Brian Fox

  • Associate Professor, Management
  • Ph. D. University of Connecticut
  • B.S. Babson College

Teaching Interests

Strategy, innovation, entrepreneurship, strategic thinking, and management consulting

Research Interests

Competitive dynamics, firm performance, value-based business strategy, industry evolution and innovation, game theory, managers and the behavioral theory of the firm

Consulting/Practice Interests

Economic/forensic consulting, disputes and investigations, organizational restructuring

Bio

I am an Associate Professor of Strategy at Bentley University. My research examines competitive dynamics (how firms choose specific actions and respond to their rivals), industry evolution (how industries, and the firms that comprise them, change over time) and the performance implications of these forces. My research interests center around competitive strategy, firm performance, industry evolution, and the role of top management teams in shaping strategic choices. Methodologically, I am interested in the application of econometric techniques as well as the use of simulations and formal theoretical methods. My work has been published in several peer-reviewed journals, including the Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Management, Organizational Research Methods, Long Range Planning and Strategic Organization, among others.

Professional Links

Publications

Journal Articles


  • Simsek, Z., Heavey, C., Fox, B., Yu, T. (2022). Compelling Questions in Research: Seeing What Everybody Has Seen and Thinking What Nobody Has Thought. Journal of Management, (48) 6 1347–1365.
  • Heavey, C., Simsek, Z., Fox, B., Hersel, M. (2022). Executive confidence: A multidisciplinary review, synthesis, and agenda for future research. Journal of Management, (48) 6 1430–1468.
  • Simsek, Z., Heavey, C., Fox, B. (2022). A managerial interfaces perspective for competitive action research. Long Range Planning, (55) 3 1-20.
  • Simsek, Z., Fox, B., Heavey, C. (2021). Systematicity in Organizational Research Literature Reviews: A Framework and Assessment. Organizational Research Methods.
  • Fox, B., Simsek, Z., Heavey, C. (2021). Top Management Team Experiential Variety, Competitive Repertoires, and Firm Performance: Examining the Law of Requisite Variety in the 3D Printing Industry (1986-2017). Academy of Management Journal, (65) 2 545–576.
  • Grove, S., Fox, B., Souder, D. (2021). When good deals need help getting done: Articulating side payment strategies.. Long Range Planning.
  • Simsek, Z., Heavey, C., Fox, B. C. (2018). Interfaces of strategic leaders: A conceptual framework, review, and research agenda. Journal of Management, (44) 1 280-324.
  • Simsek, Z., Heavey, C., Fox, B. C. (2017). (Meta)-framing strategic entrepreneurship. Strategic Organization, (15) 4 504-518.
  • Heavey, C., Simsek, Z., Fox, B. C. (2015). Managerial social networks and ambidexterity of SMEs: The moderating role of a proactive commitment to innovation.. Human Resource Management. 54 201-221.
  • Simsek, Z., Fox, B. C., Heavey, C. (2015). "What’s past is prologue”: A framework, review, and future directions for organizational research on imprinting. Journal of Management. 41 288-317.
  • Presentations

  • Grove, S., Fox, B., Ranucci, R., Souder, D. (2021). “A Bilateral Perspective on Asymmetric Distance and Alliance Governance mode” Presented at theAcademy of Management Annual Meeting Virtual
  • Fox, B., Simsek, Z., Heavey, C. (2021). “Understanding Strategic Leaders’ Role in Competitive Dynamics: Towards an Interface Model” Presented at theCompetitive Dynamics Conference Helsinki, FI
  • Heavey, C., Fox, B., Simsek, Z. (2020). “ Executive Confidence and Firm Performance: Do Economic and Resource Conditions Make a Difference” Presented at theEuropean Academy of Management Annual Conference Dublin, Ireland
  • Simsek, Z., Fox, B. (2020). “Big Data for Strategy and Management: Towards a Theory-guided Approach for Progress.” Presented at theStrategic Management Society Annual Conference
  • Fox, B., Simsek, Z., Heavey, C. (2019). “ Founder Pre-Entry Experience and New Venture Innovation Over Time: An Examination of Multiple Paths” Presented at theAcademy of Management Annual Meeting Boston, MA
  • Fox, B., Heavey, C., Simsek, Z., Hershel, M. (2019). “Investigating the Boundary Conditions of CEO Core Self-Evaluation: A Two-Study Approach” Presented at the Strategic Management Society Strategic Management Society Annual Conference Minneapolis, MN
  • Fox, B., Simsek, Z., Heavey, C. (2019). “Founder Pre-Entry Experience and New Venture Innovation Over Time: An Examination of Multiple Paths. ” Presented at theAcademy of Management Annual Meeting Boston, MA
  • Fox, B., Souder, D., Grove, S. (2019). “Coordination Equilibria: Facilitating Value-Creating Deals” Presented at theStrategic Management Society Special Conference Frankfurt, Germany
  • Fox, B., Simsek, Z., Heavey, C. (2018). “Top management tenure and competitive repertoires across the 3D printing industry life cycle” Presented at theStrategic Management Society Annual Conference Paris, France
  • Fox, B., Simsek, Z., Souder, D. (2018). “Firm repertoires and performance: The influence of complementarity and competition.” Presented at theAcademy of Management Annual Meeting Chicago, IL
  • Fox, B., Grove, S., Souder, D. (2018). “Searching for the best deal: Finding superior returns via coordinated action. ” Presented at theEuropean Academy of Management Annual Meeting Rijkjavik, Iceland
  • Fox, B., Grove, S., Souder, D. (2017). “Coordination Equilibria: Formalizing a Path Forward for Value Creation” Presented at theAcademy of Management Annual Meeting Atlanta, GA
  • Fox, B., Heavey, C., Simsek, Z. (2017). “Interfaces of Strategic Leaders: Past, Present, and Future Research Agenda. ” Presented at theAcademy of Management Annual Meeting Atlanta, GA
  • Service

    Department Service


  • Task Force Member for GB410 Restructuring Committee 2022 - Present
  • Task Force Member for MG Department 2x Majors Initiative 2022 - Present
  • Committee Chair for MG Department Research Committee 2022 - Present
  • Other for MG RA Assignments 2019 - Present
  • Task Force Member for GB410 Teaching Team 2018 - Present
  • Committee Member for MG Department Research Committee 2018 - Present
  • Committee Member for Strategy Position Hiring Committees 2022 - 2022
  • Committee Member for Strategy Position Hiring Committees 2019 - 2019
  • University Service


  • Task Force Member for Entrepreneurship Faculty Council 2022 - Present
  • Committee Member for Curriculum Implementation Committee 2021 - Present
  • Other for Center for Integration of Science and Industry 2021 - Present
  • Guest Speaker for Falcons Weekend - 2021