Old economy wisdom has most influence on global business - 07/2001

First ever ranking of the worldís management gurus released by FT dynamo exposes digital experts lack of influence.

Ninety-two-year old Peter Drucker is ranked top in the first-ever global ranking of management gurus released recently by the leading business and management portal FTdynamo, in association

with Suntop Media. Irish-born Charles Handy ranked number 2, planting a European flag amongst an American dominated table. In a closely fought battle among the strategy gurus Harvardís Michael Porter took 3rd place overall, with Gary Hamel one place behind at 4th. Former McKinsey consultant Tom Peters was ranked number 5.

Among the surprises were South African statesman Nelson Mandela, securing 43rd place; Scott Adams, the creator of the Dilbert cartoons, dealing a blow to the serious business thinkers by securing 31st place; and Alan Greenspan, ranked 28th for his deft touch as chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve.

The Thinkers 50 Survey aims to establish who has the greatest influence on business thinking from the boardroom to the shop floor. It provides the first ever ranking of the top 50 business thinkers in the world.

The resounding finding of the survey was that old economy thinking still exerts most influence, with new economy gurus failing to topple their more senior rivals. And academics dominated the table taking seven of the top ten places, only leaving space at the top for GE boss Jack Welch, Microsoft chief Bill Gates and Tom Peters. Only a few technology gurus made the top 50 with MIT Media Lab founder Nicholas Negroponte (16) topping the rankings amongst new economy thinkers.

Pradeep Jethi, Head of FTdynamo commented, ìBusiness and management influence will no doubt evolve, however, the old economy gurusí knowledge and expertise means that they still have most resonance with businesses today.î

Business practitioners featured strongly in the ranking, with Jack Welch and Bill Gates in the top 10. They were pursued by a pack of CEOs and former CEOs from the IT industry. Intelís Andy Grove, (24), was just ahead of Michael Dell (25), and Amazonís Jeff Bezos (30).

European practitioners also did well, with former Asea Brown Boveri boss Percy Barnevik, at 19th, and Virgin boss Richard Branson is 29th. Another colorful leader, Southwest Airlineís Herb Kelleher, is 49th.

ìManagement thinkers exert huge influence over companies, individuals and entire countries,î observes Des Dearlove of Suntop Media. ìThe Thinkers 50 provide a ranking of their relative merits and influence, and is a useful benchmark of whoís in and whoís out in this multi-million dollar industry.î

The Thinkers 50, based on an international email survey which had over 400 respondents, and the deliberations of an expert panel, ranked top business gurus in 10 categories: originality of ideas; practicality of ideas; presentation style; written communication; loyalty of followers; business sense; international outlook; rigor of research; impact of ideas; and guru factor.

www.FTdynamo.com