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William P. Barnett
William P. Barnett
Professor, Organizational Behavior
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WilliamP.Barnett
The Thomas M. Siebel Professor of Business Leadership, Strategy, and Organizations
Affiliated Faculty, Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford
Academic Area: 
Organizational Behavior

Additional Administrative Titles

  • Director, Stanford Executive Program: Be a Leader Who Matters

Research Statement

William Barnett studies competition among organizations and how organizations and industries evolve globally. He is conducting a large-scale project that seeks to explain why and how some firms grow rapidly in globalizing markets. His prior research includes studies of how strategic differences and strategic change among organizations affect their growth, performance, and survival. This research includes empirical studies of technical, regulatory, and ideological changes among organizations, and how these changes affect competitiveness over time and across markets. His studies span a range of industries and contexts, including organizations in computers, telecommunications, research and development, software, semiconductors, disk drives, newspaper publishing, beer brewing, banking, and concerning the environment. He is best known for his work on "Red Queen competition", where firms learn from competition and so become stronger competitors over time. Follow Professor Barnett on Twitter @BarnettTalks.

Bio

William Barnett is the Thomas M. Siebel Professor of Business Leadership, Strategy, and Organizations at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. After receiving his PhD in Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley in 1988, Barnett was an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin, Madison School of Business. In 1991, Barnett came to the Stanford Business School as an Assistant Professor. He became an Associate Professor in 1994 and received tenure in 1996, and has been a full professor since 2001. Barnett has also twice been a Fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, and is an affiliated faculty member of the Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford University. Barnett serves as a senior or associate editor for several academic journals.

Academic Degrees

  • PhD in Business Administration, University of California, Berkeley, 1988
  • BA in Political Science and Economics, University of California, Berkeley, 1982

Academic Appointments

  • The Thomas M. Siebel Professor of Business Leadership, Strategy, and Organizations, Stanford GSB, 2004-present
  • Professor of Strategic Management and Organizational Behavior, Stanford GSB, 2001-2004
  • Associate Professor of Strategic Management and Organizational Behavior, Stanford GSB, 1996-2001
  • Associate Professor of Strategic Management, Stanford GSB, 1994-1996
  • Assistant Professor of Strategic Management, Stanford GSB, 1991-1994
  • Assistant Professor of Management, Graduate School of Business, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1988-1991

Publications

Journal Articles

The Non-Consensus Entrepreneur: Organizational Responses to Vital Events
Elizabeth Pontikes, William P. Barnett. Administrative Science Quarterly. March 1, 2017, Vol. 62, Issue 1, Pages 140-178.
Evolutionary Logics of Strategy and Organizations
William P. Barnett, Daniel Levinthal. Strategy Science. March 2017, Vol. 2, Issue 1, Pages i-v.
The Coevolution of Organizational Knowledge and Market Technology
Elizabeth Pontikes, William P. Barnett. Strategy Science. March 2017, Vol. 2, Issue 1, Pages 64-82.
The Persistence of Lenient Market Categories
Elizabeth Pontikes, William P. Barnett. Organization Science. 2015, Vol. 26, Issue 5, Pages 1415-1431.
Social Identity, Market Memory, and First-Mover Advantage
William P. Barnett, Mi Feng, Xaioqu Luo. Industrial and Corporate Change. 2013, Vol. 22, Issue 3, Pages 585-615.
Organizational Roles and Transition to Entrepreneurship
William P. Barnett, Stanislav D. Dobrev. Academy of Management Journal. 2005, Vol. 48, Issue 3, Pages 433-449.
From Red Vienna to the Anschluss: Ideological Competition among Viennese Newspapers During the Rise of National Socialism
William P. Barnett, Michael Woywode. American Journal of Sociology. May 2004, Vol. 109, Issue 6, Pages 1452-1499.
The Red Queen: History-Dependent Competition Among Organizations
William P. Barnett, Elizabeth G. Pontikes. Research in Organizational Behavior. 2004, Vol. 26, Pages 351–371.
Asymmetric Selection from Among Organizations
William P. Barnett, Aimee‐Noelle Swanson, Olav Sorenson. Industrial and Corporate Change. 2003, Vol. 12, Issue 4, Pages 673-695.
The Red Queen in Organizational Creation and Development
William P. Barnett, Olav Sorenson. Industrial and Corporate Change. 2002, Vol. 11, Issue 2, Pages 289-325.
Too Much of a Good Thing? Product Proliferation and Organizational Failure
William P. Barnett, John Freeman. Organization Science . 2001, Vol. 12, Issue 5, Pages 539-558.
Avenues of Attainment: Occupational Demography and Organizational Careers in the California Civil Service
William P. Barnett, James N. Baron, Toby E. Stuart. American Journal of Sociology. 2000, Vol. 106, Issue 1, Pages 88-144.
The Evolution of Collective Strategies Among Organizations
William P. Barnett, Gary A. Mischke, William Ocasio. Organization Studies. 2000, Vol. 21, Issue 2, Pages 325-354.
The Dynamics of Competitive Intensity
William P. Barnett. Administrative Science Quarterly . 1997, Vol. 42, Issue 1, Pages 128-160.
Evolutionary Perspectives on Strategy
William P. Barnett, Robert A. Burgelman. Strategic Management Journal. 1996, Vol. 17, Issue S1, Pages 5-19.
The Red Queen in Organizational Evolution
William P. Barnett, Morten T. Hansen. Strategic Management Journal . 1996, Vol. 17, Issue S1, Pages 139–157.
Modeling Internal Organizational Change
William P. Barnett, Glenn R. Carroll. Annual Review of Sociology . 1995, Vol. 21, Pages 217-236.
The Liability of Collective Action: Growth and Change Among Early American Telephone Companies
William P. Barnett. Evolutionary Dynamics of Organizations. Oxford University Press, 23, 1994, Pages 337-354.
An Evolutionary Model of Organizational Performance
William P. Barnett, Henrich R. Greve, Douglas Y. Park. Strategic Management Journal. 1994, Vol. 15, Issue S1, Pages 11–28.
How Institutional Constraints Affected the Organization of Early American Telephony
William P. Barnett, Glenn R. Carroll. Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization . 1993, Vol. 9, Issue 1, Pages 98-126.
Organizational Ecology Approaches to Institutions
William P. Barnett, Glenn R. Carroll. Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Organizations. Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 1993.
Resetting the Clock: The Dynamics of Organizational Transformation and Failure
Terry L. Amburgey, Dawn Kelly, William P. Barnett. Administrative Science Quarterly . 1993, Vol. 38, Issue 1, Pages 51-73.
Strategic Deterrence Among Multipoint Competitors
William P. Barnett. Industrial and Corporate Change . 1993, Vol. 2, Issue 2, Pages 249-278.
Standing on the shoulders of others: Career interdependence in job mobility
William P. Barnett, Anne S. Miner. Administrative Science Quarterly . 1992, Vol. 37, Issue 2, Pages 262-281.
Do Larger Organizations Generate Stronger Competition?
William P. Barnett, Terry L. Amburgey. Organizational Evolution: New Directions. Sage Publications, 1990, Pages 78-102.
The Organizational Ecology of a Technological System
William P. Barnett. Administrative Science Quarterly . 1990, Vol. 35 , Issue 1, Pages 31-60.
Work Group Demography, Social Integration, and Turnover
Charles A. O’Reilly, David F. Caldwell, William P. Barnett. Administrative Science Quarterly . 1989, Vol. 34, Issue 1, Pages 21-37.
Competition and Mutualism Among Early Telephone Companies
William P. Barnett, Glenn R. Carroll. Administrative Science Quarterly. 1987, Vol. 32, Issue 3, Pages 400-421.

Books

The Red Queen Among Organizations: How Competitiveness Evolves
William P. Barnett Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2008.

Teaching

Degree Courses

2017-18

STRAMGT 207: Strategic Leadership

This course examines fundamental issues of general management and leadership within an organization. You will learn about setting an organization's strategic direction, aligning structure to implement strategy, and leading individuals within the...

STRAMGT 359: Aligning Start-ups with their Market

Most everyone associated with technology start-ups would agree that the most important initial characteristic of a successful endeavor is a compelling vision. The journey from vision to escape velocity is highly dependent on management's ability...

2016-17

OB 626: Strategy and Organizations

Why are some organizations more competitive than others? This is the defining questions of the interdisciplinary research field known as "€œstrategic management."€ In this PhD seminar, we will survey the field of strategic management as seen...

STRAMGT 207: Strategic Leadership

This course examines fundamental issues of general management and leadership within an organization. You will learn about setting an organization's strategic direction, aligning structure to implement strategy, and leading individuals within the...

STRAMGT 359: Aligning Start-ups with their Market

Most everyone associated with technology start-ups would agree that the most important initial characteristic of a successful endeavor is a compelling vision. The journey from vision to escape velocity is highly dependent on management's ability...

2015-16

OB 626: Strategy and Organizations

Why are some organizations more competitive than others? This is the defining questions of the interdisciplinary research field known as ¿strategic management.¿ In this PhD seminar, we will survey the field of strategic management as seen from...

STRAMGT 359: Aligning Start-ups with their Market

Most everyone associated with technology start-ups would agree that the most important initial characteristic of a successful endeavor is a compelling vision. The journey from vision to escape velocity is highly dependent on management's ability...

Executive Education & Other Non-Degree Programs

Stanford Case Studies

Innovium 2017 | SM277
William Barnett, Christy Johnson, Morgan Salama2017
The Rise of AmorePacific | SM274
William P Barnett, Mooweon Rhee, Dongyub Shin2017
Global Fisheries: The Emergence of a Sustainable Seafood Movement | SI141
William Barnett, Pamela Matson, Julia Novy-Hildesley, Julia G. Mason, Alana F. Springer2016
SM Entertainment | IB108
William P. Barnett, Mooweon Rhee, Sang-Hoon Kim2015
Mercado Libre | IB105
William Barnett, Gary Mekikian2013
Facebook 2012 | E468
William Barnett, Arar Han2012
Taobao vs. Ebay China | IB88
William Barnett, Mi Feng, Xiaoqu Luo2010
User-Generated Content Systems at Intuit (A) | E381A
William Barnett, Sara Leslie2010
User-Generated Content Systems at Intuit (B) | E381B
William Barnett, Sara Leslie2010
Gazprom and the E.U. | GS72
Condoleezza Rice, William Barnett, Cameron Bell2009
NetApp and the Challenge of Global Leadership | IB89
William Barnett, Sara Leslie2009
The Dubai Ports Controversy | GS73
Condoleezza Rice, William Barnett, Cecilia Hyunjung Mo2009
Creating Qualcomm (A) | E301A
William Barnett, Gary Mekikian2008
Hyundai Motor Company in China | IB91
William Barnett, Jae-Gu Kim, Mooweon Rhee2008
Volantis | E224
William Barnett, Mike Harkey2006
UFSoft | SM92
William Barnett, Peter Lorentzen2005
Webvan | E77A
William Barnett, Keith Sigg2005
Bozeman, Montana & The Yellowstone Business Partnership | SI54
William Barnett, Dave Boennighausen2004
Montebello Capital (B) | E140B
William Barnett, Brad Wolfe2004
Napster 2.0 | SM128
William Barnett, Ilya Levtov2004
Seagate Technology 2004 | SM60B
William Barnett, David McKendrick, Kyra Gebhardt2004
Abercrombie & Kent, Pioneering Global Ecotourism | SI47
William Barnett, Terry Cumes, William Durham, Roderick Morris2003
Area de Conservacion Guanacaste | SI48
William Barnett, William Durham2003
Belize's Community Baboon Sanctuary | SI51
William Barnett, William Durham, Nathaniel Fisher2003
Hyundai Motor Company | SM122
William Barnett, James March, Mooweon Rhee2003
Network Appliance (B) | E55B
William Barnett, Jamie Earle2003
Network Appliance (C), The Growth of Network Appliance | E55C
William Barnett, Charles Holloway, Jamie Earle2003
Network Appliance (D) | E55D
William Barnett, Charles Holloway, Jamie Earle2003
The Wild Salmon Center | SI45
William Barnett, Erik Budde, William Durham2003
Montebello Capital | E140A
William Barnett, Janet Feldstein2002
SkyStream Networks, Inc. (A) | E135A
William Barnett, Andrea Higuera, Aimee Swanson2002
SkyStream Networks, Inc. (B) | E135B
William Barnett, Andrea Higuera, Aimee Swanson2002
The Environment for Entrepreneurship in China | E198
William Barnett, Peter Lorentzen2002
Touring In The Galapagos Islands | SI36
William Barnett, Brady Beaubien, William Durham2002
Agilent Technologies: Organizational Change (A) | OD1A
William Barnett, Glenn Carroll, Victoria Chang2001
Agilent Technologies: Organizational Change (B) | OD1B
William Barnett, Glenn Carroll, Victoria Chang2001
NextStage Entertainment | SM57
William Barnett, Christopher Flanagan, Jason Salgado2001
Apex PC Solutions, Inc. | E66
William Barnett, Jeff Chambers, Nathaniel Durant1999
Third Federal Savings and Loan | SM45
William Barnett, Heather MacDonald Stefanski1999
W.R. Hambrecht + Co. | E62
William Barnett, Jeff Chambers, Pratap Mukherjee1999
Establishing Network Appliance (A) | E55A
William Barnett, Lauren Dutton1998
Varian, 1997 | SM31
William Barnett, Jane Wei1997
Mendocino Brewing Company (A) | SM15
William Barnett, Glenn Carroll, Wendy Harrington1995
Newell Company (A) | SM16
William Barnett, Paul Reddy1995
FITS Imaging Inc. (A) | SM12
William Barnett, Nicolas Vandenberghe1994
Note on the U.S. Craft, Brewing Industry | SM11
William Barnett, Wendy Harrington1994

Insights by Stanford Business

writtenThe Risk of an Unwavering Vision
March 28, 2017
A new study concludes that successful tech firms are often “discovered and not planned.”
writtenWhy You Don’t Understand Disruption
March 7, 2017
It’s not that big companies are bad at inventing; it’s that they’re bad at organizational shifts.
writtenSix Ways to Be a Better Manager
January 25, 2017
Kill consensus and beware the false negative, says one Stanford GSB professor.
writtenFinding the Next Billion-Dollar Company
April 21, 2016
Want to spot a unicorn? Look for the horse running against the herd.
writtenWilliam Barnett: The Value of Fuzzy Market Categories for Entrepreneurs
November 23, 2015
Sometimes it pays to define your product market more broadly.
writtenThe Recommended List by Stanford GSB Professors
April 30, 2015
Those in the know share where to go to learn more about reward and related topics.
writtenWilliam Barnett: Business Leaders Should Not Avoid Competition
November 21, 2014
Competition raises the bar for rivals to do better.
writtenWilliam Barnett: When Being a Nonconformist Entrepreneur Pays Off
October 2, 2014
A study finds that bucking the trend can lead to entrepreneurial success.
writtenResearch: Economics Lessons From Indian Textile Firms
December 1, 2010
New studies show that firms implementing systematic management practices improved their productivity by 10 percent reduced defects by 60 percent.
writtenThe Rise of the Mighty Microbrew
August 1, 2002
Researchers explain how industries dominated by large firms actually create an environment where smaller specialists can thrive.
writtenWhy Do Some Companies Thrive While Others Fail?
August 1, 2002
Researchers in the growing field of organizational ecology say it's vital to look at the entire life cycle of the business, including the failures.

School News

writtenA Driver of Innovation, Stanford’s Flagship Executive Program Innovates Itself
November 1, 2016
A leading program to train executives to drive change in their organizations, Stanford’s flagship SEP itself underwent changes this year.
writtenStudy Trips Add Perspective for MBA Students
January 31, 2011
Structured trips provide intellectual and emotional experiences with other cultures for Stanford MBA students learning to lead in a global economy.
writtenBusiness School Honors "Amazing Class" of 2008
June 14, 2008
At commencement, Dean Joss expressed appreciation for the “record-smashing” MBA class gift of more than $1.2 million, pledged by 96% of the class.
writtenSustainable Business Approaches Explored In New Executive Program
September 1, 2007
Uncommon gathering of people from private, public, and nonprofit sectors come together to grapple with tough issues.

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