Paolo Aversa, Ph.D.
Lecturer (Assistant Professor) of Strategy — Cass Business School, City University London
106 Bunhill Row, London, EC1Y 8TZ, U.K. (Office 4095) – Office 4095. Tel: +44 (0) 20 7040 5235 - email: [email protected]
Research interests
How does the competitive environment influence the relationship between firm technological innovation and performance?
My research has aimed at understanding the effects of firms’ innovation and capabilities on performance in competitive high
technology settings. In my doctoral work I investigated how suppliers respond to buyers demands for increased technological skills
and capabilities based on the changes in the industry where they compete. My new research focuses on the hidden costs for firms
that explore new technological solutions, in situations where the technological standards of the industry are not well defined, and
keep changing sometimes incrementally or radically. My works are based on complex longitudinal estimation models (regression
and s.e.m.), network analysis, simulations, and longitudinal case studies. My research is aimed at creating relevant and rigorous
research mainly targeting top journal in the fields of management and strategy. My unique datasets combine archival sources,
surveys, and my personal expertise on the automotive and motorsport industry, namely Formula 1 competitions (1950-2010) and
motorcycles (1945-2010). I am the main author of most of my papers.
Education and affiliations
2014- … Lecturer (Assistant Professor) of Strategy, Cass Business School, City University London, UK.
2012-2014 Marie Curie Research Fellow of Strategy, Cass Business School, City University London, UK.
2011-2012 Post Doctoral Research Fellow, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.
2009-2012 Visiting Scholar, Wharton School, Snider Research Center; University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.
2008-2011 PhD in Management, University of Bologna (scholarship). Supervisors: A. Lipparini; S. Ferriani; G. Lorenzoni.
Thesis “Toward a Peripheral View of Manufacturing Networks” (Strategy).
2004-2005 MBA, Fondazione CUOA Business School, Vicenza, Italy. Elective: Marketing.
2005-2005 Master in Human Resource Management (part-time), HKE Milan, Italy (scholarship).
2001-2007 B.A. and M.A. (with honors) in Communication for Business, University of Padova, Italy (scholarship).
Awards, achievements, and scholarships
2015 “Marie-Curie Fellow of the Week” selected by the European Commission out of the entire pull of fellows.
2014 “Runner-up” Finalist of the Marie-Curie Communicating Science Prize (shortlist of 10 works with the highest impact
on the media from any field of science – only finalist from the Economics and Social Science divisions).
2014 Best Reviewer Award Technology and Innovation Management Division, Academy of Management.
2013 Two Pump-Priming research grants, Cass Business School, City University London. Total value: $10,000.
2013 Outstanding Reviewer Award Business Policy and Strategy Division, Academy of Management.
2011 Winner, Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowships (IEF). 24 months; value $260,000. “Formula One” Project.
2011 Winner, 1st Prize, Doctoral Colloquium Paper Award of the EURAM conference. Value $1,300.
2010 Technogel USA Research Grant to support to my Sim I-Space research project at the Wharton School. Value: $110,000.
2010 Sol C. Snider Research Center (Wharton), one year scholarship to support my SimISpace, Value: $15,000 (waved fees).
2010 Marco Polo Scholarship, University of Bologna Funding my visiting period at Wharton. Value: $6,000.
2009 Winner, 1st Prize at the Business Plan Competition, Formula Student Germany, Hockenheim racetrack, Germany.
2003 Winner, Erasmus Scholarship (for exchange program at the University of Exeter, UK)
Academic publications
− Marino, A., Aversa, P., Mesquita, L., & Anand, J. 2015. Driving Performance via Exploration in Changing Environments.
Evidence from Formula One Racing. Organization Science (forthcoming).
Accepted for peer-reviewed conferences: SMS 2013; AOM 2013, 2014; EGOS, 2013.
− Aversa, P. & Haefliger S. & Furnari S. 2014. Business model configuration and performance within and beyond the Formula
One ecosystem. Available working Paper.
− Status: Conditionally accepted in Industrial and Corporate Change.
Accepted for peer-reviewed conference: AOM 2014; SMS 2014; EGOS 2014, THIS 2014, International QCA Expert
Workshop Zurich 2014
− Aversa, P. 2013. Strategic Peripheries. In D. J. Teece & M. Augier (Eds.), Palgrave Encyclopedia of Strategic Management.
London: Palgrave Macmillan.
− Aversa P. 2013. Toward a Peripheral View of Manufacturing Networks (book). Lap Lambert Academic Publishing.
− Aversa P, Ihrig M. 2012. Investigating Absorptive Capacity Strategies via Simulation, Proceedings of the 26th European Conference on
Modeling and Simulation (ECMS): 64-70: Koblenz, Germany. [ISBN: 978-0-9564944-4-3].
− Aversa, P. 2008. La Community Ducati. in Vecchiato G. Manuale Operativo di Relazioni Pubbliche, Franco Angeli.
Non technical publications
− Aversa, P. 2015. Stampa 3D? Se funziona, va lasciata. Ragionando di MakieLab. Corriere della Sera – Corriere Innovazione (web).
− Aversa, P. 2015. Quattro riflessioni sullo “strano” caso dei Google Glass. Corriere della Sera – Corriere Innovazione Online (web).
− Aversa, P. 2015. Sport a parte: Perchè l’Italia dovrebbe occuparsi di più del business del motorsport. Corriere della Sera – Corriere
Innovazione (web).
− Aversa, P. 2014. Case Study. Dallara Aumotobili: Knowledge Company. Financial Times: 14. (Also available in the FT website).
− Aversa, P. 2015. Sport a parte: Perchè l’Italia dovrebbe occuparsi di più del business del motorsport. Corriere della Sera – Corriere
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Innovazione Online.
Aversa, P. 2014. Dallara, il coraggio di investire in tempo di crisi, Linkiesta.
Aversa, P. 2014. Sport a parte: Perchè l’Italia dovrebbe occuparsi di più del business del motorsport. Il Corriere Della Sera (online).
Aversa, P. 2013. Case Study. Commoditised Market Innovation. Financial Times: 14. (Also available in the FT website).
Aversa, P. 2013. Case Study. New Opportunities in Times of Crisis. Financial Times: 14. (Also available in the FT website).
Aversa, P. 2013. Case Study. Innovation Needs Supplier Support. Financial Times: 12. (Also available in the FT website).
Aversa, P. 2013. Case Study. Engaging with a Company’s Users. Financial Times: 16. (Also available in the FT website).
Aversa, P. 2013. Case Study. Innovation in a Competitive Sector, Financial Times: 16. (Also available in the FT website).
Aversa P. 2013. The Relentless Push for Innovation in Formula 1 has a Negative Effect on the Technology. Engineering and
Technology Magazine.
Aversa, P. 2013. Pionieri del web: così Ducati giocò d’anticipo e vinse. Linkiesta.
Aversa, P. 2013. Aperol, come un marchio resuscita in tempo di crisi. Linkiesta.
Aversa, P. 2009. Coinvolgi il Fornitore. Darai più valore a tutta la catena. Next (Il Resto del Carlino), Bologna.
Aversa, P. 2011. I perchè di una crisi: Quando al mercato globale non basta più il “saper far bene”. Corriere di Bologna (p 1).
Working papers
− Aversa, P., Haefliger, S., Rossi, A., & Baden-Fuller, C. 2014. Business Model Change and Modularity. Available working
Paper.
Status: submitted for the third round revision in Advances in Strategic Management.
Accepted for peer-reviewed conference: CASS 2014.
− Aversa, P., Santoni, S., Mesquita, L., & Marino, A. 2015. Top Management Teams And Vertical Alliance Portfolio Variety.
Available Working Paper.
Accepted for peer-reviewed conference: CASS 2015. SMS Santiago 2015.
− Aversa, P. 2013. The Strategic Evolution of Suppliers. A Longitudinal Study. Available working paper.
A former version of this paper was the Winner of the Doctoral Colloquium Award, EURAM Conference 2011.
Peer-reviewed conferences: EURAM 2011; SMS 2011; EGOS, 2012; AOM 2014.
− Aversa, P., D. Iubatti., G. Lorenzoni, 2014. Absorptive Capacity: Benefits and Contraindications. A Peripheral View of
Manufacturing Networks. Available working paper [Available at SSRN: 1907998].
Peer-reviewed conferences: SMS 2011; EURAM, 2011, Harvard 2012.
− Aversa P, Cattani G, Ferriani, S, Marino A. 2013. The Portability of Individual Performance: Do Formula One Drivers Race
Faster in a New Racing Team? Working paper.
Accepted for peer-reviewed conference: SMS 2014.
− Aversa P, Jenkins M. 2013. Interstitial Spaces as “Primoridial Soup” of Cluster Genesis. The Case of the British Motor Clubs.
Working Paper.
− Ravasi, D., Stigliani, I., & Aversa, P. 2013. Success and failure in collaborations between business firms and design
consultancies: The designers’ perspective. Available working Paper.
− Aversa, P. 2013. Are Suppliers Really Peripheral? Toward a Peripheral View of Firm Networks. Available working paper.
Peer-reviewed conferences: SMS 2012.
Presentations in peer-reviewed conferences
AOM (2013-14-15), SMS (2009-10-11-12-13-14-15); EGOS (2012-13-14-15); THIS (2014); EURAM (2011); DIME (2010), ECMS
(2012); Harvard (2012); CASS (2012-13-14).
Invited presentations
2015 University “La Sapienza” Rome.
2014 Erasmus University Rotterdham; Grenoble Ecole de Management; IESE Business School; Cass Business School; University
of Catania; Bologna University; Luiss University Rome, Trento University.
2013 University of Padova; BI Norwegian Business School; Open University; Greenwich University.
2012 University of Pennsylvania; University of Padova.
2011 The Ohio State University; Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo; Saint Joseph University, Philadelphia.
2010 University of Padova; University of Pennsylvania.
Training
2014 Business Policy and Strategy Junior Faculty Consortium, AOM Conference, Philadelpha, PA.
2013 Building Better Business Models Workshop, Cass Business School, London UK.
2013 Competitive Strategy Junior Faculty and Paper Development Workshop, SMS Conference, Atlanta CA.
2013 Emerging Scholar Workshop, Mack Institute of Innovation Management, Wharton School, UPenn.
2010 Doctoral Consortium, DIME Conference, Polytechnic of Milan, Italy (scholarship).
2009 Summer School of Social Sciences, University of Essex, UK.
2009 Viu-Duke Summer Research Workshop, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA (scholarship).
2005 Teaching and Training module, Part of the Master Course in HR Management, HKE Consulting, Milan, Italy.
2004 Public Speaking Course, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy.
Teaching and academic support
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2014
2014-…
2012-…
2014-…
2014
Lecturer in Strategy, Cass Business School, City University, London, UK
Strategy (MBM406) – Full Time MBA
Advanced Strategy Analysis (SMM881) – MSc in Management
Strategy (Induction) – Executive MBA Dubai
Visiting Lecturer, University of Padova, Italy
Technology Strategy – Master in International Business for SMEs (MIBS)
2013
Visiting Lecturer, Cass Business School, City University, London, UK
SMM881 Advanced Strategy Analysis – MSc in Management; Score: 4.23 out of 5.0
2013-2014 Visiting Lecturer, Fondazione CUOA Business School, Italy
Corporate Strategy – MBA; score 5.71 out of 6.0. Master in Finance; Score: 5.78 out of 6.0.
2011-2012 Teaching Assistant, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania; USA
MGMT 701 - Strategy and Competitive Advantage (MBA) – Prof. Nikolaj Siggelkow.
MGMT 801 Innovation, Change and Entrepreneurship (MBA) – Prof. Ian C. MacMillan.
2005-2006 Visiting Lecturer, Alma Graduate School, University of Bologna
Corporate Strategy – MBA Profingest. Scores available on request.
2005-2013 Teaching Assistant for several undergraduate and post-graduate courses in strategy and innovation – University of
Bologna, Italy. Scores available on request.
Professional Experience
2013-2014 Officer for the Formula Student Italy, and the Formula 1 in School competition, UK.
2010-2012 Consultant – Strategic management Technogel US Inc. Pittsburgh, PA, USA Chemicals and design.
2006-2009 Team Business Manager Race UP Team, Padova University of Padova Racing Team.
2006-2009 Marketing and Communication Manager Reflex-Allen, Guiglia (MO), Italy, global automotive components.
2005-2006 Sales Area Manager for Italy and Germany Alps South Corp., Bologna, Italy Biotech and prosthetics.
2005
Internship and Project Management Ducati Motor Company, Bologna Motorbikes manufacturing firm.
Academic Service
Ad-hoc reviewer for: Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, Journal of Operations Management, Journal of Management Studies,
Long Range Planning, Journal of Product Innovation Management, Journal of Knowledge Management, Technovation,
Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Cambridge University Press; Academy of Management Conference, Strategic
Management Conference.
PDW organizer and chair at the AOM 2013 on the “Peripheral View”. Panelists: Harbir Singh (Wharton); Jay Anand (Ohio State);
Tom Choi (Arizona State); Luiz Mesquita (Arizona State).
Computer skills
Stata 12; SPSS (econometrics); Uci-net; netdraw (network analysis); Sim I-Space (agent based simulation); MPlus (SEM).
Languages
English (fluent); Spanish (fluent); German (intermediate); French (basic); Italian (native).
Main media exposure
2011-2014
Media appearances: 250 ca. (quotes, guest participations and authored pieces).
Main outlets: Financial Times, BBC World News, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio 4, Sky Tv, Reuters, Times, New York
Times, Sunday Times, Forbes, Daily Mail, Telegraph, Daily Telegraph, Sidney Morning Herald, City A.M, the National, Rai
Uno, Corriere della Sera.
Main countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Malaysia, Netherlands,
New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, U.E.A., U.K., U.S.A.
Social Networking: Blog (Motorsportstrategy); Twitter @aversapaolo #CassF1
Main referees
Prof. Jay Anand (Ohio State University – coauthor); [email protected]
Prof. Luiz Mesquita (Arizona State University – coauthor); [email protected]
Prof. Charles Baden-Fuller (Cass Business School – Marie Curie supervisor); [email protected]
Prof. Ian C. MacMillan (Wharton School – Post-doc supervisor); [email protected]
Prof. Simone Ferriani (University of Bologna – Ph.D. supervisor); [email protected]
Prof. Gianni Lorenzoni (University of Bologna – Ph.D. supervisor); [email protected]
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