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Related Experiment Videos

Let's hear it for B players.

Thomas J DeLong1, Vineeta Vijayaraghavan

  • 1Harvard Business School, Boston, USA.

Harvard Business Review
|June 13, 2003
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Companies often overlook "B players," who are essential for long-term success and stability. Nurturing these steady performers is crucial for organizational survival and sustained profitability.

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Area of Science:

  • Business Strategy
  • Organizational Behavior
  • Human Resource Management

Background:

  • Companies heavily invest in recruiting and retaining
  • star performers
  • (A players) due to their perceived impact.
  • This focus often leads to underestimating the critical contributions of
  • capable, steady performers
  • (B players).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To re-evaluate the vital role of B players in organizational performance and survival.
  • To highlight how B players act as a stabilizing force against potential recklessness of A players.
  • To guide organizations in valuing and nurturing B players.

Main Methods:

  • Qualitative analysis of organizational dynamics.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Case study insights into company performance and employee roles.
  • Literature review on talent management and organizational stability.

    • Main Results:

    • Long-term company performance and survival depend more on B players than A players.
    • B players provide a crucial stabilizing influence, counterbalancing the risks associated with high-performing visionaries.
    • Organizations often fail to recognize or adequately reward B players, leading to decreased engagement and potential profit decline.

    Conclusions:

    • Rethinking the value and role of B players is essential for sustainable business success.
    • Investing in mentoring and nurturing B players can ensure their continued commitment and contribution.
    • Valuing B players leads to greater organizational stability and mitigates risks associated with solely focusing on A players.