Robert H. Waterman Jr.
Robert H. Waterman Jr. is a renowned American business consultant and author who has helped numerous large corporations succeed against their competition. He is best known for the pathbreaking extensively researched book “In Search of Excellence” published in 1982, which he co-authored with his business partner Tom Peters. Having worked for McKinsey for more than twenty years, Waterman gained a close insight into the secrets of corporate success and developed an entire science around it. His theories have deeply influenced the fields of organizational behavior, organizational culture and marketing.
Born in 1928, Waterman enjoyed a privileged childhood growing up in Los Angeles and Arizona, living in the lap of luxury. He attended the elite Philips Exeter Academy and then went on to study at Harvard and Stanford, while earning degrees in economics and business. After completing his studies, Waterman joined management consulting firm McKinsey & Company in 1959 and was known to be their top consultant. During his two decades in the industry, Waterman helped various Fortune 500 companies to streamline their operations, increase profits and smooth the progress of products and services. Among the companies benefiting from his expertise were Walt Disney, American Express, and Kraft.
Waterman’s seminal work “In Search of Excellence” was based on eight years of research into 43 of America's best-managed companies, as well as case studies of some of the world's most successful organizations. It unleashed a revolution in business thinking, sparking radical changes in organizational behavior and providing invaluable insight into the secrets of success. The book identified eight shared characteristics among the best–run companies and suggested that those principles could be applied to any organization to create similar levels of success. The timeless ideas examined in the book include decentralization, an attitude of entrepreneurship, innovation, commitment to employees, customer-oriented focus, focus on quality and strong corporate cultures.
"In Search of Excellence" remains a key success tool even today, as its core principles can be applied to any organization. It also offers valuable lessons on how to manage change in order to create sustained competitive advantage. Waterman has also written other books including ‘The Renewal Factor’ which focuses on driving creative change in organizations, and has been featured in various magazines and newspapers.
Waterman’s expertise and invaluable contribution to organizational behavior and management are vast. His works are affecting the way business is conducted in organizations all over the world, making him one of the most influential figures in contemporary sociology, management science, and business. Till date, Robert H. Waterman Jr.’s books, consultancy, and teachings are helping countless organizations reach their peak potential of excellence.
