Expertise
Strategic Management, Innovation, Platform-based businesses, Business Ecosystems, Organizational Change
Research Interests
Product to Platform Transitions, Challenges of Joining Business Ecosystems, Complementor Strategies, Organizational Identity Transitions
Education
- D.B.A., Harvard Business School
- M.S. Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- B.S. (Mechanical Engineering), Cornell University
Biosketch
Elizabeth J. Altman (Twitter: @lizaltman) is an assistant professor of strategic management at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. 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 vice president 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.