The research behind The Catalyst

The Catalyst represents the culmination of a three-year study of how operating managers achieve extraordinary organic growth, despite seemingly never-ending setbacks and challenges. Sponsored by the Batten Institute, a research center for the study of entrepreneurship and innovation at the University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business, this project identified 50 exemplary managers who overcame those obstacles and generated outstanding growth results at such companies as Best Buy, Corning, and ING. Then, drawing from in-depth interviews and psychometric assessments, the authors uncovered the shared characteristics, approaches, and thought processes of these incredible growth leaders.

Jeanne Liedtka, a professor at the Darden School who specializes in corporate strategy, Bob Rosen, the CEO and founder of the leadership consulting firm Healthy Companies International, and Rob Wiltbank, an associate professor at Willamette University who researches entrepreneurship and the development of new ventures, found that growth isn't necessarily the result of far-sighted corporate strategies or radical new products and technologies. Successful, sustainable growth is often driven by growth managers within a business whose leadership sparks a near-chemical reaction, activating or accelerating a set of activities that lead to demonstrable results. They are masters at leveraging existing resources to create better value propositions for customers, often with minimal capital investment and corporate support. Through compelling and textured stories, the authors provide a practical framework with which to understand not only who the Catalysts are – how they think and behave – but also the strategies and techniques they employ to drive growth from the inside out.
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Multimedia Video: "Creating The Catalyst" featuring Jeanne Liedtka.