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Allen Li

Allen Li

Michael and Mary Sue Shannon Professor
4285 Grainger Hall

About Allen

Professor Zhuoxin “Allen” Li is the Michael and Mary Sue Shannon Professor and an Associate Professor in the Department of Operations and Information Management. He is also a faculty affiliate in the Data Science Institute at UW-Madison. He is a recipient of the National Science Foundation’s CAREER Award (2022-2027), Poets & Quants Top 50 Undergraduate Business Professors (2021), Sandra A. Slaughter Early Career Award (2023), the Gordon B. Davis Young Scholar Award (2020), and the Nunamaker-Chen Dissertation Award (2016).

Professor Li’s research focuses on digital platforms. Digital platforms have profoundly reshaped the economy—they have created new distribution channels, reorganized supply chains, and transformed how businesses reach their customers. These platforms bring in substantial coordination challenges when the variety of participants’ interests are not well aligned. Professor Li’s research seeks to improve the value creation process through the design of information and coordination strategies.

Professor Li teaches OTM702 Digital Strategy and GENBUS760 Data Technology in the Full-Time, Professional, and Executive MBA programs. Professor Li earned his M.S. in Economics (2014) and Ph.D. in Information, Risk, and Operations Management (2015) from the University of Texas at Austin. He also received a B.S. in Computer Science. Prior to joining UW-Madison, he was on the faculty of Boston College.

Selected Accepted Journal Articles

Mayya, R. & Li, Z. (2024). Growing Platforms by Adding Complementors without A Contract Information Systems Research

Selected Published Journal Articles

Li, Z. & Wang, G. (2024). On-Demand Delivery Platforms and Restaurant Sales Management Science

Li, Z. & Wang, G. (2024). Regulating Powerful Platforms: Evidence from Commission Fee Caps Information Systems Research

Song, Y. & Li, Z. & Sahoo, N. (2022). Matching Returning Donors to Projects on Philanthropic Crowdfunding Platforms Management Science

Wang, N. & Li, Z. (2021). Supplier Encroachment with a Dual-Purpose Retailer Production and Operations Management

Li, Z. & Wang, H. & Wang, G. (2021). Peer Effects in Competitive Environments: Field Experiments on Information Provision and Interventions MIS Quarterly

Li, Z. & Duan, J. & Ransbotham, S. (2020). Coordination and Dynamic Promotion Strategies in Crowdfunding with Network Externalities Production and Operations Management

Li, Z. & Agarwal, A. (2017). Platform Integration and Demand Spillovers in Complementary Markets: Evidence from Facebook’s Integration of Instagram Management Science

Li, Z. & Gilbert, S. & Lai, G. (2015). Supplier Encroachment as an Enhancement or a Hindrance to Nonlinear Pricing Production and Operations Management

Li, Z. & Gilbert, S. & Lai, G. (2014). Supplier Encroachment under Asymmetric Information Management Science

Graduate Courses

Reading and Research-Operations and Information Management PhD (OTM 999), Spring 2024.
PhD seminar for students in the Wisconsin School of Business

Data Technology for Business Analytics (BUS 760), Spring 2024.
Full-Time MBA

Digital Strategy (OTM 702), Spring 2024.
Full-Time MBA

Digital Strategy (OTM 702), Spring 2024.
Professional MBA

Editorial and Reviewing Activities

Information Systems Research – Since January 2024
Editorial Board Member

Management Science – Since January 2022
Guest Associate Editor

WSB Stories

WSB Stories

Allen Li smiling in front of orange background

Building Better Platforms with Allen Li

When Zhuoxin “Allen” Li revises lesson plans each semester, he’s not just tweaking small details. He’s making sure technology hasn’t upended his entire curriculum. “I spend nearly two months updating...

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