Faculty Directory
Sydney Finkelstein
Associate Dean for Executive Education; Steven Roth Professor of Management
E-Mailsydney.finkelstein@tuck.dartmouth.edu
Phone603-646-2864
DegreePhD, Columbia University, 1988; MSc, London School of Economics, 1981; BComm, Concordia University, 1980
AREAS OF EXPERTISELeadership and strategy
Current Research Topics
Developing leadership talent, why smart executives fail, early warning signs for corporate disasters, learning from mergers and acquisitions, board of director effectiveness
Selected Publications
With J. Kim and J. Haleblian, “When Firms Become Desperate to Grow via Acquisition: The Effect of Growth Patterns and Acquisition Experience on Acquisition Premiums," Administrative Science Quarterly, 2011; How to Avoid a Bad Call, FT Press, 2010; with A. Campbell and J. Whitehead, "Why Good Leaders Make Bad Decisions," Harvard Business Review, February, 2009; with J. Kim, "The Effects of Strategic and Locational Complementarity on Acquisition Performance: Evidence from the U.S. Commercial Banking Industry, 1989-2001," Strategic Management Journal, 30, 2009; with J. Whitehead and A. Campbell, Think Again: Why Good Leaders Make Bad Decisions and How to Keep It From Happening to You, Harvard Business School Press, 2009; with D.C. Hambrick and A. Cannella, Strategic Leadership: Theory and Research on Executives, Top Management Teams, and Boards, Oxford University Press, 2008; with C. Helfat, W. Mitchell, M. Peteraf, H. Singh, D. Teece, and S. Winter, Dynamic Capabilities: Understanding Strategic Change in Organizations, Blackwell Publishing, 2007; Why Smart Executives Fail: And What You Can Learn From Their Mistakes, Portfolio, 2003; with A. Mooney, "Not the Usual Suspects: How to Use Board Process to Make Boards Better," Academy of Management Executive, May 2003; with J.B. Quinn and P.C. Anderson, "Managing Professional Intellect: Making the Most of the Best," Harvard Business Review, 74 (March–April), 1996
Awards
Academy of Management George R. Terry Award nominee, 2010, 1998; finalist, Best Article of 2004, Academy of Management Executive; elected as a Fellow, Academy of Management; Honorable Mention, McKinsey & Company Strategic Management Society Best Conference Paper, 2002; Best Article of 1997, Academy of Management Executive
Professional Activities
Academic positions: Tuck School of Business, 1993–present; Assistant Professor of Business Administration, University of Southern California, 1987–93
Board memberships: Dartmouth-Hitchcock Assembly of Overseers, Kimball Union Academy
Editorial positions: Editorial Boards, Journal of Business Strategy, Journal of Strategy and Management
Research & Teaching Summary
Sydney Finkelstein’s approach to leadership and strategy focuses on the strengths and weaknesses of executive talent. His widely read research analyzes how capable leaders make bad decisions and, ultimately, fail. He teaches the core course Analysis for General Managers.