McKinsey's Marvin Bower: Vision, Leadership, and the Creation of Management Consulting

By Elizabeth Haas Edersheim

Book Overview

I had the privilege of working closely with Marvin and McKinsey for many years. This book makes Marvin come to life and perpetuates him as a role model.
-Peter F. Drucker

A wonderful book about a wonderful man. In many ways, Marvin's McKinsey framed the hypotheses in our own search for excellence-for example, passion for values, belief in people as the prime resource, and willingness to let people experiment. As well as I thought I knew Marvin, however, this remarkable book, drawing on the collective memories of those who worked most closely with him, taught me a ton about how extraordinary the man really was and what made him that way. Many have called Drucker the man who invented management; I think history will conclude that both he and Marvin Bower share that pedestal.
-Bob Waterman, coauthor of In Search of Excellence

Marvin Bower became a legend, not just within McKinsey & Company, but within professional services and the business world more broadly. In everything he did and said, he embodied the professional approach and the importance of values. This book sheds remarkable insight on a remarkable man and on the power of constancy of purpose.
-Ian Davis, Worldwide Managing Director, McKinsey & Co.

It is as Marvin would have wanted it-simple, honest, fact-based, wonderful stories with a long-term perspective. An insightful read about the father of management consulting.
-Lois Juliber, retired COO, Colgate-Palmolive

This book provides fascinating insight into the early days of modern management consulting. It is an extremely enlightening look at the origin of one of America's most important professions and one of America's most innovative leaders.
-Thomas H. Lee, founder, Chairman, and President, Thomas H. Lee Partners L.P.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0471652857
• ISBN13: 9780471652854
• Release Date: April 2004
• Publisher: Wiley
• Length: 305 Pages
• Weight: 1.21 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

very entertaining

very entertaining, i couldn't put down the book, so I read it in one or two days. The book is divided into two parts: first is marvin's biography, the second discussess his impacts on others. You'll enjoy this book, if: - you want to understand from where came Mckinsey's requirements for candidates - you are curious, how mckinsey gained current face (e.g. from where came his 'unified principles accross all country', why do they select the best candidates, why it is a company based on partnership, rather then shareholders; etc.) The reader can follow marvin's thinking, see how his decisions are based on facts. I learned a lot purely by reading his speech from a meeting of partners (included in the appendix in the book). That being said, a couple of chapters from the second part seemed boring (resumes of leaders who worked with him; or business stories of these leaders), so I just didn't read them. The book was still very valuable. Also check out his book, written by him closely before his death, "will to lead".

Highly Recommended !

Marvin Bower may be the most influential businessman you've never heard of. The firm he shaped into an international powerhouse, McKinsey & Company, doesn't bear his name, and he never made splashy public gifts. Yet the company that spawned the management consulting industry would not exist today without this remarkable man's clear, compelling vision. Bower or his consultants transformed countless companies and executives for the better. Here, author Elizabeth Haas Edersheim assembles dozens of testimonials to Marvin Bower's integrity, honesty and drive to excel. Her book contains the story of his life, but it reads less like a biography and more like a Harvard Business School case study - a bit dry, and chock-full of interview transcripts rather than compelling narrative. However, its similarity to a case study is oddly appropriate, since Bower was one of the first graduates of the Harvard Business School and remained connected with it for many years, even defending its case study method of teaching when it came under attack in the late 1970s. We recommend this book to leaders, to those who aspire to lead and to consultants who want to study the best of their profession in action.

Must Read

Having spent the past 20 years in consulting, I've read alot of business books and always buy a new book with the expressed purpose of learning something new. McKinsey's Marvin Bower did not disappoint. Although I bought it to read about Marvin Bower, the myth, I learned much more about Marvin Bower the man and his impact on principles I had been practicing throughout my career, and without knowing why. This book provides the fundamental lessons on how to do it right -- from creating values that guide an organization to placing customer and client interests first. To me, McKinsey was a side bar, the real story is about Marvin Bower and his impact on 20th century business. As such, it's a must read for everyone and anyone interested in "getting it right" regardless of their profession.

A must read!

A compelling portrait of a leader who seemed to find just the right combination for success - creating value for clients, unwavering integrity, leading from the front, selflessness in the interest of the business' sustainability, consistency of vision and personal actions and continuous communication with and interest in his people. Bower's vision, values and approach shaped a generation of successful leaders. This book leaves you thinking about how you can be a better leader and wishing that you'd been fortunate enough to work for Marvin Bower. In an age of corporate scandals, it's refreshing and inspiring to read about a greatly successful leader with true integrity and how that integrity was an integral part of his success.

Leadership, Integrity & modern business history

This is one of the best business history books I have read in years. Elizabeth Haas Edersheim lucidly and delightfully details the vision, values, and leadership techniques of Marvin Bower, the creator of management consulting. Using anecdotes from interviews with prominent business leaders whom he influenced, she illustrates the importance of integrity, communication and responsible business fundamentals -- values which were 'in absentia' during the scandals of the booming '90's. There's a lot to learn here and a lot of fun to be had doing it. This book is a must read.