ranking

For over 20 years, Thinkers50 has been identifying, ranking, and sharing the very best in management thinking.

ABOUT THE RANKING

About the Thinkers50 Ranking

Published every two years, the Thinkers50 Ranking is the definitive list of the most influential management thinkers in the world and answers one simple question: who is the world’s most influential living management thinker?

Nominations for the Thinkers50 Ranking are open from May to July in the years that the ranking takes place (odd-numbered years). The public is invited to participate in the online nomination process by submitting the names and qualifications of thinkers they wish to put forward for consideration. Nominations are accepted and encouraged from individuals and organisations across the globe.

All nominations for the Thinkers50 Ranking are considered by the Thinkers50 Panel of Advisors. Each new ranking is announced at the Thinkers50 Awards Gala held in November every other year, culminating in a countdown of the top 10.

The Thinkers50 Ranking uses a proprietary methodology for evaluating management thinking. Thinkers50 founders Stuart Crainer and Des Dearlove lead the process, with input and review from the Thinkers50 advisors. The criteria are evaluated on a weighted basis taking account of the thinker’s performance over the long term, as well as over the two years since the previous ranking.

SELECTION PROCESS

Thinkers50 Ranking: The Selection Process

The methodology is organised by two broad concepts: Viability – the quality and relevance of ideas; and Visibility – the influence and impact of ideas in the world. These concepts are quantified using 10 criteria.

VIABILITY (THE 4RS):

  • Relevance (applicability to current issues and management practice)
  • Rigour (quality of research and theory)
  • Reach (international reach and reach across sectors)
  • Resilience (the durability of ideas in a rapidly changing global economy).

VISIBILITY (IMPACT):

  • Influence (a measure of citations and references)
  • Media coverage and profile (traditional and social media)
  • Presence (public speaking profile and popularity)
  • Communication skills (image, accessibility, and dissemination)
  • Affiliations (associated networks and institutions)
  • Tools and techniques (practical applications).

Nominations are accepted between 15 May and 31 July in odd-numbered years.

Thinkers50 Ranking 2019

#1 W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne

Inventors of the ground-breaking “blue ocean strategy”, paving the way for organizations to break out of fixed market boundaries and create a whole new space.  

Kim and Mauborgne’s blue ocean strategy pioneered a way to create and capture new, uncontested market space. They coined the terms “red ocean” – the known, competitive market within industry boundaries – and “blue ocean” – the unknown and uncontested market space, where demand is created, spawning new opportunities and growth. Kim and Mauborgne also developed the concept of “non disruptive creation”, challenging the notion that innovation must be disruptive.

#2Roger L. Martin

Prolific researcher providing valuable insights in strategy, governance, democratic capitalism, and social innovation…

#3Amy Edmondson

Pioneer and champion of psychological safety, studies people, projects and organizations to uncover the secrets of succesful teaming…

#4 Alex Osterwalder & Yves Pigneur

The brains behind the world-renowned “business model canvas” – instrumental in helping new businesses put strategy into practice…

#5 Rita McGrath

Globally recognized expert on strategy, innovation, and entrepreneurship; champion of harnessing disruptive influences for competitive advantage…

#6Daniel Pink

Recognized expert on the science of motivation, the science of timing, and the business zeitgeist; writes and creates at the intersection of work…

#7Richard D’Aveni

Expert on competitive dynamics and disruptive production, and a powerful voice on the future impact of technology…

#8 Erik Brynjolfsson & Andrew McAfee

Launched into the thought leadership stratosphere in 2014 with The Second Machine Age, their work continues to provide a road-map for success in a digital economy.

#9Scott D. Anthony

Leading adviser on innovation and champion of “dual transformation” strategy, helping businesses to turn disruption into advantage…

#10 Adam Grant

Specialist in organizational psychology, focusing on originality, motivation, non-conformity, generosity, meaningful work, and success…

#11 Simon Sinek

Leadership visionary with the intent to change how business leaders think, act, and operate, to create environments in which people work at their natural best…

#12 Eric Ries

Best-selling author, entrepreneur, and business visionary, applying lean business principles to the reinvention of Wall Street…

#13 Lynda Gratton

Psychologist, with a unique focus on organizational change, and the movement of business from a competitive to a more collaborative work space…

#14 Whitney Johnson

Expert on the powers of disruption, and the ways to grasp the opportunities of change, starting with the personal…

#15 Zhang Ruimin

World-renowned entrepreneur, creating a unique, innovative, evolving business model that fuses management philosophies of east and west…

#16 Hal Gregersen

Catalytic questioner and global innovator, exploring how asking the right questions builds leadership and innovation, and drives purposeful change…

#17 Liz Wiseman

Best-selling author, proponent of talent development through leadership, advocates the power of harnessing collective intelligence…

#18 Herminia Ibarra

Distinguished authority on leadership and career development, advocating the importance of strategic networks, and the value of collaboration…

#19 Pankaj Ghemawat

Strategy professor and renowned globalization expert, renowned for his robust analysis of global trends…

#20Martin Lindstrom

International branding expert, who has led deep research into the minds of buyers, applying insights from neuroscience to develop the concept of “buyology”…

#21Francesca Gino

Award-winning professor, researcher, and author, focused on how people can have more productive, creative, fulfilling lives…

#22Linda Hill

Top expert on leadership and innovation, focused on global strategies, and how to harness creativity and engagement for strategic implementation…

#23Steve Blank

Serial entrepreneur, and creator of the customer development method that launched the renowned lean startup movement…

#24Subir Chowdhury

“The quality prophet”, and best-selling author on “six sigma” philosophy, with insightful research on how quality affects all levels of business function and public policy….

#25Anil Gupta & Haiyan Wang

Global strategists, experts on entrepreneurship and the transformational rise of emerging markets, foremost China and India…

#26Morten Hansen

Author, professor, and management theorist, with award-winning work on social networks, collaboration, knowledge management, and corporate innovation…

#27Nilofer Merchant

Prominent thought leader and strategist on the future of work in the social era, advocating for people in a technology-driven workspace…

#28Ming Zeng

Global strategy expert, advocating the value of total transparency in the high-tech online market in China and beyond…

#29Michael Watkins

Leadership transition expert, creating specific strategies to help professionals deal with both personal adaptive changes and organizational change challenges…

#30Rachel Botsman

World-renowned expert on the explosive new era of trust and technology and what this means for life, work, and how we do business…

#31Gary Hamel

Bureaucracy buster, champion of management revolution, and advocate for innovation as the driver of wealth creation…

#32Erin Meyer

Specialist on cross-cultural management, her evaluation of different cultures has resulted in a strategic framework for organizations seeking international success…

#33Susan David

Award-winning psychologist who applies her knowledge of emotions, human motivation, and change to individuals and organizations…

#34Seth Godin

Marketing pioneer, unleashing the power of the consumer and the importance of building trust, connections, and positioning in the market place…

#35Amy Cuddy

Best-selling author, award-winning lecturer, and social psychology expert on the behavioural science of power, presence, and prejudice…

#36Marshall Van Alstyne & Geoff Parker

Developed the concept of two-sided markets, which is used extensively in platform business models, and delivered the first comprehensive analysis…

#37Gianpiero Petriglieri

Expert on leadership and learning in the workplace, notably leadership in the age of “nomadic professionalism”, and broadening…

#38Marcus Buckingham

Originator of the strengths movement, who challenges and inspires people to find and apply their strengths…

#39Frederic Laloux

Former business coach who has sparked a global movement of organizations adopting radically more powerful – and soulful – management practices…

#40Gary P. Pisano

Mastering the art of sustaining growth in large companies through the creation of a strategy, system and culture of innovation…

#41Jim Collins

Socratic advisor to leaders, focusing on what makes a business great and not just good; introduced five levels of leadership and the flywheel effect…

#42Sheena Iyengar

Leading expert on choice, studying the factors that influence the choices we make and how choice and meaning are intertwined…

#43Stew Friedman

“Total leadership” guru, award-winning teacher, and best-selling author who explores how good leadership goes hand in hand with a richer life…

#44Sydney Finkelstein

Award-winning professor renowned for his research on leadership, strategy, and corporate governance and how to become a “superboss”…

#45Julian Birkinshaw

Recognised expert on innovation, entrepreneurship, and renewal in large corporations; prolific author making unique contributions on work practices…

#46David Burkus

Leadership, innovation, and strategy podcaster; author, speaker, and educator on working smarter to improve your work and life…

#47Heidi Grant

Neuroscience-based talent strategist – teaching us the science of human performance, motivation, and decision-making…

#48Dorie Clark

Self-reinvention and branding expert, showing others how to take control of their professional lives and make an impact on the world…

#49Michael Jacobides

Champion of business ecosystems and digital platforms, collaboration and partnership; specialist on corporate turnarounds and organizational transformation…

#50 Tiffani Bova

Top influencer in customer experience, digital transformation, business model innovation, and the future of work…

Thinkers50 Ranking 2019

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