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Avimanyu Datta Ph.D.

Director, Means Center for Entrepreneurial Studies | Professor - Strategy and Entrepreneurship
Department of Management
Office
SFHB State Farm Hall Of Business 214
Office Hours
By appointments only.
  • About
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  • Awards & Honors
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Biography

Dr. Avimanyu (Avi) Datta is a Professor of Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship. He is also the Director of the I am the Director of George R. and Martha Means Center for Entrepreneurial Studies.

Dr. Datta’s teaching interests lie in the intersection of Technology innovations, Strategy, and Entrepreneurship. At Illinois State University, he regularly teaches the undergraduate capstone class in Strategic Management and a Seminar in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. At the graduate MBA level, Dr. Datta teaches Strategic Management.

Datta’s research interest is deeply rooted in his love for Art, Science, and technology and its impact on Management. Specifically, he is interested in uncovering entrepreneurial steps toward the development and commercialization of radical and breakthrough innovations. His work has been published in high-impact journals like the Journal of Business Research (Impact Factor: 11.3), Technological Forecasting and Social Change (Impact Factor: 12.9), Journal of Small Business Management (Impact Factor: 6.2), Technovation (Impact Factor 11.1), Journal of International Management (5.9), R&D Management (Impact Factor: 6.7), Information Systems Research (Impact Factor 7.8), Management Decision (4.8). More details of his research can be found at https://about.illinoisstate.edu/adatta/profile/.

Dr. Datta received his Ph.D. in Business Administration from Washington State University in 2011. Before his doctoral education, he worked as an Industry Analyst at Frost & Sullivan and as a market sizing analyst at Access Markets International (AMI)-Partners. He worked on several consulting and research projects with large IT firms like IBM, HP, SAP, Dell, and AMD. He was regularly cited in business and practitioner magazines like Business Week, Transworld News, Yahoo Business, Network Magazine, CIO, CXO, CRN, DataQuest, and so forth.

In his spare time, Dr. Datta collected mechanical watches and fountain pens. He also paints and is the author of the Critically acclaimed Time Corrector Series (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09MR3WWNN). You can read more about this side of Dr. Datta at https://avi-datta.com/

Current Courses

MGT 385.008 Organizational Strategy

MGT 385.009 Organizational Strategy

Teaching Interests & Areas

Innovation, Strategy, Corporate Entrepreneurship

Research Interests & Areas

Strategy, Breakthrough Innovation, Radical Innovation, Foundational innovation Corporate Entrepreneurship

PhD Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Washington State University
Pullman, WA

MS Information Systems

Hawaii Pacific University
Honolulu, HI

BS Computing and Information Systems

University of London
London, UK

2023-2024 Gary Gemberling Faculty Scholar

College of Business
2024

University Reearch Grant (URG)

Illinois State University
2022

College of Business Outstanding Researcher Award

Illinois State University
2018

Country Financial Scholar

Illinois State University
2018

Fellow

George R., and Martha Means Center of Entrepreneurial Studies
2017

Judge at Startup Show case

George R., and Martha Means Center of Entrepreneurial Studies
2017

University Research Grant (URG)

Illinois State University
2017

University Research Grant (URG)

Illinois State University
2016

University Research Grant (URG)

Illinois State University
2015

University Research Initiative Award

Illinois State University
2015

University Research Grant (URG)

Illinois State University
2014

University Research Grant (URG)

Illinois State University
2013

Means Small Grant Award Initiative: The George R and Martha Means Center for Entrepreneurial Studies

Illinois State University
2012

Book, Chapter

Datta, A. Information Technology Capability, Knowledge Assets and Firm Innovation: A Theoretical Framework for Conceptualizing the Role of Information Technology in Firm Innovation.. Strategic Adoption of Technological Innovations. Idea Group Inc. (2013): 69-189.
Datta, A., & Jessup, L. Patent Wars. Global Perspectives on Technological Innovation. Emerald Publishing Limited (2012): 321-371.
Datta, A., & Jessup, L. Patent wars: Staying ahead of the curve. Contemporary Perspectives on Technological Innovation, Management and Policy. Information Age (2012): 323-372.
Datta, A., & Jessup, L. Expanding Opportunities in a Shrinking World: A Conceptual Model Explicating the Role of Social Networks and Internet-Based Virtual Environments. Social Entrepreneurship. Virtual Communities: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools and Applications. Information Resources Management Association (USA) (2011)
Datta, A. Resource Based View of Information Systems: A Critique. Resourced Based View (RBV): Concepts and Practices. ICFAI University Press (2009): 71-84..
Datta, A., & Ray Chaudhuri, S. Role of Organizational Structure and Culture in Introducing an Effective Knowledge Setup.. Organization Culture: Global Perspectives and Cases.. ICFAI University Press (2005)

Conference Proceeding

Karube, M., Datta, A., & Miyazawa, Y. Creating a new Consumption Practice: From brewing Green Tea to drinking Bottle Green Tea. No. International Workshop on Craft and Emerging Forms of Organizin (2025): https://yamauchi.net/craft-2025/.
Datta, A., Lahiri, S., Mondal, A., & Ashraf, S. The impact of heterogeneity and vulnerability on family firms’ internationalization strategy shift.. no. Proceedings of The Academy of Management (2024)
Datta, A. A Resource Configuration Perspective to Examine Strategic Renewal: A Study of Movie Franchises. No. Academy of Management Annual Conference Proceedings (2023)
Datta, A., Sahaym, A., & Srivastava, S. Agents of Change and Strategic renewal of Hollywood Movies: How change in core crew, and narrative transformation affects Financial Performance. No. Western Academy of Management (2023)
Datta, A., Karube, M., Tachibana, T., & Miyazawa, Y. Connecting Dots Between Generations: How the Revolutionary Wristwatch “Spring Drive” Was Developed and Commercialized.. No. Strategic Management Society-Annual Conference (2023)
Datta, A., Karube, M., & Tachibana, T. Connecting dots between generations: How the revolutionary wristwatch "Spring Drive" was developed and commercialized. No. EGOS (European Group for Organizational Studies) (2023)
Datta, A., Karube, M., Tachibana, T., & Miyazawa, Y. Grand Seiko's “Spring Drive”: A Blend of Tradition and Modernity. No. International Workshop on Craft and New Forms of Organizing. Kyoto University, Japan (2023)
Datta, A. Reconceptualizing Breakthrough Innovation: A Bibliometric Analysis of the literature and Proposed Framework. No. Western Academy of Management (2023)
Datta, A. A critical look at breakthrough Innovation: Literature Review and Proposed Framework. Proceedings of the Academy of Management Meeting (2021)
Datta, A., Srivastava, S., & Sahaym, A. Narrative Transformation and Financial Performance of Movie Franchise: A longitudinal study of Hollywood Film industry. Western Academy of Management (2021)
Datta, A. Reconceptualizing Breakthrough Innovation: Review of the literature and Proposed Framework. Western Academy of Management (2021)
Datta, A., Srivastava, S., & Sahaym, A. Strategic Renewal of Hollywood Movies by TMT as Agents of Change: A study of Film-Franchise. Strategic Management Society-Annual Conference (2021)
Datta, A., Srivastava, S., & Sahaym, A. Strategic Renewal of Hollywood Movies by TMT as Agents of Change: Examining the Franchise Performance. Academy of Management Conference Proceedings (2021)
Datta, A., Srivastava, S., & Brooks, S. Social Media and New product introduction: Role of Proactiveness, Risk-Taking and Market Dynamism. Academy of Management Annual National Conference (2019)
Datta, A., & Brooks, S. Crowdfunding-campaign success: The effect of entrepreneurial orientation and social media. Academy of Management Annual National Meeting (2018)
Datta, A., Sahaym, A., & Brooks, S. Role of Entrepreneurial Orientation and Social Media on New Product Creation: A Socialnomics view.. Academy of Management (2017)
Datta, A., Sahaym, A., & Kim, S. Sourcing of Knowledge in Creation of Breakthrough Innovations: Evidence from Patents in the Information Technology Industry.. Western Academy of Management (2016)
Datta, A., Sahaym, A., & Kim, S. Knowledge Sourcing and Breakthrough innovations: A Study of Patents from the Information Technology Industry. Strategic Management Society (2015)
Datta, A., & Ladd, D. Defining a Fit-based Strategic DSS Evaluation Method. Mid-Western Association of Information Systems (MWAIS) conference (2013)
Datta, A. How far should we go and how different should it be? Recombination of Exterior Sourcing and Technology Distinctness on Radical Innovations: A longitudinal look at Patents in the IT-Industry. Academy of Management Annual National Meeting (2013)
Datta, A. Recombination of Exterior Sourcing and Technology Distinctness on Radical Innovations.. Academy of Management (2013)
Datta, A. Exploring the effects of Exterior Sourcing and technology distinctness as indicators of radical innovations: Evidence of patents in the IT industry. Southern Management Association (2012)
Datta, A., Shaffer, M., Umesh, U., & Jessup, L. Predicting Patent's Lifetime Value (PLV) using Patent rank.. 2012 INFORMS Marketing Science Conference (2012)
Datta, A. A Theoretical Model of Commercialization of Innovations: Integrating Networks, Absorptive Capacity and Ambidexterity. Research-Development Workshop at the 2010 Atlanta Competitive Advantage Conference (ACAC) (2010)
Datta, A. IT-Based Knowledge Capability and Commercialization of Innovations. 2010 Academy of Management Annual Conference (2010)
Ladd, D., Datta, A., & Sarker, S. Trying to Outrun a Speeding Environment: Developing 'High-velocity' Strategic DSS Evaluation Criteria. Americas Conference of Information Systems (2010)
Datta, A., Jessup, L., & Reed, R. Ability to commercialize innovations: An integrative model.. Southern Management Association (2008)
Yu, Y., & Datta, A. Mobile Computing Trends in IS Research: An Inductive Categorization Analysis. Americas Conference of Information Systems (2008)
Datta, A., Karube, M., & Miyazawa, Y. Authenticity Reconfiguration: Forging Rituals and Modern Trends. nternational Workshop on Craft and Emerging Forms of Organizing
Datta, A., Lahiri, S., Mondol, A., & Nawaz, A. Shift from exports to FDI: The case of Indian family firms. No. Academy of International Business
Datta, A., & Jha, S. When Distance Hurts: The Performance Impact of Geographic and Cultural Dispersion in Formula 1. No. Association of international Business
Karub, M., Datta, A., & Miyazawa, Y. Reconfiguring Authenticity: An in-depth study of Matcha Tea. No. Academy of Management 2025

Journal Article

Karube, M., Datta, A., Miyazawa, Y., & Tachibana, T. Reconstructing Legacy Across Generations: A Case of Grand Seiko’s Launching of the “Spring Drive”. Academy of Management Proceedings 2024.1 (2024)
Datta, A., & Srivastava, S. (Re)conceptualizing technological breakthrough innovation: A systematic review of the literature and proposed framework. Technology Forecasting and Social Change 194 (2023)
Datta, A., Karube, M., Tachibana, T., & Miyazawa, Y. Seiko Epson Corporation. Hitotsubashi Business Review (2023): 153.
Datta, A., Brooks, S., Sahaym, A., & Srivastava, S. Risky Combination: The Role of Managerial Perception of Social media use and Entrepreneurial Orientation on SME Innovation. Management Decision (2022): 1-24.
Sahaym, A., Datta, A., & Brooks, S. Crowdfunding Success through Social Media: Going beyond Entrepreneurial Orientation in the Context of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. Journal Of Business Research 125 (2021): 483-494.
Datta, A., Sahaym, A., & Brooks, S. Unpacking antecedents of new product launch under socialnomics lens: effect of social media and innovation orientation.. Journal Of Small Business Management 57.S2 (2019): 27.
Han, S., Datta, A., Joshi, K., & Chi, L. Innovation Through Boundary Spanning. International Journal of Knowledge Management 13.4 (2017): 90-110.
Datta, A. ANTECEDENTS TO RADICAL INNOVATIONS: A LONGITUDINAL LOOK AT FIRMS IN THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY BY AGGREGATION OF PATENTS. International Journal of Innovation Management 20.07 (2016): 1650068.
Datta, A. EVALUATING THE ANTECEDENTS OF FOUNDATIONAL INNOVATIONS: A LONGITUDINAL LOOK AT PATENTS FROM INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY. International Journal of Innovation Management 20.01 (2016): 1650013.
Datta, A. Evaluating the Antecedents of Foundational Innovations: A Longitudinal look at Patents in the IT industry. International Journal of Innovation Management 20.1 (2016): 1-29.
Datta, A., Mukherjee, D., & Jessup, L. Understanding commercialization of technological innovation: taking stock and moving forward. R&D Management 45.3 (2015): 215-249.
Datta, A., Reed, R., & Jessup, L. Commercialization of innovations: an overarching framework and research agenda. American Journal of Business 28.2 (2013): 147-191.
Datta, A., & Jessup, L. Looking beyond the focal industry and existing technologies for radical innovations. Technovation 33.10-11 (2013): 355-367.
Datta, A., Ladd, D., & Sarker, S. Outrunning a speeding Environment: Developing. Journal Of Information Technology Management 24.2 (2013): 1-10.
Mukherjee, D., Gaur, A., & Datta, A. Creating value through offshore outsourcing: An integrative framework. Journal of International Management 19.4 (2013): 377-389.
Datta, A., Reed, R., & Jessup, L. Factors Affecting the Governance of Innovation: A Theoretical Modeal. J. of Business and Management 18.1 (2012): 31-59.
Datta, A. IT-Based Knowledge Capability and Commercialization of Innovations. International Journal of Knowledge Management 8.3 (2012): 83-97.
Datta, A. An Integrative Model to Explain the Ability to Commercialize Innovations: Linking Networks, Absorptive Capacity, Ambidexterity and Environmental Factors. Journal of Management & Strategy 2.2 (2011): 1-22.
Datta, A. Combining Networks, Ambidexterity and Absorptive Capacity to Explain Commercialization of Innovations: A Theoretical Model from Review and Extension. Journal of Management and Strategy 2.4 (2011)
Datta, A., Jessup, L., & Reed, R. Corporate reputation for commercialization of innovation: Does reputation match reality, and does innovation matter?. Technology & Investment 2.4 (2011): 256-247.
Datta, A. Exterior Sourcing and Technology Distinctness as Indicators for Radical Innovations: Evidence from Patents in Information Technology Industry. Technology and Investment 02.03 (2011): 193-201.
Datta, A. Exterior Sourcing and Technology Distinctness as indicators of Radical Innovations: Evidence from Patents in the Information technology Industry. Technology & Investment (2011)
Datta, A. Information Technology Capability, Knowledge Assets and Firm Innovation. International Journal of Strategic Information Technology and Applications 2.3 (2011): 9-26.
Datta, A. Information Technology Capability, Knowledge Assets and Firm Innovation: A Theoretical Framework for Conceptualizing the Role of Information Technology in Firm Innovation. International Journal of Strategic Information Technology and Applications 2.3 (2011): 9-26.
Datta, A. Information Technology and Firm Innovations: A Review and Extension Explicating the Role of Networks, Capabilities, and Commercialization of Innovation. International Journal of Innovation in the Digital Economy 2.4 (2011): 45-63.
Datta, A. Review and Extension on Ambidexterity: A Theoretical Model Integrating Networks and Absorptive Capacity. Journal of Management and Strategy 2.1 (2011)
Joshi, K., Chi, L., Datta, A., & Han, S. Changing the Competitive Landscape: Continuous Innovation Through IT-Enabled Knowledge Capabilities. Information Systems Research 21.3 (2010): 472-495.
Ladd, D., Datta, A., Sarker, S., & Yu, Y. Trends in Mobile Computing within the IS discipline 2000-2009: A ten year retrospective. Communications of the Assoc for Info Systems 27 (2010): 285-316.
Datta, A. Cisco Systems: Implementing ERP in 9 months and within budget. Journal of Cases on Information Technology(JCIT), 11.2 (2009): 56-70.
Datta, A., & Jessup, L. Expanding Opportunities in a Shrinking World. International Journal of Virtual Communities and Social Networking 1.4 (2009): 33-49.
Datta, A., & Jessup, L. Expanding Opportunities in a Shrinking World: A theoretical model explicating The Role of Social Networks and Internet-based Virtual Environments in Social Entrepreneurship.. international Journal of Virtual Communites and Social Networks 1.4 (2009)
Datta, A., & Ray Chaudhuri, S. Role of Organizational Structure and Culture in Introducing an Effective Knowledge Setup. ICFAI Journal of Knowledge Management 2.4 (2005): 63-77.
Datta, A., & RayChaudhuri, S. Modeling the Effect of Organizational Structure on Organizational Self-Renewal and Knowledge Diffusion: A Theoretical Framework. SSRN Electronic Journal

Other

Datta, A. Apple Computers: From Class to Mass?. European Case Clearing House, United Kingdom. Case No. 306-109-1.. European Case Clearing House (2006)
Datta, A. SAP America: Strategic Choices made to move from Global to Mid-tier Markets. European Case Clearing House, United Kingdom. European Case Clearing Hous (2006)