Spring and Fall Conferences

Why Established Firms Should Keep an Eye on Kickstarter

Ethan Mollick

Crowdfunding has exploded in popularity since 2009, and its pace shows no signs of slowing. Funded researcher Ethan Mollick argues that this trend poses important implications for established firms as well as entrepreneurs.…Read More

Your Customers Notice

A headshot of an older adult in a suit with a red tie, wearing glasses, conversing with another person.

Our longtime corporate partners at Teradata are frequent and enthusiastic participants at our yearly conferences. One attendee, Monica Mullen, recently shared her key takeaways from our recent Fall Conference. Her post originally appeared in the company’s Industry Experts blog. I had the pleasure of talking with Mr. J. David Power…Read More

Cultivating Growth and Disrupting Proactively

Mack Institute Fall Conference 2013

Mack Institute events don’t typically include references to farming techniques, but the Fall Conference 2013 was a rare exception. In this video summary of his presentation, Takeshi Yamaguchi describes how Nissan’s approach to advanced technical development resembles the cultivation of an orchard. Instead of a linear approach, Nissan achieves successful…Read More

John Paul MacDuffie on Converging Industries

PVMI Director John Paul MacDuffie

What happens when two industries with fundamentally different clockspeeds converge within a single product? In a recent Knowledge@Wharton article, Program on Vehicle and Mobility Innovation Director John Paul MacDuffie discusses the challenges of integrating IT-based technology, such as computer-based collision avoidance systems, into automobiles. MacDuffie highlights the tight integration of…Read More

J.D. Power III’s Impact on the Auto Industry

A headshot of an older adult in a suit with a red tie, wearing glasses, conversing with another person.

How J.D. Power III Transformed the Auto Industry Through the collection of consumer feedback on cars, J.D. “Dave” Power III revolutionized the automobile industry in 1968. In this Knowledge@Wharton interview conducted by PVMI director John Paul MacDuffie, Power discusses the founding and early years of his firm, J.D. Power and…Read More

Reflections on the 2013 PVMI Researchers Meeting and Fall Conference

A small group of professionals seated at a conference or seminar. One individual is speaking, while others listen intently. Name placards and papers are seen on the tables.

In addition to hosting the 2013 Fall Conference with the Program on Vehicle and Mobility Innovation (PVMI), the Mack Institute also held a PVMI Researchers Meeting on November 21, 2013. Both events focused on the theme of disruptive technologies and value migration. In this guest blog post, PVMI veteran Dan Whitney of…Read More

A Glimpse into the Future through Integration and Innovation

Two people are shaking hands at an event, both wearing suits. They appear to be engaged in a friendly conversation.

The Mack Institute hosted its annual Fall Conference on November 22, 2013 with the Program on Vehicle and Mobility Innovation (PVMI) on the topic of “When Disruptive Technologies Meet Integrated Systems: Who Captures the Value?” This guest post by three PVMI researchers summarizes key takeaways from the conference, including the…Read More

When Disruptive Technologies Meet Integrated Systems

John Paul MacDuffie addresses Mack Institute Fall Conference attendees

Knowing when to hold and when to fold isn’t just for poker players. When applied to new technology, that insight into knowing when to embrace the next new thing and when to let it pass has been known to make or break careers and entire companies. Think Kodak, an iconic…Read More