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Robert A. Burgelman

Robert A. Burgelman
Professor, Organizational Behavior
Contact Info
RobertA.Burgelman
Edmund W. Littlefield Professor of Management
BP Faculty Fellow in Global Management for 2015-16
Academic Area: 
Organizational Behavior

Research Statement

Robert Burgelman carries out longitudinal field-based research on the role of strategy in firm evolution. He has examined how companies enter into new businesses (through corporate entrepreneurship and internal corporate venturing as well as through acquisition) and leave others (through strategic business exit), and how success may lead to co-evolutionary lock-in with the environment. His research has focused on organizations where strategic action is distributed among multiple levels of management. He has written some 145 case studies of companies in many different technology-based industries. He currently focuses on the challenges posed by nonlinear strategic dynamics.

Teaching Statement

Professor Burgelman teaches several second-year MBA courses. These include S371 Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation (co-taught with Robert E. Siegel), S381 Leading Strategic Change in Health Care (co-taught with Dr. Robert Pearl), S573 Strategic Thinking in Action - In Business and Beyond (focused on the evolution of the global semiconductor industry and co-taught with George W. Cogan), and S574 Strategic Thinking in Action - In Business and Beyond (focused on the evolution of the global automotive industry and co-taught with Dr. Sven Beiker). He also teaches the "Strategic Leadership in Dynamic Environments" course in the Stanford Executive Program (SEP), and participates in several other of the School's executive programs.

Bio

Professor Burgelman is the Edmund W. Littlefield Professor of Management and the Executive Director of the Stanford Executive Program (SEP). He joined the Stanford Business School as an Assistant Professor in 1981. He obtained a Licenciate degree in Applied Economics from Antwerp University (Belgium), an MA in Sociology and a Ph.D. in Management of Organizations from Columbia University, where he studied with doctoral fellowships from the Ford Foundation (US) and ICM (Belgium). He was elected a Fellow of the Strategic Management Society and a Fellow of the Academy of Management.

His research has focused on the role of strategy-making in firm evolution. In particular, he has studied the strategy-making processes involved in how companies enter into new businesses and exit from existing ones to secure continued adaptation.  In 2003 he received an honorary doctorate from the Copenhagen Business School for his contributions to the study of corporate innovation and entrepreneurship. Professor Burgelman has been on the faculty of Antwerp University, New York University, Harvard Business School (as a Marvin Bower Fellow), and Cambridge University (as a Visiting Professor of Marketing Strategy and Innovation at the Judge Business School). He has been elected a Fellow of the Strategic Management Society and a Fellow of the Academy of Management. He has published many articles in leading academic and professional journals, as well as some 145 case studies of companies and organizations in many different industries.

He has published articles in leading academic and professional journals, and his books include Inside Corporate Innovation: Strategy, Structure, and Managerial Skills (Free Press, 1986), Research of Technological  Innovation, Management and Policy (JIA Press, Elsevier; Volume 4, 1989; Volume 5, 1993; Volume 6, 1997; and Volume 7, 2001), Strategy is Destiny: How Strategy-Making Shapes a Company’s Future (Free Press, 2002), Strategic Dynamics: Concepts and Cases (McGraw-Hill, 2006), and Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation (5th edition, McGraw-Hill-Irwin, 2009). Professor Burgelman has served as an Associate Editor of the Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal from 2007 till 2014. He has taught executive programs and led senior and top management seminars for major companies worldwide. He has also served on boards of directors and boards of advisors of several private companies.

Academic Degrees

  • PhD in Management of Organizations, Graduate School of Business, Columbia University, 1980
  • MPhil in Management of Organizations, Graduate School of Business, Columbia University, 1978
  • MA in Sociology, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Columbia University, 1978
  • Licenciate, Applied Economic Sciences, Antwerp University (UFSIA), 1969

Academic Appointments

  • At Stanford University since 1981
  • Instructor–Assistant Professor, New York University, 1978–1981
  • Visiting Lecturer, State University of New York, 1976–1977
  • Instructor, Antwerp University, 1970–1973

Awards and Honors

  • Elected Fellow of the Academy of Management, 2012
  • Elected a Fellow of the Strategic Management Society (2008) and of the Academy of Management (2012)
  • 2012-13 BP Faculty Fellow in Global Management, Stanford Business School
  • Visiting Professor, Judge Business School, and Visiting Scholar, Sydney Sussex College, Cambridge University, 2009
  • Dr. Mercaturae Honoris Causa, Copenhagen Business School, 2003
  • Marvin Bower Fellow, Harvard Business School, 1992
  • Outstanding Paper Award, Division of Business Policy and Planning, Academy of Management, 1984
  • Certificate of Distinction for Outstanding Research in the Field of Strategic Management, Academy of Management and General Electric Company, 1980

Publications

Journal Articles

Robert A. Burgelman. Journal of International Business Studies. 2011, Vol. 42, Issue 5, Pages 591-601.
Robert A. Burgelman, Robert E. Siegel. California Management Review. University of California Press, 2008, Vol. 50, Issue 3, Pages 140-167.
Robert A. Burgelman, Robert E. Siegel. California Management Review. 2007, Vol. 49, Issue 3, Pages 6-26.
Robert A. Burgelman, Andrew Grove. Strategic Management Journal. 2007, Vol. 28, Pages 965-979.
Robert A. Burgelman, Webb McKinney. California Management Review. 2006, Vol. 48, Issue 3, Pages 6-27.
Robert A. Burgelman, Liisa Välikangas. Sloan Management Review. 2005.
Robert A. Burgelman. Administrative Science Quarterly. June 2002, Vol. 47, Issue 2, Pages 325-357.
Robert A. Burgelman. Administrative Science Quarterly. 2002, Vol. 47, Issue 2, Pages 325-357.
William P. Barnett, Robert A. Burgelman. Strategic Management Journal. 1996, Vol. 17, Issue S1, Pages 5-19.
Robert A. Burgelman. Administrative Science Quarterly. March 1994, Vol. 39, Issue 1, Pages 24-56.
Robert A. Burgelman. Organization Science. August 1991, Vol. 2, Issue 3, Pages 239-262.
Robert A. Burgelman. Administrative Science Quarterly. June 1983, Vol. 28, Issue 2, Pages 223-244.

Books

Robert A. Burgelman, Clayton M. Christensen, Steven C. Wheelwright Boston: McGraw-Hill Irwin, 2009.
Robert A. Burgelman, Andrew Grove, Philip E. Meza Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2006.
Robert A. Burgelman New York: Free Press, 2002.
Robert A. Burgelman, Leonard R. Sayles The Free Press, 1986.

Working Papers

Strategic Dynamics: Three Key Themes | PDF
Robert A. Burgelman2012
U.S. Dependence on Oil in 2008: Facts, Figures and Context | PDF
Robert A. Burgelman, Andrew Grove, Debra Schifrin2008

Courses Taught

Degree Courses

2015-16

This course focuses on the strategic management of technology-based innovation in the firm. The purpose is to provide students with concepts, frameworks, and experiences that are useful for taking part in the management of innovation processes in...

This seminar provides the opportunity for students to study the structure and dynamics of the U.S. health care industry, and some of the ways it intersects with the global health care industry. The U.S. health care industry represents over 15...

This six-session 2-point Bass seminar will involve students (maximum 20) in using strategic thinking to analyze the evolution of the semiconductor industry through the eyes of several key companies. The purpose of the seminar is to help students...

This six-session 2-point Bass seminar will involve students (maximum 18) in analyzing the emerging global electric automotive industry by focusing on: (1) The electric automotive industry in the U.S. and Europe, (2) the electric automotive...

2014-15

This course focuses on the strategic management of technology-based innovation in the firm. The purpose is to provide students with concepts, frameworks, and experiences that are useful for taking part in the management of innovation processes in...

This seminar provides the opportunity for students to study the structure and dynamics of the U.S. health care industry, and some of the ways it intersects with the global health care industry. The U.S. health care industry represents over 15...

This six-session 2-point Bass seminar will involve students (maximum 20) in analyzing the evolution of the global semiconductor industry in light of the convergence of computing and wireless communications, and how it has been and will be...

This five-session 2-point Bass seminar will involve students (maximum 18) in analyzing the emerging global electric automotive industry by focusing on: (1) The electric automotive industry in the U.S. and Europe, (2) the electric automotive...

Stanford Case Studies

Box in 2015 (B): Entering the Next Phase | SM215B
Robert Siegel, Robert Burgelman, Shalie Gaskill2015
Google and Android in 2015 (C): Looking Towards the Future | SM176C
Robert Siegel, Robert Burgelman, Michael Seltzer2015
HP Enterprise Group in 2015: Igniting Organizational Transformation | SM246
Robert A. Burgelman, Debra Schifrin2015
Intel's Mobile Strategy in 2015 and Beyond | SM236
Robert Burgelman, Debra Schifrin2015
Medium in 2015: A New Form of Networked Publishing | SM247
Robert Siegel, Robert Burgelman, Tim Hsia2015
PayPal in 2015: Reshaping the Financial Services Landscape | E572
Robert Burgelman, Robert Siegel, Henry Lippincott2015
Wikimedia Foundation in 2015: Changing How Humans Share Knowledge | SM245
Robert Siegel, Robert Burgelman, Arla Xhaxho2015
Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Media Transformation | E522
Robert A. Burgelman, Robert E. Siegel, Jason Luther2014
Basware in 2013 Transistion to Software as a Service | SM219
Robert Burgelamn, Debra Schifrin2014
Invitrogen/Life Technologies (C): The Best Owner of the Asset | SM209C
Robert Burgelman, Robert Siegel, Rosy Lee2014
Minted in 2014: Scaling and Scoping a Crowdsourcing Design Business | E530
Robert Siegel, Robet Burgelman, Sylvia Kuyel2014
SurveyMonkey in 2014 | E524
Robert Burgelman, Robert Siegel, Sara Rosenthal2014
The Chinese Wireless Communications Industry in 2012 and Beyond: An Industry Note | SM227
Robert Burgelman, Gang Zheng, Yajuan Wang2014
Box: Building the Next Generation Enterprise Software Company | SM215
Robert Burgelman, Robert Siegel, Shalie Gaskill2013
DKSH in 2012: Preparing For Continued Rapid Growth | SM204B
Robert Burgelman, Martina Ludescher2013
Evolving Competitive Dynamics of the Mobile Telecommunications Industry in 2012 and Beyond | SM211
Robert Burgelman, Christopher Nguyen, David Hoyt2013
First Solar, Inc. in 2013 | SM190B
Robert A. Burgelman, Robert Eric Siegel, Morgan Hallmon2013
Google’s Android in 2013 An Increasingly Dynamic Landscape | SM176B
Robert A. Burgelman, Robert Eric Siegel, Ibrahim Elbouchikhi, Jonathan Karmel, Alan Chiu2013
Intel in 2011: The Battle for the Mobile Handheld and Tablet Markets | SM184
Robert Burgelman, Debra Schifrin2013
SAP and Cloud Computing in 2012 and Beyond | SM214
Robert Burgelman, Jean-Bernard Rolland2013
SK Planet in 2013: A Korean Giant's Big Bet on the U.S. Market | SM222
Robert A. Burgelman, Steve W. Chung, Jon F. Nathanson, Won-yoh Lee2013
The Global Electric Automotive Industry in 2012 | SM217
Robert Burgelman, Sven A Beiker, Yves Meyer, Alexandre Martins, Rishabh Bhandari2013
Zuora in 2013 | SM182B
Robert A. Burgelman, Robert Eric Siegel, Maalika Manoharan2013
DKSH in 2011 | SM204
Robert Burgelman, Martina Ludescher2012
Flibe Energy: Pursuing a Safe, Affordable, and Sustainable Energy Future | SM208
Robert Burgelman, Robert Siegel, Scott Nolan2012
Invitrogen (A) | SM209A
Robert A. Burgelman, Robert E. Siegel, Rosy Lee2012
Invitrogen/Life Technologies (B) | SM209B
Robert A Burgelman, Robert E Siegel, Rosy Lee2012
Waste Management's Organic Growth Group | SM210
Robert A Burgelman, Robert E Siegel, Tomas Uribe2012
Infosys Consulting in 2011 | SM195
Robert Burgelman, Debra Schifrin2011
First Solar, Inc. in 2010 | SM190
Robert A. Burgelman, Robert Eric Siegel, Morgan Hallmon2010
France Telecom in 2010 | SM186
Robert Burgelman, Debra Schifrin2010
Intel and WiMAX in 2010 | SM179
Robert Burgelman, Margaret LaBrecquet, Debra Schifrin2010
TTTech (A) Seeking Growth and Scale in New and Existing Markets | SM185A
Robert Burgelman, Lyn Denend, Robert Siegel2010
TTTech (B): The Path Forward | SM185B
Robert Burgelman, Lyn Denend, Robert Siegel2010
Cellular Telecommunications: An Industry Driven by Intellectual Property and Technical Standards | SM177
Robert Burgelman, David Hoyt, Margaret LeBrecque, Amanda Silverman2009
Clean Coal in the U.S. and China, An Industry Note | SM183
Robert Burgelman, Andrew Grove, Debra Schifrin2009
Google's Android: Will It Shake Up The Wireless Industry In 2009 And Beyond? | SM176
Robert Burgelman, David Hoyt, Amanda Silverman, Christof Wittig2009
HP's ProCurve in 2009: Internal Entrepreneurship Navigates Evolving Corporate Strategy | SM180
Robert Burgelman, Webb McKinney, Philip Meza2009
Zuora Inc.: Venturing into Cloud Computing | SM182
Robert Burgelman, Maalika Manoharan2009
Convergence 2008 - Video Over The Internet | SM173
Robert Burgelman, Rob Holmes2008
Corning Incorporated (A): Reinventing New Business Development | SM167A
Robert Burgelman, Lyn Denend2008
Innovation at HP: The Role of the Innovation Program Office (IPO) | SM172
Robert Burgelman, Philip Meza2008
CDNetworks, Inc | SM161
Robert Burgelman, Steve Chung2007
Intel Centrino in 2007: A New \"Platform\" Strategy for Growth | SM156
Evan Berrett, Robert Burgelman, Philip Meza2007
Intel in Wireless in 2006 (A): Tackling the Cellular Industry | SM165
Robert Burgelman, Margaret LeBrecque2007
Knowledge Management at Kaizenbach Partners | SM162
Robert Burgelman, Brooke Blumenstein2007
Mark Hurd at HP: Driving Strategic Execution | SM160
Robert Burgelman, Philip Meza2007
The Kinetics and Michael J. Fox Foundations (B): New Directions | SM163B
Robert Burgelman, Philip Meza2007
GE Security: Seeking Growth in Video Solutions Amidst GE's Transformation | SM148
Robert Burgelman, Lyn Denend, Robert Siegel2006
Intel's Fab Location Decision in 2002 (B): What Happened | SM146B
Robert Burgelman, Philip Meza2006
MySQL Open Source Database in 2006 (B) | SM124B
Robert Burgelman, Christof Wittig2006
SAP AG In 2006 Driving Corporate Transformation | SM153
Robert Burgelman, Tom Federico2006
China Internet and Search Market | SM145
Robert Burgelman, Ming Lei2005
Digital Creation and Distribution of Music Revisited in 2005 | SM112B
Robert Burgelman, Philip Meza, Les Vadasz2005
Electronic Arts in 2005: The Next Generation of Convergence | SM24D
Robert Burgelman, Ryan Kiskis, Shoshanna Stussy2005
Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back On The Ladder | SM144
Robert Burgelman, Philip Meza2005
Intel Corporation (A) The DRAM Decision | BP256A
Robert Burgelman2005
Matrix Semiconductor Inc. (B) Transitioning from Innovation to Execution | SM126B
Robert Burgelman, Lyn Denend, Robert Siegel2005
Slouching Toward Broadband: Revisited in 2005 | SM137
Robert Burgelman, Philip Meza, Les Vadasz2005
StubHub (A), January 2004 | SM132A
Adam Block, Robert Burgelman, Robert Siegel2005
StubHub (B), Taking Hold of Product Strategy | SM132B
Adam Block, Robert Burgelman, Robert Siegel2005
Better Medicine Through Information Technology | SM136
Robert Burgelman, Philip Meza, Robert Pearl2004
Hanging Up The (Old) Phone: IP Communications in 2004 | SM127
Robert Burgelman, Philip Meza, Les Vadasz2004
HP and Compaq Combined: In Search of Scale and Scope | SM130
Robert Burgelman, Philip Meza2004
LVMH in 2004: The Challenges of Strategic Integration | SM123
Federico Antoni, Robert Burgelman, Philip Meza2004
Matrix Semiconductor Inc: Tackling Challenges of Strategic Dimensions | SM126A
Robert Burgelman, Lyn Denend, Robert Siegel2004
MySQL Open Source Database in 2004 | SM124
Robert Burgelman, Sami Inkinen, Christof Wittig2004
Samsung Electronics in 2004: Conquering the Wireless Digital World | SM129
Robert Burgelman, Jean-Bernard Rolland2004
The New New HP in 2004 (A): Leading Strategic Integration | SM125A
Robert Burgelman, Philip Meza2004
The New New HP in 2004 (B): Winning in the Core Businesses | SM125B
Robert Burgelman, Philip Meza2004
AOL: The Emergence of an Internet Media Company | SM75
Robert Burgelman, Philip Meza2003
BEA Systems, Inc. In 2003: Reaching For The Next Level | SM117
Robert Burgelman,Sweta Sarnot2003
Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. (B): In 2003 | SM35B
Robert Burgelman, Philip Meza2003
Finding The Balance: Intellectual Property In The Digital Age | SM107
Robert Burgelman, Philip Meza2003
Intel Beyond 2003: Looking For Its Third Act | SM106
Robert Burgelman, Philip Meza2003
Nokia Beyond 2003: A Mobile Gatekeeper? | SM113
Robert Burgelman, Philip Meza2003
Pixim (A): August 2001 | SM118A
Robert Burgelman, Cara McVie2003
Pixim (B): October 2001 | SM118B
Robert Burgelman, Cara McVie2003
Pixim (C): May 2002 | SM118C
Robert Burgelman, Cara McVie2003
Slouching Toward Broadband | SM98
Robert Burgelman, Philip Meza2003
Universal Music Group in 2003 | SM112
Robert Burgelman, Lewis Fanger, Cecilia O'Reilly2003
CIENA Corporation | SM100
Robert Burgelman, Yann Ngongang, Juan Posada, Ben Shih2002
Electronic Arts in 2002 | SM24C
Robert Burgelman, Frederic Descamps, Philip Meza2002
HP, Compaq, and the Computer Industry in 2001 and Beyond | SM72C
Robert Burgelman, Philip Meza2002
Intel Corporation's Internal Ecology of Strategy Making | SM95
Robert Burgelman, Clayton Christensen2002
USA Interactive | SM90C
Robert Burgelman, Philip Meza2002
Amazon: Evolution of the e-Trailer | SM83
Robert Burgelman, Philip Meza2001
Distributing the Mouse: Disney in 2001 | SM29C
Robert Burgelman, Philip Meza2001
Electronic Arts In 1999 (B) | SM24B
Robert Burgelman, Philip Meza2001
Rambus, Inc. | SM82
Robert Burgelman, Vik Murthy, Paul Staelin2001
The De-Globalization of Marks & Spencer in 2001: An Update | SM87
Robert Burgelman, Philip Meza2001
The Open Source Software Challenge | SM85
Robert Burgelman, Philip Meza2001
USA Networks in 2001 | SM90B
Robert Burgelman, Philip Meza2001
Vivendi Universal | SM96
Robert Burgelman, Philip Meza2001
Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. (A): In 1999 | SM35A
Robert Burgelman, Kelly DuBois, Margot Sutherland2000
E-Markets 2000 | EC23
Robert Burgelman, Garth Saloner, Christopher Thomas2000
New HP Way | SM72
Robert Burgelman2000
Peer to Peer Computing: Back to the Future | SM76
Robert Burgelman, Philip Meza2000
AboveNet Communications, Inc. (A) | SM62A
Robert Burgelman, Jorge Borbolla1999
Elio Engineering, Inc. (A) | SM67
Robert Burgelman, Hari Sankara, Harald Winkmann1999
Intel Corporation in 1999 | SM70
Robert Burgelman1999
Intel Corporation The Evolution of an Adaptive Organization | SM65
Robert Burgelman, Raymond Bamford1999
U.S. Telecommunications Industry in 1984 - 1996 (A) | SM5A
Robert Burgelman, Andrew Grove, Eric Marti1999
U.S. Telecommunications Industry in 1996 - 1999 (B) | SM5B
Robert Burgelman, Andrew Grove, Eric Marti1999
Disney in a Digital World (B) | SM29B
Robert Burgelman, J Kolotouros1998
The PC-Based Desktop Videoconferencing Systems Industry in 1998 | SM51
Robert Burgelman, Osamu Suzuki1998
The Photonics Industry in 1998 | SM68
Rick Brandt, Robert Burgelman, Dushyant Pandya1998
Asymetric Digital Subscriber Line: Propects in 1997 | SM69
R. Burgelman, T. Tzuo1997
Disney in a Digital World (A) | SM19A
Robert Burgelman, J Kolotouros, J Maggioncalda1997
Internet-Based Electronic Commerce in 1997, A Primer | SM36
Robert Burgelman, Raymond Bamford1997
Note on the Consumer On-Line Sevices Industry in 1996 | SM33
Robert Burgelman, Andrew Grove, Matthew Murphy1997
R.R. Donnelley & Sons Digital Technology, 1995-1997 | SM43
Robert Burgelman, Raymond Bamford1997
Wells Fargo Bank & Electronic Banking (A) | SM41A
Robert Burgelman, Raymond Bamford1997
Electronic Arts in 1995 | SM24A
Robert Burgelman, Carrie Oliver1996
Microsoft: An Inside Look | SM32
Robert Burgelman1996
Intel Corporation (E) New Directions for 1990's | BP256E
Robert Burgelman1994
Wireless Communications Industry: After AT&T-Mc-Caw | SM6
R. Burgelman, A. Gove, A. Taylor1993
Intel Corporation (C) Strategy for the 1990's | BP256C
Robert Burgelman1991
Intel Corporation, The Hood River Project (A) | SM49A
Robert Burgelman, Bruce Graham1991
BIC Pen Corporation (C) | BP254
Robert A. Burgelman, Gerard J. Beekman1989
Control Data Corp. | BP240
Robert Burgelman1985
Medical Equipment (B): Sherwood's View | BP242B
Robert Burgelman1985
Medical Equipment (C) | BP242C
Robert Burgelman1985
Medical Equipment (D) | BP242D
Robert Burgelman1985
Medical Equipment (A) | BP242A
Robert Burgelman1983

Stanford University Affiliations

Stanford GSB

Service to the Profession

  • Editorial Board, California Management Review
  • Fellow, Academy of Management
  • Fellow, Strategic Management Society
  • Associate Editor, Strategic Entrpreneurship Journal - 2007-2014.

In the Media

Bloomberg Businessweek, April 13, 2000

Insights by Stanford Business

March 9, 2016
Strategic leadership can shape a business to go the distance.
March 3, 2016
Flexibility may be more important than dominance in the market.
May 1, 2010
Researchers say consumers will move toward electric cars in five to 10 years, but progress will be slow unless oil prices rise rapidly and stay high.
June 1, 2007
But the execution, says a professor of management, was the hard part.
June 1, 1996
The way firms recognize and negotiate "strategic inflection points" determines their fate.

School News

January 13, 2005
More than 450 executives and guests attend seminars in Mumbai, New Delhi, and Bangalore.
October 1, 2004
Professor Robert Burgelman is the 2004 recipient of the Jaedicke Silver Apple Award presented by the Stanford GSB Alumni Association.