Getting published in the Harvard Business Review is difficult, but BYU Marriott School of Business strategy professor Jeff Dyer seems to have successfully faced the challenge. He just had a ninth article published in the Jan–Feb 2019 issue.
Dyer has also had articles covered in Forbes magazine and The Strategic Management Journal, which aims to publish the highest quality research relevant to strategic management. Dyer’s nine articles in Harvard Business Review alone have been cited over a thousand times.
For Dyer, the most rewarding part of having his work published are the moments when individuals reach out to explain how his research efforts have helped them in their career and business goals. “If people are citing my work, then that means it's having impact,” Dyer says. “That means the hard work you put into creating knowledge is actually getting read and hopefully applied.”
So how does Dyer know what to write about? Dyer says the key is to find a real problem or question business professionals want to solve. In his latest article, When Your Moon Shots Don’t Take Off, Dyer addresses the lack of innovative ideas in established companies and offers several unconventional ways to overcome cognitive biases, such as hiring a team of science fiction writers to brainstorm solutions.
When deciding on the next topic to research and write about, Dyer considers a few things to ensure his published work engages audiences and applies to real problems in the business field, such as presenting a new approach or unexpected solution to solve a dilemma. “To find an idea to study, I might try to uncover a counterintuitive thought, share an explanation different from the common answer, or demonstrate a new solution to a common problem,” Dyer says. “These are all things to keep in mind when determining what to research and address.”
Some of Dyer’s other works have had significant influence in business strategy. One of his published articles was recognized by ScienceWatch, an online resource of the latest data and research analysis, as the second most-cited paper in economics and business between 1998 and 2008. He also authored the best-selling book, The Innovator’s DNA, which purports creativity as a skill that can be further developed and not simply a trait some are born with.
Whether writing for audiences, Dyer emphasizes the importance of sharing an idea with others to determine the best route of success. Through his academic research and article publications, Dyer believes that insight and feedback are assets to discovering what others will appreciate most and apply in their lives. For him, the more an idea can be shared and tested, the better the idea will become.
“Prototype your idea and test it with people. Find out what they think,” says Dyer. “There is never a bad idea when you are working to create something that will help and lift others.”
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Writer: Brittany Salinas