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How experts gain influence
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Millo, Yuval, Mikes, Anette and Hall, Matthew (2013) How experts gain influence. Harvard Business Review, 91 (7-8). pp. 70-74. 132. ISSN 0017-8012.
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Official URL: https://hbr.org/2013/07/how-experts-gain-influence
Abstract
In theory, the risk management groups of two British banks--Saxon and Anglo--had the same influence in their organizations. But in practice, they did not: Saxon's was engaged in critical work throughout the bank, while Anglo's had little visibility outside its areas of expertise. In their study of these two financial institutions, the authors identified four competencies--trailblazing, toolmaking, teamwork, and translation--that help functional leaders or groups compete for top management's limited attention and increase their impact. Anglo's risk managers were strong in only some of the competencies, but Saxon's were strong in all four. They consistently scanned the internal and external environment for important issues to which they could apply a risk management perspective (trailblazing) and then developed tools--such as quarterly risk reports--that spread their expertise (toolmaking). While controlling the tools' design and implementation, the risk managers incorporated business managers' insights (teamwork) and made sure everyone could understand the findings (translation). Ultimately, experts' roles must fit the organization's strategy and structural needs. In some situations, functional experts can raise their profile by cultivating just two of the competencies. But those who are strong in all four are likely to be the most influential.
Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||||
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Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School > Accounting Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School |
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Journal or Publication Title: | Harvard Business Review | ||||||
Publisher: | Harvard Business School Publishing | ||||||
ISSN: | 0017-8012 | ||||||
Official Date: | July 2013 | ||||||
Dates: |
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Volume: | 91 | ||||||
Number: | 7-8 | ||||||
Page Range: | pp. 70-74 | ||||||
Article Number: | 132 | ||||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||||
Publication Status: | Published | ||||||
Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access | ||||||
Date of first compliant deposit: | 12 June 2017 | ||||||
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