Most of Barnard's career was spent in executive practice. A Mount Hermon and Harvard education, cut off short of the bachelor's degree, was followed by nearly 40 years in AT&T. His association with Elton Mayo and the latter's colleagues at the Harvard Business School had an important bearing on his most original ideas.

Now reprinted for the eighteenth time, 'The Functions of the Executive' has steadily increased in influence and circulation since its first appearance.