Harvard Business Review

JUNE 16, 2011

So it is with most breakthrough innovations and banner financial years. Interestingly, intangible assets are all the rage these days on Wall Street. There is no line on the balance sheet for "ability to innovate" or "skill at managing brand." If ego and time allow, the list can be quite long.

Intangible Assets 16

Intangible Assets Analysis Pharmaceuticals Innovation 16

Harvard Business Review

NOVEMBER 7, 2013

The shutdown will be completed by early 2014, bringing to a close a dramatic story of rise and fall at the hands of disruptive technological innovation, or what we have called “ big bang disruption.” As recently as 2002, the company had a market value of $5 billion. The Blockbuster-Netflix skirmish is a case in point.

Disruptive Innovation 10

Disruptive Innovation Intangible Assets Retail Innovation 10

Harvard Business Review

NOVEMBER 21, 2013

For many years, beginning in 1942, Premarin was the only hormone replacement therapy drug on the market derived from a natural source. A series of patents were issued on the drug in the 1940s, but long after they had expired, there were still no generic competitors on the market. Such was not the case.

Intangible Assets 9

Intangible Assets Merchandising Pharmaceuticals Innovation 9

Harvard Business Review

OCTOBER 25, 2018

We focus on economic profit rather than revenue size, market share, or productivity growth because these other metrics risk including firms that are simply large and may not create economic value. Acquisitions, bold investment in intangible assets, and attracting talent can ultimately make the difference.

Industry 15

Industry Company GDP Bottom-up 15

Harvard Business Review

JULY 18, 2017

Too many companies prioritize quarterly earnings over long-term innovation, human capital investment, and brand development, and many people believe short-term shareholders are to blame. Gathering information on a firm’s intangible assets is costly, and so not worth doing if you own only a tiny bit of stock in a company.

Short-term 8

Short-term Intangible Assets Hedge Long-term 8

Harvard Business Review

OCTOBER 24, 2016

Innovation has the potential to transform the investment industry. Yet the world’s largest funds are closed off from these innovations. Research we have collected in recent months shows that pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and endowments expect imminent breakthrough innovations in investment technology.

Operations 8

Operations Intangible Assets Venture Capitalist Hedge 8

Harvard Business Review

NOVEMBER 19, 2018

They’re more productive , more profitable , more innovative , and they pay better. “How long does it take for her to interact with a market that isn’t nearly monopolized?” Walmart went from a 3% share of the general merchandise retail market in 1982 to over 50% today. Andrew Brookes/Getty Images.

Software 8

Software Company Competitive Advantage Henderson 8