# High Output Management

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{{Short description|1983 book by Andy Grove}}
{{italic title}}
'''''High Output Management''''' is a 1983 book by [Andy Grove](/source/Andy_Grove), CEO of [Intel](/source/Intel). It describes many of the management and productivity concepts that Grove used at Intel, such as the [objectives and key results](/source/objectives_and_key_results) (OKR).

''High Output Management'' never reached best seller lists during the 1980s or 1990s, but became a cult classic within [Silicon Valley](/source/Silicon_Valley) decades later and is frequently praised for its influence by tech founders such as [Mark Zuckerberg](/source/Mark_Zuckerberg) of [Meta](/source/Meta_Platforms), [Evan Williams](/source/Evan_Williams_(Internet_entrepreneur)) of [Twitter](/source/Twitter), [Brian Chesky](/source/Brian_Chesky) of [Airbnb](/source/Airbnb), and [Ben Horowitz](/source/Ben_Horowitz) of venture capital firm [a16z](/source/a16z).

==Background==
In contrast to popular management books of the 1980s mostly written by consultants, ''High Output Management'' was written by Grove, a CEO with a [PhD](/source/PhD) in electrical engineering with a lifetime of experience.<ref name="Cult" />

==Synopsis==
''High Output Management'' introduces Grove's "[management by objective](/source/management_by_objective)" approach, also known as the [objectives and key results](/source/objectives_and_key_results) (OKR) framework.<ref name="Cult" />

It has been described as a "crash course for [middle managers](/source/middle_managers)" and discuses the importance of measurable processes, performance reviews, and trainings.<ref name="FT">{{cite news |last1=Hill |first1=Andrew |title=The Dominic Cummings guide to management |url=https://www.ft.com/content/02179112-2311-11ea-92da-f0c92e957a96 |access-date=27 February 2024 |work=[Financial Times](/source/Financial_Times) |date=2019-12-29}}</ref>

==Reception and influence==
When it was first published in 1983, the ''[New York Times](/source/New_York_Times)'' called ''High Output Management'' "an organizational [Baedeker](/source/Baedeker) for managers at all levels," and the ''[Washington Post](/source/Washington_Post)'' described it as "interesting, down-to-earth book that is useful to anyone who influences the work of others, directly or indirectly."<ref name="Cult" />

''High Output Management'' never reached best seller lists during the 1980s or 1990s or received the same level of recognition as  Grove's other management book ''Only the Paranoid Survive''. However, the book became a cult classic within [Silicon Valley](/source/Silicon_Valley) decades later and is frequently praised for its influence by tech founders such as [Mark Zuckerberg](/source/Mark_Zuckerberg) of [Meta](/source/Meta_Platforms), [Evan Williams](/source/Evan_Williams_(Internet_entrepreneur)) of [Twitter](/source/Twitter), and [Brian Chesky](/source/Brian_Chesky) of [Airbnb](/source/Airbnb). The rise in popularity is credited to its promotion by well-known venture capitalist [Ben Horowitz](/source/Ben_Horowitz) and by startup founders who stayed on with their companies as CEOs.<ref name="Cult">{{cite news |last1=McGregor |first1=Jenna |title=How a business book from the '80s became a cult classic in Silicon Valley |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-leadership/wp/2015/11/18/how-a-business-book-from-the-80s-became-a-cult-classic-in-silicon-valley/ |access-date=27 February 2024 |newspaper=[Washington Post](/source/Washington_Post) |date=2015-11-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118232742/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-leadership/wp/2015/11/18/how-a-business-book-from-the-80s-became-a-cult-classic-in-silicon-valley/ |archive-date=2015-11-18}}</ref> Horowitz describes the book as having "almost legendary status," with top venture capitalists giving copies to their entrepreneurs.<ref name="CNBC" />

[Drew Houston](/source/Drew_Houston), founder of [Dropbox](/source/Dropbox), listed ''High Output Management'' as one of his four favorite business books.<ref name="CNBC">{{cite news |last1=Clifford |first1=Catherine |title=Dropbox's CEO reveals 4 of his favorite books on how to be a successful leader |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/29/dropboxs-drew-houston-on-his-four-favorite-business-books.html |access-date=27 February 2024 |work=[CNBC](/source/CNBC) |date=2018-04-01}}</ref>

In response to ''High Output Management'''s resurgence in popularity, publisher [Vintage Books](/source/Vintage_Books) reissued a new edition of the book in 2015, the first since 1995, and an [e-book](/source/e-book) version.<ref name="Cult" />

The OKR framework that Groves describes is widely used in companies in the 21st century.<ref name="Cult" /> British political strategist [Dominic Cummings](/source/Dominic_Cummings) reportedly recommended ''High Output Management'' to government aides after the [2019 United Kingdom general election](/source/2019_United_Kingdom_general_election).<ref name="FT" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1983 non-fiction books
Category:Intel
Category:Vintage Books books
Category:Business books

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [High Output Management](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Output_Management) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Output_Management?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.
