This book arose out of Monica’s research into the five year career histories of 3200 biotech executives. She discovered that one firm–Baxter–spawned about 25% of the future leaders of the biotech industry. This phenomena–one organization that spawned an industry–had also occurred in the semiconductor industry with HP and Fairchild but to date there has been no suitable explanation of why and how these organizations were able to create the next generation of industry leaders. Monica took up this challenge and explains this phenomena through her concept of “Career Imprints.” Career Imprints are the result of a unique combination of the systems, structure, strategy, and culture of an employer that together drives the early career path of individuals. When these individuals move, they often take the “imprint” of their former employer with them. In this book, Monica uses the stories of Baxter alumni and their career experiences to provide the primary source of insight into the processes and consequences of career imprinting; other organization that acted as “spawners” specifically, Abbott, J are used as comparisons. By understanding career imprints and how they are formed, Monica helps leaders and organizations to understand what it takes to create great leaders.
Book Details:
- Author: Monica C. Higgins
- ISBN: 9780470232743
- Year Published: 2005
- Pages: 416
- BISAC: BUS071000, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS/Leadership
About the Book and Topic:
This book arose out of Monica’s research into the five year career histories of 3200 biotech executives. She discovered that one firm–Baxter–spawned about 25% of the future leaders of the biotech industry. This phenomena–one organization that spawned an industry–had also occurred in the semiconductor industry with HP and Fairchild but to date there has been no suitable explanation of why and how these organizations were able to create the next generation of industry leaders. Monica took up this challenge and explains this phenomena through her concept of “Career Imprints.” Career Imprints are the result of a unique combination of the systems, structure, strategy, and culture of an employer that together drives the early career path of individuals. When these individuals move, they often take the “imprint” of their former employer with them. In this book, Monica uses the stories of Baxter alumni and their career experiences to provide the primary source of insight into the processes and consequences of career imprinting; other organization that acted as “spawners” specifically, Abbott, J are used as comparisons. By understanding career imprints and how they are formed, Monica helps leaders and organizations to understand what it takes to create great leaders.
TOPIC: This is a career-making book for Monica. This book will do for “career imprinting” what Organizational Culture and Leadership did for the term “corporate culture. FOREWORD BY ED SCHEIN ENDORSEMENTS: Warren Bennis, Nitin Nohria, and Amy Edmondson have all agreed to provide endorsements for the book. AUTHOR PLATFORM–Monica was tagged as a “rising star” and brought to us by 3 well-respected HBS professors–Warren Bennis, Nitin Nohria and Amy Edmondson. She has been published in Strategic Management Journal, Harvard Business Review, and Journal of Organizational Behavior. She is a frequent speaker at Academy of Management and will be leading a “track” discussion at the European Group and Organization Studies Conference in Copenhagen, Summer 2005. She will also be a speaker at this year’s SHRM Conference in June. TIMING: This book will be available by March 2005 and can be promoted into OB courses with new edition of Org. Culture & Leadership (August 2004).
About the Author
Monica Higgins is Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior at Harvard Business School. Prior to joining the faculty at Harvard, she worked for American Express Travel Related Services, BankBoston, and was a consultant for Bain & Company. Professor Higgins currently teaches Leadership and Organizational Behavior in the MBA program at the Harvard Business School. She has 10 published articles in top journals such as Academy of Management Review, Journal of Orgnaizational Behavior and Strategic Management Journal and has also contributed chapters to 4 edited volumes. She is a member and speaker to audiences at Academy of Management and American Psychological Association. She lives in Lexington, Massachusetts.