Cartoon Case - The Rainmaker: Managing challenging high-performing employees
Professor Stefan Michel prepared this case for class discussion, not to illustrate the effective or ineffective handling of a business situation....
Professor Stefan Michel‘s primary research interests are AI’s impact on strategy, pricing, and customer-centricity. He has written 13 books, numerous award-winning articles and ranks among the top 40 bestselling case study authors worldwide by The Case Centre. He is currently Dean of Faculty and Research at IMD. He co-directs the Breakthrough Forum for Senior Executives and is also Program Director for two IMD programs: the 10-day Breakthrough Program for Senior Executives (BPSE), guiding leaders in defining their next breakthrough; and Strategic Thinking, an 8-week online program with 1-1 coaching, helping professionals become better strategists while working on a concrete strategic initiative for their organizations.
July 9, 2026 • by Stefan Michel in Leadership • 1 min read
Professor Stefan Michel prepared this case for class discussion, not to illustrate the effective or ineffective handling of a business situation....
March 9, 2026 • by Stefan Michel in Economics • 7 min read
First published 250 years ago, The Wealth of Nations remains a cornerstone of economic thought. Adam Smith’s treatise on free trade is still highly relevant for today’s fracturing global economy, argues Stefan...
February 17, 2026 • by Stefan Michel in Brain Circuits • 4 min read
Many of us still equate gaming with dudes playing video games like Grand Theft Auto in a basement. In fact, as Bastian Bergmann told Stefan Michel in a recent I by IMD Book...
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