Since 2007, I’ve been the author of the “Open IT Strategies” blog. This blog builds upon my industry, academic and journalism experience.
The central questions of the blog are:
Within this context, I comment on business developments, press coverage, academic research, and my own work — or anything else that strikes my fancy.
I’m a (tenured) Associate Professor, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, at the San José State University College of Business. I’ve been here at SJSU and in Silicon Valley since 2002.
Before that, I spent the 1980s and 1990s as a third-party software developer (ISV) for two proprietary platforms. First, it was as a software engineer designing simulation software for the DEC’s VAX/VMS machines (1979-1986), and then later as the co-founder and president of an ISV for the Apple Macintosh. During this period, I also worked as a political reporter and computer trade magazine columnist.
Since I started down the academic path in 1994, I’ve been a researcher on how firms use “open”-ness as a competitive strategy in three major areas:
Since 2002 I’ve worked as a strategy consultant for high-tech companies, usually developing or refining business models related to open standards, open source and open innovation.
Joel West.org: [home page] [Consulting] [Research] [Teaching]