About

Bill Rand is the BR McLauchlan Distinguished Professor of Marketing and Analytics and serves as the Executive Director of the Business Analytics and AI Initiative at NC State University's Poole College of Management. His research focuses on the use of computational modeling techniques, including agent-based modeling, machine learning, network analysis, natural language processing, and geographic information systems, to understand and analyze complex systems such as the diffusion of information, organizational learning, and economic markets. He works to develop methods, create pedagogy, and build frameworks that enable researchers and practitioners to utilize analytics and data-intensive methods in their work. Professor Rand holds a doctorate in Computer Science from the University of Michigan, earned in 2005. Prior to his tenure at NC State, he spent eight years at the University of Maryland. His work has been funded by notable organizations such as the NSF, DARPA, ARL, Google, WPP, and the Marketing Science Institute. His research has been published in leading journals including Management Science, Journal of Marketing Research, International Journal of Research in Marketing, and Journal of Operations Management. His expertise encompasses social media, misinformation, machine learning, agent-based modeling, and digital marketing.

Research topics

• Computer Science
• Social Science
• Sociology
• Data science
• Knowledge management
• Management science
• Engineering

Selected publications

• Using of Agent-Based Modeling Across Management Research

  Academy of Management Proceedings · 2024

  • Computer Science
  • Computer Science

  In this symposium, participants will be introduced to a variety of important management questions and will experience how current agent- based modeling experts are using these methods to explore those questions. In bringing agent-based modeling techniques into the spotlight, we hope to spark greater interest in the research methods community in learning more about this method and bringing more acceptance for these types of exploration to the field. The presenters in this symposium each used agent-based modeling to explore important micro- and macro-management topics in dynamic, systems-focused ways. The general topics covered in this session range from inequality in career advancement, organization accountability, honest and dishonest behaviors, identity and interpersonal teamwork behaviors, employee- focused investments, and decision-making systems in organizations. Each of these topics explores how decision-making has complex outcomes over time, which can affect others in many ways depending on the specific decisions made. How Gender-Based Micro-Inequities Lead to Macro-Inequalities Author: Mai P. Trinh; UTRGV Author: Chantal Van Esch; Cal Poly Pomona Author: Elizabeth A. Castillo; California State U., San Bernardino Author: Robert Chico; U. of Washington Why Firms Should Want Algorithmic Accountability Author: Kalinda Ukanwa; U. of Southern California Author: Bill Rand; North Carolina State U. Author: Peter Pal Zubcsek; Tel Aviv U. A Dynamic Theory of Honest and Dishonest Behaviors Author: Gabriela Cuconato; Case Western Reserve U. The Dark Side of Expressing Self-Reflective Job Titles Author: Bryan Acton; Binghamton U.-State U. of New York Author: Tyree David Mitchell; Louisiana State U. Author: Patrick Coyle; La Salle U. A Management Systems Perspective Versus Investor Capitalism Author: Gretchen Renee Vogelgesang; San Jose State U. Author: Mai P. Trinh; UTRGV Author: Katalin T. Haynes; U. of Delaware Organizations as Systems of Distributed Attention Author: Jon Atwell; Stanford Graduate School of Business

  PublisherDOI

• Why Agent-Based Modeling (ABM)?: ABM usefulness for Management theory creation and validation

  Academy of Management Proceedings · 2021

  • Computer Science
  • Sociology
  • Knowledge management

  This panel symposium brings together multi-disciplinary experts on the topic of Agent-Based Modeling (ABM), a branch of simulation commonly used across the social sciences, to discuss the potential they see for ABM application to Management. Making the ideas behind ABMs and their uses accessible to non-experts, this panel will discuss ABMs’ uses: for theory creation and theory validation, at micro-and meso- levels of Management research, and within multi-methodological research contexts.

  PublisherDOI

• Is the Grass Greener?Strategic Implication of Moving Along the Value Chain for IT Service Provider

  Academy of Management Proceedings · 2017-08-01

  articleSenior author

  Information technology (IT) service providers are often advised to consider moving their service offerings along the value chain as a way to enhance their competitiveness. On the basis of this advice, service providers operating successfully at the lower end of the value chain have tried to expand into higher-order consulting services, while those operating higher up on the value chain have attempted expanding into more routinized services. In both cases, such efforts have been met with limited success. In this paper, we examine why this might be the case, using an agent-based model developed specifically for this purpose. As part of the model, we construct firm agents with three distinct strategic orientations (archetypes) operating at different parts of the value chain and endow them with resources of varying quality. We then examine the outcomes associated with these firms when they transition along the value chain. Our analysis shows that the success of such moves along the value chain is contingent on the interacting effects of three factors – the strategic orientation of the firm, resource costs and fungibility (the extent to which resources can be deployed across complex and standard projects), and the nature of competition in the existing and target market segment. We derive a set of propositions that identify the conditions that influence the nature of firm outcomes when they move up or down the value chain. Finally, the model also shows how ill-advised moves along the value chain can also encourage new entry by other firms by opening up niche areas. We conclude with a discussion of the managerial implications of our study based on these simulations as well as the potential for future research in empirically testing our propositions.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Mai P. Trinh

  The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

  1 shared

• Spiro Maroulis

  Arizona State University

  1 shared

• Balaji R. Koka

  Rice University

  1 shared

• Gretchen R. Vogelgesang

  San Jose State University

  1 shared

• Gabriela Cuconato

  Case Western Reserve University

  1 shared

• Sarah Wittman

  George Mason University

  1 shared

• Robert L. Axtell

  George Mason University

  1 shared

• Carmen Iasiello

  George Mason University

  1 shared

Awards & honors

• Nine Poole College Faculty Receive Summer Research Awards 20…
• Poole College Professors Recognized for Research and Teachin…