Yanli Zhang

Biography

Yanli Zhang is a professor in the Management Department at Montclair State University. Her areas of expertise are in business strategy, business model innovation, and platform strategy, and she has taught courses in business strategy, international management, and entrepreneurship. She has published extensively, both in academic and practitioner-oriented journals such as MIT Sloan Management Review. Her research has won multiple rewards such as the Douglas Nigh Most Innovative Paper Award and Best Paper Award at the Academy of Management Conference. Before academia, she spent several years working as a management consultant in Accenture Beijing office, helping both multinationals and domestic Chinese companies with market and growth strategies. Before that, she worked as strategy analyst at Lenovo Strategic Planning department and economic policy analyst at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, US Division. 
 

Education

• BA, Beijing University
• PhD, Rutgers University

Publications

• Conference Proceedings: Y. Zhang (2006). The Advantages and Disadvantages of Strong Networks: Examining the Innovation and International Knowledge Sourcing Activities of Japanese Firms. Association of Japanese Business Studies Conference Proceedings
• Journal Article: J. Cantwell, Y. Zhang (2006). Why is Japan’s R&D Internationalization so Low? A Path-Dependent Explanation. Asian Business and Management
• Book Chapter: J. Cantwell, Y. Zhang (2005). Japan’s R&D Internationalization and its Institutional Environment. Wiesbaden: Gabler (author names listed in alphabetical order)
• Book: Y. Zhang (1998). Microsoft's Secret. Translated: Chapter 8
• Conference Proceedings: Y. Zhang (2007). Inter-Firm Networks and Innovation: the Difference between the Horizontal and Vertical Type. Academy of Management Best Paper Proceedings
• Journal Article: Y. Wang, Y. Zhang, J. Xia, Z. Wang (2008). Segmenting the Mature Travel Market by Motivation. International Journal of Data Analysis Techniques and Strategies
• Conference Proceedings: Y. Zhang, J. Cantwell (2008). International Business Connections and Domestic Institutions: Lessons from the Japanese Catch-up Experience. Association of Japanese Business Studies Annual Conference Proceedings
• Book Chapter: J. Cantwell, Y. Zhang (2009). The Innovative Multinational Firm: The Dispersion of Creativity, and its Implications for the Firm and for World Development. Wiley Blackwell (author names listed in alphabetical order)
• Journal Article: Y. Zhang, R. Xing, X. Liu (2009). How to Mitigate Agency Behaviors in the Mutual Fund Industry. International Journal of Business Strategy
• Journal Article: J. Cantwell, Y. Zhang (2009). The Co-Evolution of International Business Connections and Domestic Technological Capabilities: Lessons from the Japanese Catch-up Experience. Transnational Corporations
• Journal Article: Z. Wang, J. Hsu, J. Yao, Y. Zhang (2010). An E-Titan's Evolving Strategy and Business Model: Striving for Success in Challenging Times. Journal of Cases on Information Technology
• Conference Proceedings: L. Sun, Y. Zhang (2010). Corporate Governance and Organizational Survival under Punctuational Environmental Change: the Case of China's Burgeoning Banking Industry, 1897-1927. International Association for Chinese Management Research Conference Proceedings
• Book Review: Z. Wang, Y. Zhang (2010). Women invent - two centuries of discoveries that have shaped our world. International Journal of Information Systems and Social Change
• Conference Proceedings: Y. Zhang, R. Xing, J. Wang (2010). How and Why an Industrial Icon Come to Ruin. Northeast Business & Economics Association Annual Conference Proceedings
• Journal Article: Y. Zhang, R. Xing, J. Wang (2011). A Broken Supply and Social Chain: Anatomy of the Downfall of an Industrial Icon. International Journal of Information Systems and Social Change
• Journal Article: Y. Zhang, J. Cantwell (2011). Exploration and Exploitation: The Different Impacts of Two Types of Japanese Business Group Network on Firm Innovation and Global Learning. Asian Business & Management
• Journal Article: J. Cantwell, Y. Zhang (2011). Innovation and Location in the Multinational Firm. International Journal of Technology Management
• Journal Article: R. Xing, J. Wang, Y. Zhang (2010). Lessons of Disaster Recovery Learned for Information systems Management in US Higher Education. Int. J. of Information Systems for Crisis Response Management
• Journal Article: Y. Zhang, Y. Wang, W. Colucci, Z. Wang (2011). The Paradigm Shift in Organizational Research. International Journal of Knowledge-Based Organizations
• Conference Proceedings: Y. Zhang, E. Hamilton (2011). Long Term Stock Market Returns from Real Dow History. Society for Global Business and Economic Development Conference Proceedings
• Other: J. Wang, Y. Zhang (2012). Editorial: The Global Financial Crisis and Recovery Ahead – Perspectives from Multiple Disciplines . International Journal of Society Systems Science, Vol. 4, No. 1, 1-4
• Conference Proceedings: Y. Zhang, S. Sun (2012). Technology Rules and Business Model: The Case of Qihoo 360. Innovative Methods for Innovation Management and Policy Conference Proceedings
• Conference Proceedings: Y. Zhang, S. Sun (2012). Qihoo 360: A "Free" Business Model. United States Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Annual Conference
• Journal Article: S. Sun, Y. Zhang, Z. Chen (2013). The Challenges of Chinese Outward Investment in Developed Countries: The Case of CITIC Pacific's Sino Iron Project in Australia. Thunderbird International Business Review
• Conference Proceedings: S. Sun, Y. Zhang (2013). Using Simple Rules to Build the Business Model. Suzhou-Silicon Valley-Beijing International Innovation Conference
• Instructional Materials (Published): S. Sun, Y. Zhang, Z. Chen (2014). Integrative Case 4.4 - Sino Iron: Engaging Stakeholders in Australia. Global Business, 3e
• Journal Article: S. Sun, Y. Zhang (2013). Corporate Governance and Organizational Survival under Punctuational Change: The Case of China's Burgeoning Banking Industry, 1897-1927. Nankai Business Review International
• Journal Article: S. Sun, Y. Zhang (2015). Qihoo 360: Building a Free Business Model. The CASE Journal
• Journal Article: Y. Zhang, Z. Yao (2015). Challenges in Organizational Control: The Economic and Management Perspectives. International Journal of Knowledge-Based Organizations
• Conference Proceedings: Y. Zhang, R. Malaga, E. Nunez (2015). Daryl Bryant and his StartupValley - A Case on Crowd Equity Platforms. United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference Proceedings
• Journal Article: Y. Zhang, J. Hsu, R. Xing, W. Zhou (2015). Conflict of Interest: What It Is, Its Causes and Consequences. International Journal of Knowledge-Based Organizations
• Conference Proceedings: Y. Zhang, Y. Cao, J. Dong (2015). The Role of Government in Driving University-Industry R&D Connections: A Case Study on Suzhou Dushu Lake Science and Education District. Triple Helix Conference 2015 Proceedings
• Journal Article: J. Dong, Y. Zhang (2016). When Customers Become Fans - Learning from Xiaomi's Innovation and Business Model. MIT Sloan Management Review
• Journal Article: Y. Zhang, E. Hamilton, W. Zhou, X. Liu (2016). Financial Myths Reexamined from Real Stock Price History. International Journal of Data Analysis and Information Systems
• Conference Proceedings: Y. Zhang, R. Malaga, E. Nunez (2016). Racing to the Top - A Case on Competition and Strategy in Crowd Equity Platforms. Proceedings of the 14th International Conference of the Society for Global Business & Economic Development
• Journal Article: Y. Zhang (2016). Resource Based and Knowledge Based Views as Complementary Perspectives to Transaction Cost Theory. International Journal of Decision Sciences
• Conference Proceedings: Y. Zhang, Y. Cao, J. Dong, J. Cantwell (2016). The Role of Government in Driving University-Industry R&D Connections: A Case Study on Suzhou Dushu Lake Science and Education District. United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship 2016 Conference Proceedings
• Other: A. Jain, S. Varshney, Y. Zhang, S. Cuadrado, K. Goel (2022). Guest Editorial Preface: Data Science & AI Innovation in Banking and Finance. International Journal of Information Technology Project Management
• Journal Article: Y. Zhang, L. Yao (2022). How the leading Chinese real estate brokerage transformed into a digital platform business. Strategy & Leadership
• Conference Proceedings: Y. Zhang (2021). Baidu's Strategic AI Investment and Outlook. MBAA International Conference Proceedings
• Journal Article: S. Sun, Y. Zhang, Z. Zhu (2021). Turning Disruption into Growth Opportunity: The Red Team Strategy. Journal of Business Strategy
• Journal Article: Y. Zhang, T. Wu (2021). Will AI Bring Baidu Back to the High-Speed Growth Train?. Journal of Applied Business and Economics
• Conference Proceedings: Y. Zhang (2021). An Investment Framework – Is Baidu a Buy or Sell?. MIAA International Conference - Society for Case Research
• Journal Article: S. Sun, Y. Zhang, Y. Cao, J. Dong, J. Cantwell, (2019). Enriching innovation ecosystems: The role of government in a university science park. Global Transitions
• Journal Article: W. Zhou, X. Yang, Y. Li, Y. Zhang (2019). Pattern versus level: a new look at the personality-entrepreneurship relationship. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research
• Journal Article: W. Zhou, X. Yang, Y. Li, Y. Zhang (2019). Pattern versus Level: a New Look at the Personality-Entrepreneurship Relationship. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research
• Conference Proceedings: Y. Li, Y. Zhang, E. Swartz (2025). Navigating Gender Bias in Crowdfunding: The Influence of Role Congruity.. Proceedings of the Diana International Conference
• Journal Article: Y. Hou, Y. Zhang, Y. Zhu (2025). The TikTok miracle: cracking the code of TikTok’s platform strategyhttps://www.emerald.com/sl/article-abstract/53/5/557/1256187/The-TikTok-miracle-cracking-the-code-of-TikTok-s?redirectedFrom=fulltext. Strategy & Leadership
• Journal Article: Y. Zhang, H. Nguyen, Y. Jung, I. Ren (2024). The social media industry: Where is it heading?. Journal of Business Strategy
• Journal Article: Y. Cao, Y. Zhang, R. Shi, D. Song, (2023). Antecedent Configurations for the Organization Resilience of SRDI "Little Giants" Driven by Digitalization. Foreign Economics & Management
• Conference Proceedings: S. Sun, J. Xiao, Y. Zhang (2016). Building the Business Model through Simple Rules. Academy of International Business 2016 Annual Conference Proceedings
• Journal Article: W. Zhou, Y. Zhang, Y. Shen (2017). How shared leadership and team personality composition interact to improve entrepreneurial team performance: Evidence from China. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development
• Instructional Materials (Published): Y. Zhang, R. Malaga, E. Nunez (2017). StartupValley: Platform Strategy in Equity Crowdfunding. Ivey Cases
• Conference Proceedings: Y. Zhang, Y. , J. , J. , (2017). The Double-Edged Sword of Government Role in Innovation Systems: A Case Study in the Development of Policy-led University Science Parks in China. International Conference of IEEE Technology and Engineering Management Society
• Journal Article: S. Sun, J. Xiao, Y. Zhang, X. Zhao, (2018). Building Business Models through Simple Rules. Multinational Business Review
• Conference Proceedings: Y. Jung, W. Zhou, T. Wu, Y. Zhang (2025). Cultural Differences behind Motivation and Decision-Making. Eastern Academy of Management Proceedings
• Conference Proceedings: E. Swartz, Y. Li, Y. Zhang (2025). Mapping women investors in the South African entrepreneurial ecosystem. Proceedings of the Diana International Conference

Honors & Awards

• Dissertation Research Award, Rutgers Technology Management Research Center ( 2006)
• Best Paper Award, Academy of Management Annual Conference ( 2007)
• Douglas Nigh Memorial Award for the Most Innovative Paper, Academy of Management ( 2007)
• Master Professor and Hall of Fame Member, Business Strategy Game ( 2009)
• Top 2 Most Downloaded Cases in 2017 from The Case Journal, The Case Journal (May 2017)
• Finalist for Excellence in Case Study Writing Award, The CASE Association ( 2016)
• Invited Visiting Research Professor, Soochow University ( 2015)
• Invited Speaker at Innovation Forum, China Innovation Conference (June 2014)
• Who's Who in America, Marquis ( 2010)
• Who's Who in American Women, Marquis ( 2010)
• Awards for Excellence, Emerald Literati Network (May 2017)
• Multinational Business Review Outstanding Paper, Emerald Publishing (August 2019)