50 Greatest Business Thinkers

If someone asked you who the greatest living management thinker is, you'd probably respond: Peter Drucker. And, according to "Thinkers 50, the Original Global Ranking of Business Thinkers," you would be right. But would you be able to come up with the next 49? And, what criteria would you use to judge them?

Using a combination of interviews, web surveys and press listings and judging by an expert panel, Thinkers 50 created an interesting list that tilts toward published thinkers (Tom Peters is #3, Bill Gates #20) and men (only 3 women: Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Naomi Kleinand Lynda Gra tton).

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the list is the criteria used to judge the selection as listed below.

Check out the list at and then think about the criteria below ... would you add or change anything? Is
there someone who should be on the list but isn't? Please add your thoughts in the comments section below.

The Measures

1. ORIGINALITY OF IDEAS
Are the ideas and examples used by the thinker original?

2. PRACTICALITY OF IDEAS
Have the ideas promoted by the thinker been implemented in
organizations? And, has the implementation been successful?

3. PRESENTATION STYLE
How proficient is the thinker at presenting his/her ideas orally?

4. WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
How proficient is the thinker at presenting his/her ideas in writing?

5. LOYALTY OF FOLLOWERS
How committed are the thinker's disciples to spreading the message and putting it to work?

6. BUSINESS SENSE
Do they practice what they preach in their own business?

7. INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK
How international are they in outlook and thinking?

8. RIGOR OF RESEARCH
How well researched are their books and presentations?

9. IMPACT OF IDEAS
Have their ideas had an impact on the way people manage or think about management?

10. GURU FACTOR
The clincher: are they, for better or worse, guru material by your definition and expectation?