in the graduate management programs in the Manning School of Business, and pursues a research agenda centered on firms building platform-based businesses and creating and joining business ecosystems. She is also a visiting scholar at the Harvard Business School where she continues her research in collaboration with Prof. Clayton Christensen and other colleagues.
Altman completed her doctorate in business administration at Harvard Business School in May 2015. Altman was previously VP of business development in Motorola's Mobile Devices business leading a team responsible for identifying partners, developing relationship strategies, and executing and managing deals. Prior to this, Altman led a team developing and executing business strategy and managing relationships with partners for a multi-billion dollar Motorola division.
Altman joined Motorola after earning dual masters degrees in mechanical engineering and management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1994, she was awarded a U.S. Department of Commerce and Japanese government fellowship and spent a year at a Sony factory in Japan.
Altman earned her undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering at Cornell University and has served on the Cornell Board of Trustees. She is also an emeritus member of the Cornell College of Engineering Advisory Council and the President’s Council of Cornell Women.
Altman co-authored the book "The Innovator’s Guide to Growth: Putting Disruptive Innovation to Work," (Harvard Business Press, 2008). Altman was featured in Bennis and Thomas’ book on leadership "Geeks and Geezers: How Era, Values and Defining Moments Shape Leaders." She was one of Boston Magazine's “Top 100 Most Influential Women in Boston,” and one of the Boston Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” top business and community leaders.
Altman completed her doctorate in business administration at Harvard Business School in May 2015. Altman was previously VP of business development in Motorola's Mobile Devices business leading a team responsible for identifying partners, developing relationship strategies, and executing and managing deals. Prior to this, Altman led a team developing and executing business strategy and managing relationships with partners for a multi-billion dollar Motorola division.
Altman joined Motorola after earning dual masters degrees in mechanical engineering and management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1994, she was awarded a U.S. Department of Commerce and Japanese government fellowship and spent a year at a Sony factory in Japan.
Altman earned her undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering at Cornell University and has served on the Cornell Board of Trustees. She is also an emeritus member of the Cornell College of Engineering Advisory Council and the President’s Council of Cornell Women.
Altman co-authored the book "The Innovator’s Guide to Growth: Putting Disruptive Innovation to Work," (Harvard Business Press, 2008). Altman was featured in Bennis and Thomas’ book on leadership "Geeks and Geezers: How Era, Values and Defining Moments Shape Leaders." She was one of Boston Magazine's “Top 100 Most Influential Women in Boston,” and one of the Boston Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” top business and community leaders.
- Books
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- Anthony, Scott D., Mark W. Johnson, Joseph V. Sinfield, and Elizabeth J. Altman. The Innovator's Guide to Growth. Harvard Business Press, 2008. View Details
- Journal Articles
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- Christensen, Clayton M., Rory McDonald, Elizabeth J. Altman, and Jonathan E. Palmer. "Disruptive Innovation: An Intellectual History and Directions for Future Research." Special Issue on Managing in the Age of Disruptions. Journal of Management Studies 55, no. 7 (November 2018): 1043–1078. View Details
- Hagiu, Andrei, and Elizabeth J. Altman. "Finding the Platform in Your Product: Four Strategies That Can Reveal Hidden Value." Harvard Business Review 95, no. 4 (July–August 2017): 94–100. View Details
- Altman, Elizabeth J., Frank Nagle, and Michael L. Tushman. "Technology and Innovation Management." In Oxford Bibliographies: Management, edited by Ricky W. Griffin. New York: Oxford University Press, 2013. Electronic. View Details
- Book Chapters
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- Altman, Elizabeth J., and Michael Tushman. "Platforms, Open/User Innovation, and Ecosystems: A Strategic Leadership Perspective." In Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Platforms. Vol. 37, edited by Jeffrey Furman, Annabelle Gawer, Brian Silverman, and Scott Stern, 177–207. Advances in Strategic Management. Emerald Publishing Limited, 2017. View Details
- Altman, Elizabeth J., Frank Nagle, and Michael Tushman. "Innovating without Information Constraints: Organization, Communities, and Innovation when Information Costs Approach Zero." In The Oxford Handbook of Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, edited by Christina E. Shalley, Michael A. Hitt, and Jing Zhou, 353–379. Oxford University Press, 2015. View Details
- Working Papers
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- Altman, Elizabeth J., and Mary Tripsas. "Product to Platform Transitions: Organizational Identity Implications." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 14-045, December 2013. (Revised September 2014.) View Details
- Cases and Teaching Materials
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- Hagiu, Andrei, and Elizabeth J. Altman. "Intuit QuickBooks: From Product to Platform." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 714-477, March 2014. View Details
- Hagiu, Andrei, and Elizabeth J. Altman. "Intuit QuickBooks: From Product to Platform." Harvard Business School Case 714-433, October 2013. (Revised December 2013.) View Details
- Research Summary
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- Additional Information
- Areas of Interest