4 replies to this topic

[Simon]

From the Harvard Business Review - Dec 2003 - part 1
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Who are the Guru's Gurus? - Laurence Prusak and Thomas Davenport

* Survey of 200 business gurus as to their greatest influences.

1. Peter Drucker ('Management theorist')
2. James March (Stanford social scientist)
3. Herbert Simon (economist and org. theorist)
4. Paul Lawrence (org. researcher at Harvard)
5. Richard Beckhard (MIT Mgt. theorist)
6. Fernance Braubel (French historian)
7. Henry Mintzberg (McGill Mgt writer and critic)
8. Joseph Schumpeter (Harvard economist)
9. Karl Weick (Michegan social scientist)
10. Ackoff, Bennis, Coase, Deming, Goffman, Hamel, Lorsch, Porter, Prahalad, Welch [oh look, a businessperson], Williamson

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Very Interesting! I think it's safe to assume the survey was taken by 200 business gurus of North American origin. I wager the list is country specific and would look completely different in each country the survey was carried out. The possible exception is Peter Drucker who would make it onto most lists (he'd make it onto mine). And I know he is held in very high esteem by the business leaders of Tuvalu.

B)
Simon

P.S. Thanks to David Straker for the list.

[Wallace Tait]

Well,
I'm a Demingite of sorts yet, Peter Senge challeged the established thoughts and practices of business cultures here in North America.
Wallace.

[Simon]

After revisting the list there are some startling ommissions. What about Dr Stephen Covey. Covey's book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has sold more than 12 million copies in 32 languages and 75 countries throughout the world...yet not a mention.

And what about Tom Peters?

Simon

[Wallace Tait]

Coveys book was an excellent read yet, I felt it was almost evangelical in its approach to the human condition.
It can be a rather complex read and, it is IMO a book that is a merely a motivational read.
Wallace.

[Simon]

Coveys book was an excellent read yet, I felt it was almost evangelical in its approach to the human condition.
It can be a rather complex read and, it is IMO a book that is a merely a  motivational read.
Wallace.

I agree with you Covey's style is slightly evangelical and the seven habits is a motivational read...but it's not a bad one at that. Life's so hectic these days I find it quite difficult to find the time to sit down and read a book, so I usually listen to the tape version instead. For me I find this method more convenient and I actually think that I absorb the detail better this way (rewind).

Personally I found Covey's Principle Centred Leadership a much more interesting ‘listen' and IMO it is difficult to argue against the strategic merit of this work.

Principle Centred Leadership Discussion

By the way Happy Birthday Wallace I hope you have a great day.

Cheers,
Simon