Publications for
Executives

In my writing for managers, I mainly address issues of strategic transformation, change management, and growth through innovation.

Magazine Articles

Alemany, L. & Vermeulen, F. 2023. Disability as a source of competitive advantage. Harvard Business Review. (July-August issue)

Markides, C. & Vermeulen, F. 2023. Have companies become too specialized? Harvard Business Review, online article

Vermeulen, F. & Ody-Brasier, A. 2020. Which firms are allowed to be disruptors? Harvard Business Review, online article.

Books

Breaking Bad Habits (2017)

Vermeulen, F. 2017. Breaking Bad Habits: Defy industry norms and reinvigorate your business. Harvard Business Review Press (November)

Business Exposed (2010)

Vermeulen, F. 2010. Business Exposed: The naked truth about what really goes on in the world of business. FT Prentice Hall.

Translated in Chinese, Dutch, Japanese, Korean, Russian
Business Book of the Month, WHSmith
Nominated for Business Book of the Year (the Netherlands)
Reviewed in Business Strategy Review, the Economist, Director Magazine, People Matters, TopMBA, Meuse-Rhine Journal, Educators’ Digest, Management & Literatuur (in Dutch), Intermediair (in Dutch), among others
Best-seller and fastest-selling book on Kindle in Japan
Paperback in Japanese, 2018

Vermeulen, F. 2019. Companies don’t always need a purpose beyond profit. Harvard Business Review, online article.

Vermeulen, F. 2018. How Capitec became South Africa’s biggest bank. Harvard Business Review, online article.

Vermeulen, F. & Sivanathan, N. 2017. Stop doubling down on your failing strategy. Harvard Business Review, (November issue).

Vermeulen, F. 2017. What so many strategists get wrong about digital disruption. Harvard Business Review, online article.

Vermeulen, F. 2016. Stop comparing management to sports. Harvard Business Review, online article.

Cable D. & Vermeulen, F. 2016. Stop paying executives for performance. Harvard Business Review, online article.

Vermeulen, F. 2015. Five strategy questions every leader should make time for. Harvard Business Review, online article.

Vermeulen, F. 2015. Three steps to break out in a tired industry. Harvard Business Review, online article.

Vermeulen, F. 2014. What happens when all employees work when they feel like it? Harvard Business Review, online article.

Vermeulen, F. 2014. The two questions every manager must ask. Harvard Business Review, online article.

Vermeulen, F. 2013. You can win without differentiation. Harvard Business Review, online article.

Vermeulen, F. 2013. How to let 999 flowers die. Strategy+Business, Autumn issue.

Vermeulen, F. 2013. Beware the sirens of management pseudo-science. Harvard Business Review, online article.

Vermeulen, F. 2013. How would you define ‘a great company’? Strategy+Business, online article.

Vermeulen, F., Zaman, A. 2013. Big acquisitions can fall apart over tiny details. Harvard Business Review, online article.

Vermeulen, F. 2013. Corporate strategy is a fool's errand. Harvard Business Review, online article.

Vermeulen, F. 2012. Which best practice is ruining your business? Harvard Business Review, online article.

Vermeulen, F. 2012. Strategy is the story. Business Strategy Review. July issue.

Vermeulen, F. 2012. So, you think you have a strategy? European Business Review. January issue.

Vermeulen, F. 2011. Cutting business myths down to size. Business Strategy Review. January issue.

Vermeulen, F. 2010. The case for work/life programs. Harvard Business Review in point, May issue.

Vermeulen, F., Puranam, P., & Gulati, R. 2010. Change for change’s sake. Harvard Business Review, June issue.

Vermeulen, F. 2005. How acquisitions can revitalize companies. Sloan Management Review, 46: 45-51. Reprinted in PKU Business Review (in Chinese)

Oultets