The Handbook of Research on Top Management Teams

Book excerpt: This Handbook presents original research and theory on executives, top management teams, and boards of directors and illustrates the vital importance of this field of study. Top management teams are responsible for the strategic choices and major decisions in organizations. These organizations are a reflection of the members that make up their strategic management. The roles top management play and the impact they have are clearly visible in firms around the world, both large and small. The international group of authors that comprise this volume address questions central to the field of strategy and strategic leadership. They review the determinants of top management team composition, their social networks, and executive dismissal; the psychological and personality profiles of top executives; the methodologies relevant to the study of top teams; and the roles of top executives in cross business unit collaboration, competitive behavior, and strategic entrepreneurship. Each chapter presents path-breaking research and provides a roadmap for new research avenues and agendas. Professors, students and researchers in the area of strategy, management and strategic leadership will find this book an invaluable resource.