By Bala Iyer, Dean of Faculty | September 18, 2017
Babson hosted its first TEDx event in April, 2017 and the footage is now available. The theme of the event was “Disruption 360,” featuring a collection of 15-minute talks on a variety of subjects related to the dynamic change that is occurring today in the world of business. Experts from the worlds of information technology,…
By Bala Iyer, Dean of Faculty | June 5, 2017
Marc Andreessen famously proclaimed that software is eating the world and that the best software companies will win in every sector. The arrival of software and digitalization strategies are impacting every aspect of business and changing the rules of the game in every front. In its pure form, we have the Digital Titans – Alphabet,…
By Bala Iyer, Dean of Faculty | April 30, 2017
A unique challenge faced by companies today is in dealing with emerging technologies. Not a week goes by without an analyst or a technology vendor proclaiming a new technology to be the next big thing. Some of these new technologies do turn out to be important, like cloud computing, but many fizzle out like RFID.…
By Bala Iyer, Dean of Faculty | March 26, 2017
Information technology has been a source of competitive differentiation ever since companies climbed on that roller coaster. The point of emphasis, however, has evolved over the years. We have categorized this evolution into three eras – process digitization, digital customers, and digital experiences. We describe the three eras in this article. Process Digitization – Early information…
By Bala Iyer, Dean of Faculty | January 27, 2017
In 2017 and beyond, innovation with digital technologies is no longer a strategic option: it has become a necessity. Certain companies like Facebook, Alphabet, Apple, Amazon and IBM have become so adept at analytics that we refer to them as digital titans. In fact, these companies present a threat to every business with their superior information…
By Bala Iyer, Dean of Faculty | January 14, 2017
Software is indeed eating the world and every business is in the data business. In fact, every action by the company, its prospects, and customers creates a digital trace. Digital era leaders have used this information to both understand where they stand and to figure out where they go next. Analytics is the lens through…
By Bala Iyer, Dean of Faculty | May 1, 2016
Babson College has gained great success under the assumption that entrepreneurship is the formula for vibrant economies and rewarding careers for citizens. With its focus on entrepreneurial education, Babson has also received much recognition for its impact on student learning and educational outcomes. It has been ranked both for the value it provides and the…
By Bala Iyer, Dean of Faculty | April 10, 2016
At Babson College we use the term digital innovator to describe a graduate who knows how to use modern digital infrastructure and tools to transform existing businesses or conceive and build new ones. It is through the mastery of digital technologies that the digital innovator can test ideas fast and reliably, accelerating the pace of innovation, launching new…
By Bala Iyer, Dean of Faculty | January 25, 2016
The digital transformation age is upon us and digital innovators are questioning all aspects of current business models and creating brand new ones. Why is this happening? Where is our opportunity? Who is equipped to lead this transformation? In the last 15 years, companies have built platforms or utilities on top of the internet and…
By Bala Iyer, Dean of Faculty | January 6, 2016
At Babson College we have identified the need for a new type of graduate to join the modern workforce – the digital innovator. As waves of disruptive technologies have transformed the corporate world, the expectations from graduates have also changed. These knowledge workers are expected to have basic skills like communication, creativity, collaboration and, for Babson’s…