From the distinguished Charles Handy to the classic Philip Kotler to the outspoken Paul Krugman, and including such visionary leaders as Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, The Thinkers 50 reinforces the powerful influences business and popular culture have on each other. The Thinkers 50 is an international ranking of business thought leaders--scholars, educators, consultants, executives, economists, and social scientists--whose ideas set the agenda for management theory and practice and whose actions and recommendations influence commerce on a global scale. When it first appeared in 2001, through an on-line survey of business academics, practitioners, consultants, and journalists (asking the single question: "Who is the most important living management thinker?"), the ranking provoked debate, disappointment, and delight in equal measure. In 2003, a new survey confirmed many individuals as members of the management pantheon, while recognizing the contributions of those outside the field. With the third survey, conducted in 2005 (coincidentally, at the passing of the legendary Peter Drucker, who had topped the previous lists), for the first time a book is being produced, applying such criteria as "practicality of ideas" and "international outlook" to determine ranking, and featuring colorful, informative, and concise profiles of the fifty individuals whose ideas most profoundly influence business today. Each profile includes information on the subject's background and primary contributions, and lists key publications and web sites. Collectively, they reflect the state of the art in contemporary management thinking and its application, separating the people and ideas with lasting impact from thepassing fads. From students to entrepreneurs to seasoned executives, The Thinkers 50 provides a compendium of practical insights on the art and science of management.

Just some of the books featured:
Charles Babbage, On the Economy of Machinery and Manufactures (1832)- Meredith Belbin, Management Teams: Why They Succeed or Fail (1984) - Warren Bennis & Burt Nanus, Leaders (1985) - Jan Carlzon, Moments of Truth (1987) - James Champy & Michael Hammer, Reengineering the Corporation (1993) - Alfred Chandler, Strategy and Structure (1962) - Stan Davis & Christopher Meyer, Blur (1997) - Henry Ford, My Life and Work (1923) - Harold Geneen, Managing (1984) - Frank Gilbreth, Motion Study (1911) - Gary Hamel & C K Prahalad, Competing for the Future (1994) - Charles Handy, The Age of Unreason (1989) - Philip Kotler, Marketing Management (1967) - NicolA3 Machiavelli, The Prince (1513) - Henry Mintzberg, The Nature of Managerial Work (1973) - John Naisbitt, Megatrends (1982) - Taiichi Ohno, Toyota Production System (1978) - David Packard, The HP Way (1995) - Michael Porter, The Competitive Advantage of Nations (1990) - Frederick Reichheld, The Loyalty Effect (1996) - Peter Senge, The Fifth Discipline (1990) - Fons Trompenaars, Riding the Waves of Culture (1993) - Sun Tzu, The Art of War (500 BC) - Max Weber, The Theory of Social and Economic Organization (1924)

featuring:
IGOR ANSOFF - CHRIS ARGYRIS - CHESTER BARNARD - WARREN BENNIS - MARVIN BOWER - DALE CARNEGIE - JAMES CHAMPY - ALFRED CHANDLER - W. EDWARDS DEMING - PETER DRUCKER - LEIF EDVINSSON - HENRI FAYOL - MARY PARKER FOLLETT - HENRY FORD - HAROLD GENEEN - SUMANTRA GHOSHAL - DANIEL GOLEMAN - GARY HAMEL - CHARLES HANDY - BRUCE HENDERSON - FREDERICK HERZBERG - GEERT HOFSTEDE - ELLIOTT JAQUES - JOSEPH M. JURAN - ROSABETH MOSS KANTER - PHILIP KOTLER - JOHN KOTTER - TED LEVITT - KURT LEWIN - NICOLO MACHIAVELLI - ABRAHAM MASLOW - KONOSUKE MATSUSHITA - ELTON MAYO - DOUGLAS MCGREGOR - HENRY MINTZBERG - AKITO MORITA - JOHN NAISBITT - KENICHI OHMAE - DAVID PACKARD - RICHARD PASCALE - LAURENCE J. PETER - TOM PETERS - MICHAEL PORTER - EDGAR H. SCHEIN - PETER SENGE - ALFRED P. SLOAN - SUN-TZU - FREDERICK W. TAYLOR - ALVIN TOFFLER - ROBERT TOWNSEND - FONS TROMPENAARS -

"The Ultimate Book of Business Brands" contains a unique summary of the breakthrough brands that have captured the hearts and minds of people throughout the world. "The Ultimate Book of Business Brands" shows how apparently ordinary products and services are transformed into business legends. Brands have become one of the most powerful competitive weapons in the business arsenal, and this book will give you the inside track on just how these winning brands have been created and sustained.

Business strategy is perhaps the most important element of any organization and yet it is frequently misunderstood. Delving into this confusing subject Thinkers50 founders Stuart Crainer and Des Dearlove explore the realities of strategy and the ideas behind it with some of the world's greatest strategic minds, including C-suite veterans who have lived through the ups and downs of corporate life, and leading-edge business school thinkers. From Sun Tzu to Michael Porter via McKinsey and the Boston Consulting Group, What we mean when we talk about strategy offers authoritative and original insights into how best to devise and implement strategy. Join Crainer and Dearlove as they take an entertaining journey with Richard D'Aveni, who coined the word 'hypercompetition', and has switched his attention to strategies that deal with the technology revolution; with Alex Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur who champion their new and unique take on capturing strategy; with Rita McGrath who has bidden farewell to the concept of competitive advantage; and with Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne who created the concept of Blue Ocean Strategy. What we mean when we talk about strategy is a smorgasbord of ideas providing accessible, pithy inspiration for anyone who wants to plan, move forward and create a successful organization.

The World's Leading Business Minds on Today's Most Critical Challenges

Featuring Jim Collins, Daniel Goleman, Marshall Goldsmith, Stew Friedman, and others

""Thinkers50 is . . . the Oscars for ideas."" -- Professor Costas Markides, London Business School

Stuart Crainer and Des Dearlove, creators of Thinkers50, have personally interviewed top leaders from businesses around the globe--from CEOs of multinationals to successful sports coaches to people on the front lines of education.

In "Thinkers50 Leadership," the authors cull the best practices and most intriguing insights of today's top leadership experts to give you an edge on the competition. Chapters include: Crucibles of Leadership Level 5 Leadership The Real Thing Charisma and the Dark Side Followership Where Leaders Meet the World Leaders at Work

Each book in the Thinkers50 series provides authoritative explanations of the concepts, ideas, and practices that are making a difference today, including specific examples and cases drawn from the original sources.

The concept of leadership was once reserved for politics and the military. But as the authors write, "Leadership is now multifaceted rather than simply summed up in the dread words 'command and control.' Leadership is about feelings. Leadership is about emotions. Leadership is about those who follow. Leadership is about the people touched by the actions of leaders."

An in-depth exploration of a fascinating subject, "Thinkers50 Leadership" reveals the most innovative theories and concepts on the subject from the world's top leadership experts.

This text provides an introduction to brands and brand management and a practical guide to help the reader make the most from their brands, without losing out to their competition.