Deepak Somaya

Professor of Business Administration and Diane and Steven N. Miller Professor and Edwards Scholar

Biography

Deepak Somaya is the Diane and Steven N. Miller professor in business administration. He is a professor in both the Gies College of Business and the College of Law, and serves as Academic Director for the Origin Ventures Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership. Somaya also holds an appointment as Edwards Scholar at the Discovery Partners Institute in Chicago. His research focuses on knowledge assets such as human capital and technology, and on scalable business models enabled by digital innovation. Somaya received an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology at Bombay and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management at Calcutta. He was awarded his PhD in business administration from the University of California at Berkeley.

Contact

330 Wohlers Hall

1206 S Sixth St

Champaign, IL 61820

Listings

Educational Background

Ph.D., Business Administration, University of California at Berkeley, 2002
MBA, Business Administration, Indian Institute of Management at Calcutta, 1992
B. Tech., Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology at Bombay, 1990

Positions Held

Academic Director of Origin Ventures Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership, Disruption and Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2022-2023
Associate Director of Illinois Strategic Organizations Initiative, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2020-2021
Professor of Business Administration, Business Administration, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2018 to present
Professor of Law, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2018 to present
Academic Director of Illinois Consulting Academy, Magelli Office of Experiential Learning, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2017-2022
Director of Graduate Studies, Business Administration,, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2015-2018
Associate Professor of Law, College of Law, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2014-2018
International Research Fellow, Centre for Professional Service Firms, Said Business School, Oxford University, 2014-2018
Associate Professor, Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2012-2018
Associate Professor of Business Administration, Business Administration, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2012-2018
Assistant Professor, Institute for Genomic Biology,, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2010-2012
Research Associate, Intellectual Property Research Institute of Australia (IPRIA), University of Melbourne, 2008-2018
Assistant Professor of Business Administration, Business Administration, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2008-2012
Assistant Professor, Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland at College Park, 2002-2008

Recent Publications

Laursen, K., Salter, A., & Somaya, D. Forthcoming. Complementarities and tensions between appropriability and open innovation: A review and future directions for research. Handbook of Open Innovation (H. Chesbrough, A. Radziwon, W. Vanhaverbeke, J. West, Eds.) Oxford UK: Oxford University Press.
Giustiziero, G., Kretchmer, T., Somaya, D., & Wu, B. (2023). Hyperspecialization and Hyperscaling: A Resource-based Theory of the Digital Firm. Strategic Management Journal. link >
Seo, E., & Somaya, D. (2022). Living it up at the Hotel California: Employee Mobility Barriers and Inventor Collaborativeness in Firms. Organization Science, INFORMS, 33 (2), 495-871. link >
Mawdsley, J., & Somaya, D. (2021). Relational Embeddedness, Breadth of Added Value Opportunities, and Business Growth. Organization Science, 32 (4), 1009–1032. link >

Other Publications

Articles

McCormick, M., & Somaya, D. (2020). Born Globals from Emerging Economies: Reconciling Early Exporting with Theories of Internationalization. Global Strategy Journal, 10 (2), 251-281. link >
Somaya, D., & Varshney, L. (2020). Ownership Dilemmas in an Age of Creative Machines. Issues in Science and Technology, 36 (2), 79-85. link >
Chung, J., Lorenz, A., & Somaya, D. (2019). Dealing with Intellectual Property (IP) Landmines: Defensive Measures to Address the Problem of IP Access. Research Policy, 48 (19), 103828. link >
Mawdsley, J., & Somaya, D. (2018). Demand-side strategy, relational advantage, and partner-driven corporate scope: The case for client-led diversification. Strategic Management Journal, 39 (7), 1834-1859. link >
Raghuram, S., Gajendran, R., Liu, X., & Somaya, D. (2017). Boundaryless LMX: Examining LMX's Impact on External Career Outcomes and Alumni Goodwill. Personnel Psychology, 70 (2), 399-428. link >
Somaya, D. (2016). How Patent Strategy Affects the Timing and Method of Patent Litigation Resolution. Advances in Strategic Management, 34 469-502. link >
Gajendran, R., & Somaya, D. (2016). Employees Leave Good Bosses Nearly as Often as Bad Ones. Harvard Business Review (online). link >
Mawdsley, J., & Somaya, D. (2016). Employee Mobility and Organizational Outcomes: An Integrative Conceptual Framework and Research Agenda. Journal of Management, 42 (1), 85-113. link >
Carnahan, S., & Somaya, D. (2015). The Other Talent War: Competing Through Alumni. Sloan Management Review, 56 (3), 14-16.
Carnahan, S., & Somaya, D. (2015). Competing Through Alumni: The Other Talent War. Sloan Management Review, 56 (3), 14-16.
Carnahan, S., & Somaya, D. (2013). Alumni effects and relational advantage: The impact on outsourcing when a buyer hires employees from a supplier's competitors. Academy of Management Journal, 56 (6), 1578-1600.
Moeen, M., Somaya, D., & Mahoney, J. (2013). Supply Portfolio Concentration in the Outsourcing of Knowledge Based Services. Organization Science, 24 (1), 262-279.
Mayer, K., Somaya, D., & Williamson, I. (2012). Firm-Specific, Industry-Specific and Occupational Human Capital, and the Sourcing of Knowledge Work. Organization Science, 23 (5), 1311-1329.
Somaya, D. (2012). Patent Strategy and Management: An Integrative Review and Research Agenda. Journal of Management, 38 (4), 1084-1114.
Somaya, D., & McDaniel, C. (2012). Tribunal Specialization and Institutional Targeting in Patent Enforcement. Organization Science, 23 (3), 869-887.
Somaya, D., Teece, D., & Wakeman, S. (2012). Business Models and Patent Strategies in Multi-Invention Contexts. Ivey Business Journal, (September-October).
Somaya, D., Teece, D., & Wakeman, S. (2011). Innovating in Multi-Invention Contexts: Mapping Solutions to Technological and Intellectual Property Complexity. California Management Review, 53 47-79.
Somaya, D., Kim, Y., & Vonortas, N. (2011). Exclusivity in Licensing Alliances: Using Hostages to Support Technology Commercialization. Strategic Management Journal, 32 (2), 159–186.
Somaya, D., & Williamson, I. (2008). Rethinking the "War for Talent". Sloan Management Review, 49 (4), 29-34.
Somaya, D., Williamson, I., & Lorinkova, N. (2008). Gone but not lost: The different performance impacts of employee mobility between cooperators versus competitors. Academy of Management Journal, 51 (5), 936-953.
Shane, S., & Somaya, D. (2007). The Effects of Patent Litigation on University Licensing Efforts Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 63 (4), 739-755.
Somaya, D., Williamson, I., & Zhang, X. (2007). Combining Patent Law Expertise with R&D for Patenting Performance. Organization Science, 18 (6), 922-937.
Somaya, D. (2003). Strategic Determinants of Decisions not to Settle Patent Litigation. Strategic Management Journal, 24 (1), 17-38.
Somaya, D., & Linden, G. (2003). System-on-a-Chip Integration in the Semiconductor Industry: Industry Structure and Firm Strategies. Industrial and Corporate Change, 12 (3), 545-576.
Somaya, D. (1999). Patenting for Global Markets: A U. S. Firm Meets the Demands of the New Globalism. Business and Politics, 1 (1), 99-111.

Book Chapters

Corredor Waldron, S., Forero, C., & Somaya, D. (2015). How External and Internal Sources of Knowledge Impact Novel and Imitative Innovation in Emerging Markets: Evidence from Colombia. Advances in International Management ( pp. 161-199).
Mawdsley, J., & Somaya, D., Empson, L., Muzio, D., Broschak, J., Hinings, B. (Ed.) (2015). Strategy and Strategic Alignment in Professional Service Firms. The Oxford Handbook on Professional Service Firms Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Somaya, D., David Teece and Mie Augier (Ed.) (2013). Comparative Advantage. (entry in) Palgrave Encyclopaedia of Strategic Management Hampshire, U.K: Palgrave Macmillan.
Somaya, D., & Williamson, I., Collings, D. and Scullion, H. (Ed.) (2011). Embracing Turnover: Moving Beyond the 'War for Talent'. Global Talent Management New York: Routledge.
Somaya, D., & Teece, D., E. Sheshinski, E. Strom and W. Baumol (Ed.) (2007). Patents, Licensing, and Entrepreneurship: Effectuating Innovation in Multi-Invention Contexts. Entrepreneurship, Innovation and the Growth Mechanism of Free-Market Economies Princeton NJ: Princeton University Press.
Somaya, D., Gary Libecap (Ed.) (2004). Firm Strategies and Trends in Patent Litigation in the United States. Advances in the Study of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Economic Growth ( pp. 103-148). Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.
Somaya, D., R. Kagan and L. Axelrad (Ed.) (2000). Obtaining and Protecting Patents in the United States, Europe and Japan. Regulatory Encounters: Multinational Corporations and American Adversarial Legalism ( pp. 275-310). University of California Press.

Conference Proceedings

Somaya, D., & Varshney, L. (2018). Embodiment, Anthropomorphism, and Intellectual Property Rights for AI Creations. ( pp. 278-283). Proceedings of the Thirty-Second AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence. link >
Somaya, D., & McDaniel, C. (2007). Institutional Targeting in Patent Enforcement. Academy of Management Best Paper Proceedings.
Somaya, D., Williamson, I., & Lorinkova, N. (2007). The Effects of Employee Mobility Between Competitors and Cooperators on Firm Performance. Academy of Management Best Paper Proceedings.
Somaya, D. (2005). The Effects of Patent Litigation on University Licensing Efforts. NBER Conference on “Academic Science and Entrepreneurship: Dual Engines of Growth?”.
Somaya, D., & Graham, S. (2004). The Use of Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks in Software: Evidence from Litigation. OECD Conference of the Project on Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation, and Economic Performance (Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry.
Somaya, D. (2001). Strategic Determinants of Patent Litigation Settlement Decisions in Computers and Research Medicines. Academy of Management Best Paper Proceedings.

Presentations

Chauradia, A., & Somaya, D. (2013). Is Pro Bono also Pro Lucrum? Firm-level Pro Bono Participation, Human Capital Advantages, and Profitability in Law Firms. People and Organizations Conference (Wharton School.
Mawdsley, J., & Somaya, D. (2013). Professional Service Firms: Strategic Management and Strategic Alignment. Academy of Management Annual Meeting.
Mawdsley, J., & Somaya, D. (2013). Strategy & Strategic Alignment in Professional Service Firms. Academy of Management Annual Meeting.
Carnahan, S., & Somaya, D. (2012). The Alumni Effect: How Hiring of Suppliers’ Employees by Buyer Firms Affects Outsourcing Relationships. Sumantra Ghoshal Conference, London Business School.
Mawdsley, J., & Somaya, D. (2012). Acquiring External Human Capabilities through M&A versus Hiring. Academy of Management Annual Meeting.
Somaya, D., & McDaniel, C. (2007). Targeting General-Purpose versus Specialized Nonmarket Institutional Venues. Academy of Management Annual Meeting.
Somaya, D., Williamson, I., & Lorinkova, N. (2007). Gone but not Lost: The Different Performance Impacts of Employee Mobility between Cooperators versus Competitors. Academy of Management Annual Meeting.
Somaya, D., Williamson, I., & Lorinkova, N. (2007). Gone but not Lost: The Different Performance Impacts of Employee Mobility between Cooperators versus Competitors. Atlanta Competitive Advantage Conference.
Somaya, D., & Graham, S. (2006). Vermeers and Rembrandts in the Same Attic: Complementarity between Copyright and Trademark Leveraging Strategies in Software. Wharton Technology Mini-Conference.
Somaya, D., Williamson, I., & Zhang, X. (2006). Combining Patent Law Expertise with R&D for Patenting Performance. Atlanta Competitive Advantage Conference.

Honors and Awards

Diane and Steven N. Miller Professorship, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2022 to present
Donald and Anne Edwards Scholar, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2021-2022
Stephen V. and Christy C. King Faculty Fellow, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2012-2022

Grants

The Afterlife of Leadership: Investigating LMX’s Impact on Turnover Type and Alumni Attitudes, Business Excellence Grant, Department of Business Administration, College of Business, University of Ill, 2015-2016
Diversity of External and Internal Linkages for Innovation by Emerging Market Firms (Summer Research Assistantship for One Graduate Student), Center for International Business and Economic Research, University of Illinois, 2014

Service

Editorial Board Member, Elements of Business Strategy Series, Cambridge University Press, 2016 to present
Editorial Board Member, Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, 2015 to present
Editorial Board Member, Strategic Management Journal, 2011 to present
Editorial Board Member, Journal of Management, 2010 to present
Editorial Board Member, Academy of Management Review, 2017-2020

Teaching Interests

Technology Strategy, Human Capital Strategy, Intellectual Property Strategy, General Strategic Management

Research Interests

My research has sought to understand how companies strategize about and derive competitive advantages from their knowledge assets—technological assets (intellectual property), people assets (human capital) and relational assets (social capital). In my current work, I am increasingly focused on the strategic impacts of digitalization, new business models, and digital scaling.

Current Courses

Strategic Management (BADM 544) An integrative examination of executive-level decisions and policies that drive company survival and performance. Combines theoretical and practical learning through strategic management tools, frameworks, examples and case studies. Provides a top management view of companies and organizations that is essential learning for any leader.