Art Kleiner was formerly editor-in-chief of strategy+business.
All articles by Art Kleiner
Seeking the future’s supply chainFebruary 12, 2020 Li & Fung CEO Spencer Fung has explicitly championed a digital transformation of one of the world’s most influential supply chain solutions platforms.
To be a better leader, tell a different storyDecember 5, 2019 Business storyteller Annette Simmons explains how the right narrative can help leaders and listeners broaden their perspective and circle of concern.
A new business model for digitally adept companiesNovember 7, 2019 Management writer Ram Charan explains the benefits of managing by cash earnings per share.
Can you be a shaper of great institutions?October 3, 2019 Former Tata Group director R. Gopalakrishnan, who's written a new book, says the best leaders focus on building both a better business and a better world.
Creating a culture of learningAugust 21, 2019 Steelcase CEO Jim Keane explains how giving people work-space choices can make workplace behavior more human.
Rethinking Brand YouMay 24, 2019 Excellence provocateur Tom Peters sharpens the career advice he’s been giving for the past 20 years.
Chinese cars go globalApril 3, 2019 An Conghui, president of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group and CEO of Geely Auto Group, explains the future of flying cars and the value of an international brand.
Inside Symantec’s tech transformationFebruary 6, 2019 Symantec chief information officer Sheila Jordan has spent four years leading IT during one of Silicon Valley’s most noteworthy corporate change efforts.
Keeping cool under pressureNovember 21, 2018 For Greg Lehmkuhl, president and CEO of Lineage Logistics, temperature-controlled supply chains for perishables are one of the world’s next great platforms.
Simplicity, Synergy, and ScaleNovember 7, 2018 Natarajan Chandrasekaran, chair of Tata Sons, sets a strategic course for the 21st century.
Google in Paperback Form: The 50th Anniversary of the Whole Earth CatalogOctober 12, 2018 The entrepreneurial credo at the heart of Stewart Brand’s underground publication has shaped our world.
Leading a Company That Wants to Change Lives through SportsOctober 10, 2018 Adidas CEO Kasper Rørsted explains how to align business strategy and execution during a shift in global consumer demand.
A doctor’s prescription: Data may finally be good for your healthOctober 8, 2018 Robert Wachter, M.D., author of The Digital Doctor, is increasingly optimistic that technology can improve healthcare. Better strategic management of people, systems, and data is making a difference.
No Person Left BehindSeptember 27, 2018 What can be done when business and society marginalize those with cognitive decline?
Start Small and Think GloballySeptember 26, 2018 Brazilian media and private equity leader Eduardo Sirotsky Melzer has a message for high-tech, middle-market companies in emerging economies: This could be their moment.
How to Build a Stronger EconomySeptember 4, 2018 Jim Clifton, chief executive of Gallup Inc., has a robust theory about entrepreneurialism and economic recovery.
Living in a World of Walls: The Backlash to GlobalizationMay 21, 2018 A conversation with Ian Bremmer about nationalism and populism, which will remain potent political forces — at least until some fundamental issues are addressed.
Optimism and trust on the CEO’s mind
May 2, 2018 In PwC’s annual survey of chief executives around the world, respondents voiced confidence about economic growth and greater interest in corporate responsibility.
Why Latin American Business May (Finally) Be Ready for GrowthMarch 6, 2018 Bernardo Vargas Gibsone, CEO of the Colombian utility and construction company ISA, sees opportunity emerging from turmoil.
Overcoming Challenges during a Major TransformationFebruary 21, 2018 Michael Pennisi, the chief executive of QSuper, one of Australia’s largest pension funds, describes how to change direction at scale.
Unfit for Public Purpose: The Problem with Institutions TodayFebruary 6, 2018 A conversation with Ian Bremmer about what it will take for political and economic institutions to regain their credibility. Spoiler: It involves finding new models for solving global-scale problems.
At Oracle, Great Technology Is Not EnoughJanuary 12, 2018 In the first interview in this series, which kicks off PwC’s 2018 CEO Survey, chief executive Safra Catz explains the broad culture shift brought on by AI and cloud technologies.
The management styles in Pirates of the CaribbeanJanuary 9, 2018 And what they tell us about China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Industry 4.0, and Silicon Valley dynamics.
The Problem of Virtuous LeadershipDecember 6, 2017 According to Adam Smith scholar Ryan Patrick Hanley, executives can navigate today’s turbulence only by learning to see themselves as others might see them.
Jeremy Rifkin on How to Manage a Future of AbundanceNovember 13, 2017 The influential economic theorist looks ahead to a world of virtually free energy and zero marginal cost production, and to a desperate race against climate change.
The Monsters under the DeskOctober 30, 2017 The true test of a strategic leader is being able to recognize, and having the courage to eradicate, subtle problematic ideas.
What Happens When Machines Know More About People than People Do?October 16, 2017 Artificial intelligence may learn to track predispositions and personality traits, turning our inner personalities into a detectible second skin.
Are We on the Verge of a New Golden Age?August 28, 2017 A long-wave theory of technological and economic change suggests the financial malaise that began in 2007 may be about to end.
What the Body Tells Us about LeadershipAugust 7, 2017 In this Thought Leader interview, social presencing theater innovators Otto Scharmer and Arawana Hayashi describe how to develop your management skills through physical awareness.
Eileen Fisher and the personal side of leadershipJune 8, 2017 Is it fair to ask employees to embrace personal growth, on top of everything else they do? Yes, according to the apparel company CEO. See also “Eileen Fisher on Leadership: The Personal Side of Organizational Change.”
The Next Pop Superstar Just Might Be a RobotApril 26, 2017 Shelly Palmer, one of the world's leading digital-technology commentators, talks about the evolution of the entertainment and media industry.
Wanted: Ambidextrous LeadersApril 10, 2017 Leaders who fully understand strategy and execution are rare. Those who can make it work are even rarer. We’re looking for examples.
The Thought Leader Interview: GE’s Bill Ruh on the Industrial Internet RevolutionFebruary 1, 2017 During the next few years, says GE Digital’s leader, the Industrial Internet will turn every company into a digitally empowered enterprise.
The neuroscience of strategic leadershipDecember 5, 2016 Research shows how leaders can take the high road less traveled. See also “How Strategic Leaders Use Their Brain."
Inclusion Is More Strategic Than EverNovember 30, 2016 By setting your company up for growth, you have already made a strong, implicit commitment to diversity. The political events of 2016 could help you deliver on that promise.
The Forgiveness MandateNovember 4, 2016 The 2016 presidential election has shown that no secret is safe; we’d better learn to distinguish acceptable transgressions from non-acceptable ones.
Four Tracks to Market LeadershipOctober 24, 2016 Trends spotted by Strategy& suggest that companies in any industry can gain prominence by choosing the right approach.
In the Country of the MBAsAugust 24, 2016 What you need to learn before you start studying management.
Pro-LGBT Companies in Anti-LGBT CountriesAugust 2, 2016 A global study coauthored by NYU law professor Kenji Yoshino found a range of business benefits in promoting gender-identity rights.
The Way the Media Industry WorksJuly 5, 2016 Former NBC Universal CEO Bob Wright looks back on his two decades at GE — and forward to a post-broadcast, post-cable media world.
How Superbosses Can Transform Your Talent StrategyJune 7, 2016 For Dartmouth professor Syd Finkelstein, “glorious bastards” such as Larry Ellison, “iconoclasts” such as Alice Waters, and “nurturers” such as Jon Stewart are models for the next generation of leadership development.
Remembering Joel KurtzmanApril 10, 2016 A brief tribute to s+b’s founding editor, who died on April 6, 2016.
Danaher’s Instruments of ChangeFebruary 8, 2016 An s+b Roundtable: Highly focused and diversified, this industrial company grows through acquisition, customer-facing innovation, and continuous improvement.
Sovereign Wealth Funds Can Be Management LeadersJanuary 13, 2016 Two leaders of an Australian fund explain how they challenged deceptive messages about investment capability, and raised the game of the companies they work with.
The Next Big Questions in ManagementDecember 15, 2015 Analysts have been studying business organizations for more than a century. But our inquisitions are just beginning.
Bran Ferren on the Art of InnovationOctober 21, 2015 A celebrated proprietor of R&D ateliers explains how companies can cultivate the rare people who create miracles.
20 Questions for Business LeadersAugust 24, 2015 The entire history of management ideas can be seen as a series of answers to a few pragmatic queries.
Are Marshall Goldsmith’s Triggers the Only Way to Change?June 23, 2015 The world’s most eminent executive coach demonstrates the high level of discipline needed for sustainable leadership development.
Mark Bertolini’s Preventive Disruption
April 13, 2015 For Aetna’s CEO, the lauded move to raise employee wages is just part of a broader strategy to adapt to changes in healthcare.
Ellen Langer on the value of mindfulness in businessFebruary 9, 2015 A pioneer in mindfulness research says that companies can promote innovation and their own rejuvenation by setting the right context. And watch the video “Mindfulness for Senior Executives.”
The Talents of the NeurodiverseNovember 24, 2014 Arguments over the value of autism could affect our view of the purpose of business.
China’s Philosopher-CEO Zhang RuiminNovember 10, 2014 Haier’s leader describes how he built a winning global company by continually reframing his management philosophy.
Joel Kurtzman’s Case for Economic OptimismOctober 13, 2014 The founding editor of strategy+business argues that the United States is about to launch an epic new wave of growth.
Remembering Warren BennisAugust 13, 2014 A consummate humanist and pioneer of management thought leadership has passed away.
Thomas Malone on Building Smarter TeamsMay 12, 2014 The head of MIT’s Center for Collective Intelligence explains how the social intelligence factor is critical for business success.
A New Life for strategy+businessApril 3, 2014 Our firm, now called Strategy&, joins the PwC network.
The Importance of Being MindfulMarch 11, 2014 It’s not just a trend; companies can be more effective by fostering contemplative awareness in every aspect of their processes and practices.
Why We Should Deregulate the GovernmentDecember 10, 2013 To be effective, a government needs the same thing as a business: good management.
The Dynamic Capabilities of David TeeceNovember 11, 2013 To U.C. Berkeley's long-standing strategy thinker, companies gain an edge only when they evolve in ways no one else can match.
A Tribute to Four Elders: Engelbart, Seashore, Seashore, and BurnsNovember 1, 2013 These four excelled at making meaningful connections in a world where that matters more than ever.
What Executives Really Mean When They Talk About ChangeOctober 1, 2013 When business leaders talk about organizational change, they’re really pursuing an ideal.
The Lesson of J.C. Penney: There Is No King September 13, 2013 Fights in the boardroom between shareholders and management highlight one important question—who gets to call the shots?
Why Things Fail (And Why They Get Better)July 19, 2013 Steve Capps’s award-winning article is an essential primer for anyone trying to understand manufacturing.
Douglas Rushkoff Makes the Digital Economy Work for YouJuly 16, 2013 The social theorist on why new technologies are ushering in a paradigm shift, and how the transition will redefine how business is done.
Summer Camp for Systems ThinkersJuly 8, 2013 Introducing Camp Snowball, where teachers learn the hidden interactions that separate success from failure.
An Index to the Best Thinking in BusinessJune 11, 2013
Welcome to strategy+business’s new blog.
The Thought Leader Interview: David Kantor May 28, 2013 An eminent systems therapist says that learning to recognize the hidden patterns in conversation is the first step toward more effective executive leadership.
The Discipline of Managing DisruptionMarch 11, 2013 To Harvard professor Clayton Christensen, coauthor of How Will You Measure Your Life?, a primary task of leadership is asking questions that anticipate great challenges.
The Thought Leader Interview: Cynthia MontgomeryFebruary 26, 2013 A Harvard Business School professor observes that leaders become better strategists by engaging in conversations about the purpose of a company.
The Dueling Myths of BusinessFebruary 26, 2013 Author and scenario planning expert Betty Sue Flowers dissects the attitudes and beliefs that unconsciously influence leaders.
What Drives a Company’s Success?February 4, 2013 Booz & Company and strategy+business have introduced an online survey to explore the relationship between management theory, corporate identity, and high performance.
The Thought Leader Interview: Douglas Conant August 28, 2012 The coauthor of TouchPoints and former CEO of Campbell Soup Company explains how executives build their company’s capabilities by connecting with people more effectively.
Brand Transformation on the InternetJune 25, 2012 To Aaron Shapiro, CEO of the digital agency Huge, online marketing means creating immersive environments where people go to get their problems solved.
The Thought Leader Interview: Dov SeidmanMay 29, 2012 The influential business author and CEO explains why the practice of enlightened self-governance gives companies an edge.
How Ikea Reassembled Its Growth StrategyMay 7, 2012 During the Great Recession, this iconic Swedish furniture company developed a new way to expand: cutting costs while increasing customer loyalty.
The Thought Leader Interview: Bob Carrigan
February 13, 2012 Media pioneer Bob Carrigan, of IDG Communications and the Interactive Advertising Bureau, explains why new media is the most optimistic part of the economy.
The Thought Leader Interview: Meg WheatleyNovember 22, 2011 An expert on innovative leadership warns that too many companies are reverting to fear-driven management. Instead, executives should hold to their values and build healthy corporate communities.
The Case for Intelligent Industrial Policy August 23, 2011 Economic strategist Clyde Prestowitz argues for better support for manufacturing.
The Art of the Business NarrativeMay 24, 2011 Hollywood producer, executive, and entrepreneur Peter Guber makes the case that telling purposeful stories is an essential skill for leaders.
A Long-Wave Theory on Today’s Digital RevolutionMay 16, 2011 Historian Elin Whitney-Smith looks at previous periods of disruption to understand what companies (and people) are going through today.
How to balance power and loveMarch 7, 2011 Scenario planning and social change expert Adam Kahane suggests that to master large and difficult challenges, leaders need to learn to act and empathize simultaneously.
The Thought Leader Interview: Didier LombardFebruary 22, 2011 The former chairman of the board of France Télécom says telecommunications companies must outpace — or be inundated by — the coming explosion in data traffic.
A Corporate Climate of Mutual Help
January 19, 2011 Edgar Schein, MIT’s sage of organizational culture, explains why the quest for accountability should start with interdependence.
15 Years, 50 Classics November 15, 2010 To celebrate a decade and a half of publication, we asked the s+b editors to look back and choose the articles that have had the greatest impact.
The Coherence ProfilerNovember 8, 2010 An interactive diagnostic test can show you how focused your company’s activities are — with sometimes surprising results.
The Thought Leader Interview: Vineet Nayar
October 18, 2010 The CEO of HCL Technologies describes how he focused his company on growth by engaging staff in unprecedented ways.
A Gandhian Approach to R&DAugust 24, 2010 Scientist and scholar Raghunath Mashelkar explains a new model of innovation from India that benefits the world’s poor.
The Life’s Work of a Thought Leader August 9, 2010 In interviews conducted before his untimely death, C.K. Prahalad — the sage of core competencies and the bottom of the pyramid — looked back on his career and talked about the way ideas evolve.
A Return, Not to Normal, but to Reality July 26, 2010 Mark Anderson, the high-tech industry’s most accurate prognosticator, foresees an economic landscape still under the stress of too much liquidity — and decision makers still in denial.
Surviving State Capitalism
May 25, 2010 Political risk expert Ian Bremmer argues that the prevailing Western corporate model faces stiff competition from government-controlled economies.
The Thought Leader Interview: Manfred F.R. Kets de Vries
May 10, 2010 INSEAD’s expert on leadership development clarifies how self-awareness can break the destructive pattern of corporate narcissism.
The Organization Is AliveApril 5, 2010 To change an organization from within, it helps to understand four basic circulatory systems, analogous to the channels of communication in a living body.
Getting China RightMarch 22, 2010 Booz & Company’s Edward Tse believes that, despite the challenges in today’s headlines, companies should take a long-term view when shaping their China strategy.
Management by ReflectionMarch 15, 2010 Managing author Henry Mintzberg believes that to improve business schools, we must first understand the essence of what managers do.
When Disruptive Integration Comes to Health CareMarch 1, 2010 For The Innovator’s Prescription coauthor Jason Hwang, the real solution to health-care costs lies in the business models that incumbent companies have not yet embraced — but can no longer ignore.
The Thought Leader Interview: Erik BrynjolfssonFebruary 23, 2010 MIT’s theorist of productivity draws a link between innovation in management practice and ongoing prosperity.
The Evolution of Technology January 4, 2010 To economist W. Brian Arthur, the value of innovation depends on harnessing the natural progression of shared knowledge.
The Thought Leader Interview: Gretchen DailyNovember 24, 2009 A leading proponent of natural capital valuation says we can build long-term prosperity by assigning prices to the ecosystems next door.
The Thought Leader Interview: Tim BrownAugust 27, 2009 The CEO of Silicon Valley–based design firm IDEO contends that elegant, customer-centric design stems from a simple set of thinking practices.
A “Hands-on” Approach to Surviving the RecessionJune 23, 2009 Noble Group CEO Richard Elman discusses risk, opportunity, and his growth strategy for the commodities business.
Esther Dyson: The Thought Leader InterviewMay 26, 2009 A long-standing champion of high-tech innovation foresees a fundamental shift toward more transparent institutions and a more relationship-driven economy.
Making It Easy to Do the Right ThingMarch 3, 2009 In recovering from a crisis, ethical business practice and high performance aren’t opposed.
The Age of Heretics: Lessons from Three Generations of Management ThinkersFebruary 24, 2009 The most valuable management principles and practices often started as countercultural — and many continue to be. In this Webinar, Art Kleiner will discuss the nature of corporations and the role of the heretics — the people who raise difficult questions on behalf of the organizations they work for. These days, with conventional wisdom failing, heretics are needed more than ever.
The Age of Heretics: Lessons from Three Generations of Management ThinkersFebruary 24, 2009
7 Ways ForwardFebruary 24, 2009 How to rebuild your capabilities for long-term growth in a time of turmoil.
Fulvio Conti: The Thought Leader InterviewAugust 26, 2008 The CEO of Europe’s second-largest utility says that energy companies must adapt in a fast-changing global marketplace.
Anyone Around Here Nervous?March 25, 2008 Public relations guru Robert Dilenschneider on getting ahead when everyone else is concerned about falling behind.
Pankaj Ghemawat: The thought leader interviewFebruary 26, 2008 The seer of “semiglobalization” argues for appreciating regional distinctions.
Signals for the Coming YearJanuary 22, 2008 Change may be certain, but for a business decision maker, some changes have more impact than others. Here are eight trends that will make the greatest difference in 2008.
A Blueprint for Strategic LeadershipNovember 28, 2007 How to build an organization in which executives will flourish.
Fearlessness: The Last Organizational Change StrategySeptember 25, 2007 Corporate courage has faltered in the wake of September 11, 2001, and the dot-com crash. Management expert Margaret Wheatley says that leaders must face reality — and maybe abandon e-mail.
The Thought Leader Interview: Anne-Marie SlaughterAugust 29, 2007 The dean of Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School shows how networks are fundamentally changing the nature of government.
Covering the Cost of WarJuly 17, 2007 Robert Hormats, an international finance expert and the author of The Price of Liberty: Paying for America's Wars, describes the problems with current U.S. fiscal policy, and how to adjust the country's spending for present and future global battles.
Two Paths to MasteryMay 29, 2007
Joseph Ellis: The Thought Leader InterviewFebruary 28, 2007 The author of Ahead of the Curve explains the mysteries of the business cycle.
William G. Ouchi: The Thought Leader InterviewMay 30, 2006 A champion of decentralized management shows how better education means competitive advantage, but only if school principals are treated like business unit managers.
Carlota Perez: The Thought Leader InterviewNovember 29, 2005 According to this influential long-wave theorist, the world is due for a technological and economic boom that truly lifts all boats. When? That’s up to us.
Our 10 Most Enduring IdeasNovember 29, 2005 To celebrate s+b’s 10th anniversary, we looked back at the conceptual breakthroughs that appeared in this magazine — and invited our readers to vote on which were most likely to last.
Daniel Yankelovich: The Thought Leader InterviewAugust 26, 2005 America’s most eminent pollster says the current epidemic of business scandals must be healed through a shift in norms, not laws.
Materials WitnessesAugust 26, 2005 When companies come together to save the world, what’s more compelling — environmental results or competitive advantage?
Leaning Toward UtopiaMay 25, 2005 The Toyota Production System has revolutionized industry. James Womack and Daniel Jones believe it can transform the world.
Beware the Product Death CycleMarch 1, 2005 The quality wars were allegedly won in the 1980s. Why, then, are we again overwhelmed by junk?
Recombinant InnovationNovember 30, 2004 The best new product ideas are hatched by collaboration, not soloists.
The Philosopher of Progress and ProsperityJune 1, 2004 Peruvian economist Hernando de Soto has found a way to enrich the poor.
The World’s Most Exciting AccountantJune 1, 2004 NYU Professor Baruch Lev finds vast value in intangible assets.
Build Your Organizational EquityMay 20, 2003 There’s more to wealth creation than financial value. Think what rainmaking, reputation, and relationships can do for you and your company.
The Man Who Saw the FutureFebruary 12, 2003 As the pace of change in business accelerates, the legacy of Pierre Wack, the father of scenario planning, is more relevant than ever.
Karen Stephenson’s Quantum Theory of TrustOctober 11, 2002 Companies can analyze, engineer, and elevate their own human networks, says the pioneering social scientist.
Apocalypse 2010?October 10, 2002 Populist gadfly Jeff Gates wants today’s CEOs to build a new middle class with stock ownership plans. Or else.
Diary of a Change AgentJuly 15, 2002 You don’t have to be a CEO to create an environment that supports action. You just need a flair for imaginative networking.
Professor Chandler’s RevolutionApril 9, 2002 To the world’s most renowned business historian, what you know is more important than what you do.
Core Group TherapyApril 9, 2002 In every company, an insider set of managers influences decision making. In some cases, that’s healthy, in others (witness Enron), it’s a nightmare.
What Are the Measures That Matter?January 9, 2002 A 10-year debate between two feuding gurus sheds some light on a vexing business question.
Climbing to Greatness with Jim CollinsOctober 1, 2001 The management scholar put 1,435 good companies through a rigorous performance analysis and discovered only 11 became great. Here’s why.
The Bottom Line on EthicsOctober 1, 2001 For executives who want to do good and do well, some long-awaited guidebooks.
Jack Stack’s Story Is an Open BookJuly 1, 2001 A small Ozarks manufacturer has a message for big companies: Open-book management can increase productivity and release entrepreneurial spirit.
The Cult of Three CulturesJuly 1, 2001 The sum of operational, executive, and engineering cultures is greater than the corporate whole.
Zealot Profile: Siegfried WoldhekApril 1, 2001 World Wide Fund for Nature, The Netherlands
Director, Action Network
The Dilemma DoctorsApril 1, 2001 Anglo-Dutch gurus Fons Trompenaars and Charles Hampden-Turner have become the go-to guys on multinational mergers. Their recipe: making opposites attract.
Strike Up the BrandApril 1, 2001 Tom Peters galvanized a free-agent nation with his manifesto, “The Brand Called You.” But there is something missing from his vision: us.
Elliott Jaques Levels With YouJanuary 1, 2001 The controversial Canadian theorist claims he can create the perfect organization. Has he found the key to management — or merely a justification for bureaucracy?
The Tyranny of "Community"October 1, 2000 By imposing togetherness and teamwork across divisional boundaries, companies risk losing the people whose tacit knowledge actually drives growth.
Revisiting ReengineeringJuly 1, 2000 Heralded as the corporation's savior, BPR was later condemned as a heartless, failed management fad. But perhaps evangelists like Michael Hammer needed to go even farther.
Does Six Sigma Belong in Sixth Grade?April 1, 2000 For business/school partnerships to work, companies have to listen, as well as teach.
Corporate Culture in Internet TimeJanuary 1, 2000 The foundation of the company is no longer the company: It's the team.
Philip Bobbitt: The Thought Leader InterviewThe constitutional scholar and national security expert defines a new era of market statehood.
Diversity and Its DiscontentsDiverse workplaces require emotional maturity, and that means confronting “rankism.”
GE’s Next WorkoutThe industrial giant’s legendary learning center, Crotonville, has a new assignment: Teach every manager to be a strategist.
Making Patient Capital Pay OffWhat transforms a craze into sustained growth? Trust.
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