08. Management

08. Management

8.1 List top management.
8.2 Summarize any recent management changes.
8.3 Provide management biographies.
8.4 Compile management compensation.
8.5 What other corporations are top managers associated with?
8.6 List any other news items about management (social clubs, political activity).
8.7 List management consultant/union buster.

In try­ing to under­stand how power flows in a firm, it is fun­da­men­tal to learn as much as you can about man­age­ment. Is top man­age­ment new or are they the founders of the firm? What has hap­pened to their com­pen­sa­tion over the past sev­eral years? Does it mir­ror the eco­nomic per­for­mance of the firm? It is also impor­tant to dis­cover if and how they are connected to other firms. In build­ing a strate­gic cam­paign these con­nec­tions and cor­po­rate inter­locks may be very impor­tant in exert­ing pres­sure on the firm. Per­sonal con­nec­tions may be impor­tant as well.  They may be a big sup­porter of their alma mater or the local opera, and these con­nec­tions can also be impor­tant in bring­ing pres­sure to bear.

Form DEF 14A (The Proxy Statement) from the SEC is the best place to get information on management. It is available from the SEC’S Edgar web site. The company annual report and company web site typically also includes biographical information of management.

Rank and Filed uses SEC documents to create graphs of corporate interlocks.

Use a general news search and social media to find out more about management’s current activities.

When doing news searches, make sure to go to local newspapers and media outlets in the city in which the firm is located. Some of this information many not show up on a general search.

Firms and top management are increasingly using a variety of social media and it is becoming an important research tool. LinkedIn is a popular business social-networking site. You need to be a member to search (membership is free) and you can search by companies as well as individuals. Facebook is becoming very popular with individuals and firms, and can be a great source of information. You need to be a member but membership is free.

Little Sis allows you to search by individual, and shows how they connect to others in industry and government.

Public databases available through government agencies may provide important information on individuals.  Secretary of State offices often provide corporate databases that include lists of officers, such as a board of directors (an example from Massachusetts here).  These corporate databases may tell you what other companies a manager is affiliated with.  State or local governments may offer information on property ownership through assessor records (example from California here).  Court records are also valuable sources of information, and should be checked at the local, superior court, and Federal levels.  Depending on the jurisdiction, court records may or may not be available online, and are often provided for a fee.

You can use the Union Busters Alerts database to find out if a company has hired a management consultant/union buster.

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