Brian Fox

Brian Fox is an associate professor of Strategy at Bentley University, focusing his research on the intersection of strategy, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Specifically, his studies delve into competitive dynamics, exploring how companies make strategic choices and respond to their competitors. He also examines industry evolution, analyzing how industries and the companies within them transform over time, and the performance consequences of these changes. In his research, he often considers how the characteristics of top management teams shape a firm's evolution, influencing strategic decisions like innovation, growth strategies, and investment patterns.

His current research encompasses various topics, with a particular focus on the interaction between strategic leaders and competitive patterns. Additionally, he has initiated a project that combines behavioral theory with Austrian economic principles to offer a comprehensive understanding of non-optimizing firms competing in dis-equilibrium environments and the resulting competitive dynamics.

Methodologically, he has a keen interest in employing econometric techniques, simulations, scenario-based experiments, and formal theoretical methods to investigate these areas. His work has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals, including the Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Management, Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, Long Range Planning, and Strategic Organization, among others.

Before joining Bentley University, he spent several years as an economic/forensic consultant at Navigant. In this role, he was involved in investigating and resolving a multitude of significant commercial disputes, with a total value exceeding $2 billion. He also contributed to organizational restructurings and the development of risk management strategies. He occasionally continues to provide consulting services in this field.

Education

• 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

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.