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.
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):
VISIBILITY (IMPACT):
Nominations are accepted between 1 May and 30 June in odd-numbered years.
The architect of disruptive innovation, twice topped the Thinkers50 rankings, in 2013 and 2011.
As the world’s foremost authority on innovation, Christensen is best known for his theory of disruptive innovation. His work explores how innovative approaches can lead to organizational transformation and create valuable new sources of growth. Christensen’s analysis of the ongoing failure of economic developments to generate sustainable growth – the prosperity paradox – shows how market-creating innovation holds the key to national prosperity.
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…
Leading expert on strategy and innovation, teaches how to facilitate and execute breakthrough ideas to generate growth…
Socratic advisor to leaders, focusing on what makes a business great and not just good; introduced five levels of leadership and the flywheel effect…
The father of modern business strategy, and the most cited scholar today in economics and business…
Prolific researcher providing valuable insights in strategy, governance, democratic capitalism, and social innovation.
One of the world’s leading executive educators, coaches, and authors, who was inducted into the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame in 2018…
Originator of the strengths movement, who challenges and inspires people to find and apply their strengths…
One of the world’s leading authorities on the impact of technology on business and society, pioneer in the advancement of the blockchain…
Malcolm Gladwell is an award winning staff writer for the New Yorker magazine. He is also the author of several best-selling books.
An economist and founding president of the Center for Work-Life Policy, a non-profit think-tank, Sylvia Ann Hewlett is the author or co-author of 11 books.
Psychologist, with a unique focus on organizational change, and the movement of business from a competitive to a more collaborative work space…
Nitin Nohria is the dean of Harvard Business School. Prolific and insightful, his books include Driven: How Human Nature Shapes our Choices (2001)…
Best known as the originators of the Balanced Scorecard, a strategic management tool that links a company’s current actions with its long-term goals…
Bureaucracy buster, champion of management revolution, and advocate for innovation as the driver of wealth creation…
Top expert on leadership and innovation, focused on global strategies, and how to harness creativity and engagement for strategic implementation…
Marketing pioneer, unleashing the power of the consumer and the importance of building trust, connections, and positioning in the market place…
Teresa Amabile is the Edsel Bryant Ford Professor of Business Administration in the Entrepreneurial Management Unit at Harvard Business School…
Globally recognized expert on strategy, innovation, and entrepreneurship; champion of harnessing disruptive influences for competitive advantage…
Shortlisted for the 2013 Thinkers50 Strategy Award, Richard Rumelt is the Harry and Elsa Kunin Chair in Business and Society at UCLA Anderson School…
Expert on competitive dynamics and disruptive production, and a powerful voice on the future impact of technology…
Jeffrey Pfeffer is the Thomas D. Dee II professor of organizational behavior at Stanford University Graduate School of Business…
Dave Ulrich, a professor at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business, at the University of Michigan, has a prodigious output of HR, leadership…
Born in Baltimore in 1942 “with a lacrosse stick in one hand and oars over my shoulder,” Peters resided in California, mainly Silicon Valley…
A master of strategic and practical insights focusing on leadership and responsible capitalism…
Lee Kong Chian Professor of Marketing at Singapore Management University & Distinguished Fellow, Emerging Markets Institute at INSEAD.
Strategy professor and globalization expert, renowned for his robust analysis of global trends…
Distinguished authority on leadership and career development, advocating the importance of strategic networks, and the value of collaboration…
Recognized expert on the science of motivation, the science of timing, and the business zeitgeist; writes and creates at the intersection of work…
Henry Mintzberg is Cleghorn Professor of Management Studies, at the Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill University in Montreal….
Professor of strategic and international management and holds the Robert P. Bauman Chair of Strategic Leadership at the London Business School…
Triple Pulitzer Prize winner best known for his work on globalization and as an op-ed columnist for the New York Times.
Leading analyst of the changing workforce, with a focus on generational differences, and how organizations can engage the hearts and minds of their employees…
John Kotter is a world-recognized expert on change management and leadership. He is the Konosuke Matsushita emeritus professor at Harvard Business School.
Pioneer and champion of psychological safety, studies people, projects and organizations to uncover the secrets of succesful teaming…
Achieved fame as the authors of Funky Business – Talent Makes Capital Dance (1999) and collaborated on Funky Business Forever: How to enjoy capitalism (2007).
Howard Gardner is the John H. and Elisabeth A. Hobbs professor of cognition and education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Innovation thought leader who launched the “open innovation” paradigm; his research focuses on technology management and innovation strategy…
Author, psychologist, and science journalist, Daniel Goleman is best known as the champion of Emotional Intelligence.
Vineet Nayar is the vice chairman and CEO of HCL Technologies, a global information technology services company based in India.
The Marvin Bower professor of leadership development at Harvard Business School.
Author of the award winning Riding the Waves of Culture, Understanding Cultural Diversity in Business ( with Charles Hampden-Turner, 1994).
Professor emeritus at the University of Warwick in the UK and speaks to audiences throughout the world on the creative challenges facing business and education.
Andrew Kakabadse is one of the world’s leading experts on top teams, boardroom effectiveness and governance practice.
“Total leadership” guru, award-winning teacher, and best-selling author who explores how good leadership goes hand in hand with a richer life…
Adrian Slywotzky is a consultant and author of several books on economic theory and management. He is best known for his work on profitability and growth…
Stephen Covey is best known for his 1989 book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. The modern equivalent of Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends…
Leading expert on choice, studying the factors that influence the choices we make and how choice and meaning are intertwined…
Director of Havas Media Lab, founder of Bubblegeneration, and frequent tweeter and contributor to the online Harvard Business Review.
“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….
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