This dissertation addresses the interaction between venture capitalists (VCs) and start-up development through three essays. A common theme is that VCs serve important extra-financial and information brokering roles. In the first essay, using the setting of entrepreneurs obtaining financing from...

This thesis consists of two essays covering topics in the economics of financial institutions with an emphasis on certain types of potential agency problems. In particular, it investigates two radically different types of "arbs": arbitrators and arbitrageurs. The first essay studies securities...

In this thesis, based on the example case study of the Apple iTunes-iPods platform technology, two simple models are analyzed to gain a better understanding of open vs. closed business models as management and market strategies for multi-sided platforms. First, a simple model of a firm with a...

The primary goal of this research was to determine if Micronotes, a start-up company based on an electronic bill-pay service that enables customers to prepay and discount their bills, is a viable business proposition. Here is how Micronotes works: On April 15th, a customer receives a $1,000...

The main research question we explore in this dissertation is: How should a retailer modify its product assortment over time in order to maximize overall profits for a given selling season? Historically, long development, procurement, and production lead times have constrained fashion retailers...

The evolution of the internet, digital design tools, and more importantly, increasing access to global markets and workforce, has increased the interest of firms in offshoring their engineering and product development activities. However, there exist challenges in coordinating and collaborating...

In Chapter 1, I investigate trading volume before scheduled and unscheduled corporate announcements to explore how traders respond to private information. I show that cumulative trading volume decreases by more than 15% prior to scheduled announcements. The decline in trading volume is largest...

This thesis consists of three chapters, each with implications on information and trading patterns in financial markets. Chapter 1: In most financial markets, dealers are given trading advantages meant to encourage liquidity provision. However, it is unclear if these advantages truly induce such...

This thesis consists of five related essays which explore new approaches to help design successful and profitable new products. The primary focus is the front end of the process where the product development team is seeking improved input from customers and improved ideas for developing products...

This thesis explores the changes occurring in the software industry and the strategic implications thereof. The software industry has historically benefited from the rapid introduction of new platforms and applications, an increasing user base and nearly contiguous cycles of growth. However,...