Research Interests
Strategy, Innovation, Platforms, Business Ecosystems, Workforce Ecosystems, AI, Future of Work, Organizational Change, Organizational Identity, Strategic Leadership, Institutional Logics, Knowledge-based View of the Firm
Product-to-Platform Transitions, Challenges of Joining Business Ecosystems, Complementor Strategies, Organizational Identity Transitions, Multi-sided Platforms, Networks of Ecosystems, Workforce Ecosystems
Education
- DBA: Management, (2015), Harvard Business School - Boston, MA
- MS: Management, (1992), Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge, MA
- MS: Mechanical Engineering, (1992), Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge, MA
- BS: Mechanical Engineering, (1988), Cornell University - Ithaca, NY
Biography
Dr. Elizabeth J. Altman is an associate professor of management at the Manning School of Business, University of Massachusetts Lowell, and research affiliate at the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy. Altman has served as a visiting assistant professor at the United States Military Academy at West Point and a visiting scholar at the Harvard Business School. Altman teaches strategy, organizational theory, and human resources management in undergraduate, MBA, and doctoral programs. Her research focuses on strategy, innovation, platform businesses and ecosystems, future of work, workforce ecosystems, AI and emerging technologies, organizational identity, and organizational change. Altman is lead author of the book "Workforce Ecosystems: Reaching Strategic Goals with People, Partners, and Technologies" (MIT Press).
Altman spent 19 years in industry. She was a vice president at Motorola in executive and leadership roles in industrial design, product development engineering, manufacturing, marketing, and strategy. Awarded a U.S. Dept. of Commerce and Japanese government fellowship, Altman worked as an engineer for Sony in Japan. She lectures and consults worldwide for multi-national clients on strategy, platform businesses, and workforce ecosystems, and has served on corporate and non-profit boards.
Altman's work has been published in the Harvard Business Review (HBR), MIT Sloan Management Review, Academy of Management Annals, Journal of Management Studies, Marketing Letters, and other internationally recognized management journals and books. Her HBR article with Prof. Andrei Hagiu was included in an edition of the "HBR 10 Must Reads 2019" book and in "HBR's 10 Must Reads on Business Model Innovation" and "HBR's 10 Must Reads on Platforms and Ecosystems." In addition to her recent book on workforce ecosystems, Altman co-authored the book, "The Innovator's Guide to Growth: Putting Disruptive Innovation to Work," (Harvard Business Press).
Altman holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from the Harvard Business School, a Master's of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Master's of Science in Management both from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a Bachelor's of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University where she served on the Board of Trustees and is on the Cornell University Library Advisory Council. Altman is a life member of the Cornell University Council and an emeritus member of the Cornell College of Engineering Advisory Council and the President's Council of Cornell Women. Altman was named one of Boston Magazine's "Top 100 Most Influential Women in Boston," and one of Boston Business Journal's "40 Under 40" top business and community leaders. She is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Selected Awards and Honors
- Guest Editor (2021), Scholarship/Research - MIT Sloan Management Review - Future of the Workforce Research Project
- Guest Editor (2020), Scholarship/Research - MIT Sloan Management Review - Future of the Workforce Research Project
- Harvard Business Review 10 Must Reads on Platforms and Ecosystems (2020), Scholarship/Research - Harvard Business Review
- UMass Lowell Women's Leadership Faculty Fellow (2020), Service, University - UMass Lowell
- UMass Lowell Women's Leadership Faculty Fellow (2019), Service, University - UMass Lowell
- Harvard Business Review 10 Must Reads on Business Model Innovation (2019), Scholarship/Research - Harvard Business Review
- UMass Lowell Women's Leadership Faculty Fellow (2018), Service, University - UMass Lowell
- Harvard Business Review 10 Must Reads 2019 (2018), Scholarship/Research - Harvard Business Publishing
- UMass Lowell Women's Leadership Faculty Fellow (2017), Service, University - University of Massachusetts Lowell
- UMass Lowell Pillars of Excellence Award Nominee (2017), Leadership - University of Massachusetts Lowell
- Council on Foreign Relations Lifetime Member (2016), Scholarship/Research - Council on Foreign Relations
- 100 Most Influential Women in Boston (2003), Service, Professional - Boston Magazine
- 40 under 40 Top Business and Community Leaders (2002), Service, Professional - Boston Business Journal
Selected Publications
- Joshua, G. (University of Massachusetts Lowell), Altman, E. (). Business ecosystems and strategic leadership: A stakeholder approach. Edward Elgar
- Altman, E.J., Humberd, B. (). The gendered division of household labor and emerging technologies The promise of artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles. The Brookings Institution
- Nagle, F. (Harvard Business School), Altman, E.J. (University of Massachusetts Lowell), Klopfenstein, A. (Harvard Business School) (2023). Strategic Innovation at the United Nations: A Network of Ecosystems (Teaching Note) (5-724-363 pp. 16). Harvard Business School
- Karanovic, J. (Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University), Altman, E.J. (University of Massachusetts Lowell), Cennamo, C. (Copenhagen Business School) (2023). Who Should Price a Gig? MIT Sloan Management Review, 65(1) 62-67.
- Altman, E.J. (University of Massachusetts Lowell), Kiron, D. (MIT Sloan Management Review), Schwartz, J. (Gloat and Columbia Business School), Jones, R. (Deloitte Consulting LLP) (2023). Manage Your Workforce Ecosystem, Not Just Your Employees. MIT Sloan Management Review, 64(4) 80-84.
- Altman, E.J., Kiron, D. (MIT Sloan Management Review), Jones, R. (Deloitte Consulting), Schwartz, J. (Gloat) (2023). Workforce Ecosystems: Reaching Strategic Goals with People, Partners, and Technologies (pp. 240 pp). MIT Press
- von Hippel, E. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Friedmann, J. (Bocconi University), Wu, N. (INSEAD), Altman, E.J. (University of Massachusetts Lowell), Szulanski, G. (INSEAD) (). A Journey into User Innovation. Research-Technology Management, 66(3).
- Altman, E., Kiron, D. (MIT Sloan Management Review), Jones, R. (Deloitte Consulting), Cantrell, S. (Deloitte Consulting), Hatfield, S. (Deloitte Consulting) (). A Workforce Ecosystem Orchestration Framework. MIT Sloan Management Review
- Kiron, D. (MIT Sloan Management Review), Altman, E., Riedl, C. (Northeastern University) (2023). Workforce Ecosystems and AI. The Brookings Institution
- Altman, E., Kiron, D. (MIT Sloan Management Review), Jones, R. (Deloitte Consulting), Cantrell, S. (Deloitte Consulting), Hatfield, S. (Deloitte Consulting) (2023). Managing External Contributors in Workforce Ecosystems. MIT Sloan Management Review.
- Altman, E., Kiron, D. (MIT Sloan Management Review), Jones, R. (Deloitte Consulting), Cantrell, S. (Deloitte Consulting), Hatfield, S. (Deloitte Consulting), Ryder, A. (MIT Sloan Management Review) (2023). Intentionally Orchestrating Workforce Ecosystems. MIT Sloan Management Review
- Altman, E.J. (University of Massachusetts Lowell), Nagle, F. (Harvard Business School), Tushman, M.L. (Harvard Business School) (2022). The Translucent Hand of Managed Ecosystems: Engaging Communities for Value Creation and Capture. Academy of Management Annals, 16(1) 70-101.
- Nagle, F. (Harvard Business School), Altman, E.J., Klopfenstein, A. (Harvard Business School) (2022). Strategic Innovation at the United Nations: A Network of Ecosystems ( 722363-PDF-ENG pp. 20). Harvard Business Publishing
- Altman, E.J. (UMass Lowell), Kiron, D. (MIT Sloan Management Review), Jones, R. (Deloitte Consulting), Schwartz, J. (Gloat) (). Orchestrating Workforce Ecosystems: Strategically managing work across and beyond organizational boundaries. MIT Sloan Management Review
- Altman, E., Schwartz, J. (Deloitte Consulting LLP), Kiron, D. (MIT Sloan Management Review), Jones, R. (Deloitte Consulting LLP), Kearns-Manolatos, D. (Deloitte Consulting LLP) (2021). Workforce Ecosystems: A New Strategic Approach to the Future of Work. MIT Sloan Management Review
- Altman, E.J. (University of Massachusetts Lowell), Kiron, D. (MIT Sloan Management Review), Schwartz, J. (Deloitte Consulting LLP), Jones, R. (Deloitte Consulting LLP) (2021). The Future of Work is Through Workforce Ecosystems. MIT Sloan Management Review.
- Bhargava, H.K. (University of California Davis, Graduate School of Management), Rubel, O. (University of California Davis, Graduate School of Management), Altman, E., Arora, R. (Facebook), Boehnke, J. (University of California Davis, Graduate School of Management), Daniels, K. (Washington University, Olin Business School), Derdenger, T. (Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business), Kirschner, B. (DataStax), LaFramboise, D. (Auth0), Loupos, P. (University of California Davis, Graduate School of Management), Parker, G. (Dartmouth College, Thayer School of Engineering), Pattabhiramaiah, A. (Georgia Tech, Scheller College of Business) (2020). Platform Data Strategy. Marketing Letters.
- Altman, E., Nagle, F. (Harvard Business School) (2020). Accelerating Innovation Through a Network of Ecosystems: What Companies Can Learn from One of the World's Largest Networks of Accelerator Labs. MIT Sloan Management Review, 61(4 (Summer 2020)) 24-30.
- Christensen, C.M. (Harvard Business School), McDonald, R. (Harvard Business School), Altman, E., Palmer, J. (Harvard Business School) (2018). Disruptive Innovation: An Intellectual History and Directions for Future Investigation. Journal of Management Studies, 55(7) 1043-1078.
- Altman, E., Tushman, M.L. (Harvard Business School) (2017). Platforms, Open/User Innovation, and Ecosystems: A Strategic Leadership Perspective (37: pp. 177-207). Emerald Group Publishing Limited
- Hagiu, A. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Altman, E. (2017). Finding the Platform in Your Product: Four strategies that can reveal hidden value. Harvard Business Review, Harvard Business Publishing
- Altman, E., Nagle, F., Tushman, M.L. (2015). Innovating Without Information Constraints: Organizations, Communities, and Innovation When Information Costs Approach Zero (pp. 353-379). Oxford University Press
- Altman, E. (2015). Platform and Ecosystem Transitions: Strategic and Organizational Implications.
- Altman, E., Tripsas, M. (Boston College) (2015). Product to Platform Transitions: Organizational Identity Implications (pp. 379-394). Oxford University Press
- Hagiu, A., Altman, E. (2013). Intuit QuickBooks: From Product to Platform (14-045 pp. 22).
- Altman, E., Nagle, F., Tushman, M. (2013). Technology and Innovation Management. Oxford University Press
- Anthony, S.D., Johnson, M.W., Altman, E., Sinfield, J.V. (2008). The Innovator’s Guide to Growth: Putting Disruptive Innovation to Work (pp. 321). Harvard Business School Press Books
Selected Presentations
- Co-organizer and facilitator in Professional Development Workshop (PDW): Creating and Sustaining Competitive Advantage in a Disruptive World - Strategic Management Society Annual Conference, 2020 - Virtual
- Chair of Paper session: “Open Innovation: Community and User Innovation.” Presented paper titled: “Managed Ecosystems and Translucent Institutional Logics: Engaging Communities - Academy of Management 2019 Annual Meeting, 2019 - Boston, MA
- - Collective Intelligence 2019 Conference - Member of Program Committee. Reviewed six submissions., 2019 - Pittsburgh, PA
- Leader of Research Paper Common Ground Session: Learning in Strategy - Strategic Management Society Annual Conference, 2019 - Minneapolis, MA
- Platform Choice - 11th Triennial Invitational Choice Symposium, June 2019 - Cambridge, Maryland
- Balancing Continuity and Change: 150 years of Steinway and M. Steinert & Sons - Industry Studies Association Annual Conference, June 2019 - Nashville, Tennessee
- Managed Ecosystems and Translucent Institutional Logics: Engaging Communities - Wharton Technology & Innovation 2019 Conference, May 2019 - Philadelphia, PA
- Leadership in Corporations, Industry, and Beyond - International Conference on Women and Leadership in a Changing World, 2017 - Lowell, MA
- Disruptive Innovation: Intellectual History and Future Paths - Strategic Management Society Conference, October 2017 - Houston, TX
- Managed Ecosystems: The Knowledge-Based View, Innovation Communities, and Transitioning Logics - Strategic Management Society Conference, October 2017 - Houston, TX
- Dependencies, Complementor Evolution, Response Strategies: Joining a Multi-Sided Platform Ecosystem - Academy of Management Annual Meeting, August 2017 - Atlanta, GA
- Disruptive Innovation: Intellectual History and Future Paths - Academy of Management Annual Meeting, August 2017 - Atlanta, GA
- Platforms, Open/User Innovation, and Ecosystems: A Strategic Leadership Perspective - Academy of Management Annual Meeting, August 2017 - Atlanta, GA
- Dependencies, Complementor Evolution, Response Strategies: Joining a Multi-Sided Platform Ecosystem - Academy of Management MOC-TIM Frontiers Conference, June 2017 - Zurich, Switzerland
- Disruptive Innovation: Intellectual History and Future Paths - DRUID Innovation Conference, June 2017 - New York, NY
- Platforms, Open/User Innovation, and Ecosystems: A Strategic Leadership Perspective - University of Massachusetts Lowell Faculty Research Symposium, March 2017 - Lowell, MA
- Platforms, Open/User Innovation, and Ecosystems: A Strategic Leadership Perspective - Advances in Strategic Management, Research Conference, 2016 - Cambridge, MA
- Engaging Communities for Problem Solving and Innovation: Shifting Institutional Logics - Collective Intelligence Conference, 2016 - New York, NY
- Depdendency Challenges, Complementor Maturity, and Response Strategies: Joining a Multi-Sided Platform Ecosystem - DRUID 20th Anniversary Innovation Conference, 2016 - Copenhagen, Denmark
- Platform and Ecosystem Transitions: Strategic and Organizational Implications - University of Massachusetts Lowell Faculty Research Symposium, 2016 - Lowell, MA
- Strategy, Platforms, and Ecosystems - University of Massachusetts Manning School of Business Advisory Board, 2016 - Lowell, MA
- Engaging Communities for Problem Solving and Innovation: Shifting Institutional Logics - 14th Annual Open & User Innovation Conference, August 2016 - Boston, MA
- Depdendency Challenges, Response Strategies, and Complementor Maturity: Joining a Multi-Sided Platform Ecosystem - 14th Annual Open and User Innovation Conference, August 2016 - Boston, MA
- Depdendency Challenges, Response Strategies, and Complementor Maturity: Joining a Multi-Sided Platform Ecosystem - Academy of Management Annual Meeting, August 2016 - Anaheim, CA
- Engaging Communities for Problem Solving and Innovation: Shifting Institutional Logics - Academy of Management Annual Meeting, August 2016 - Anaheim, CA
- Dependency Challenges, Response Strategies, and Complementor Maturity: Joining a Multi-Sided Platform Ecosystem - Platform Strategy Research Symposium, 2015 - Boston, MA
- Joining an Ecosystem: Organizational and Strategic Implications - 12th Annual Open and User Innovation Conference, 2014 - Boston, MA
- Joining an Ecosystem: Organizational Implications - Academy of Management Annual Meeting, 2014 - Philadelphia, PA
- Product to Platform Transitions: Organizational Identity Implications - Academy of Management Annual Meeting, 2014 - Philadelphia, PA
- Platform and Ecosystem Transitions: Organizational and Strategic Implications - Consortium on Competitiveness and Cooperation (CCC) Doctoral Conference, 2014 - Boston, MA
- Joining an Ecosystem: Organizational and Strategic Implications - Strategic Management Society Conference, 2014 - Madrid, Spain
- Platform and Ecosystem Transitions: Strategic and Organizational Implications - Wharton Technology & Innovation Conference, 2014 - Philadelphia, PA
- Innovating without Information Constraints - Organization Science Winter Conference, February 2014 - Steamboat Springs, CO
- From Industry to Academia: A new set of lenses - Massachusetts Institute of Technology Leaders for Global Operations Proseminar, 2013 - Cambridge, MA
- Architectural Strategy and Design Evolution in Business Ecosystems: Opportunities and Challenges - Academy of Management Annual Meeting, August 2013 - Orlando, FL
- Leadership Styles Workshop - Harvard-Radcliffe Women's Leadership Conference, 2011 - Cambridge, MA
Selected Contracts, Fellowships, Grants and Sponsored Research
- UMass Lowell Women's Leadership Faculty Fellow (2017), Fellowship - UMass Lowell
Altman, E.