H. Irving Grousbeck

Adjunct Professor, Organizational Behavior
+1 (650) 723-0709

H. Irving Grousbeck

The MBA Class of 1980 Adjunct Professor of Management

Academic Area:
Organizational Behavior

Teaching Statement

Irv Grousbeck was cofounder and codirector of the Business School’s Center for Entrepreneurial Studies and coauthor of the textbook "New Business Ventures and the Entrepreneur." His teaching centers on an objective means to develop a greater understanding of the issues faced by entrepreneurial companies and individuals. His course, Conversations in Management, places students in the role of CEO and challenges them to deal with difficult managerial issues by assessment, prescription, and execution, including frequent role-plays. Mr. Grousbeck also teaches a course at the Stanford Medical School, Managing Difficult Conversations, for GSB and medical students who aspire to improve their ability to deal effectively with difficult interpersonal situations.
Show More

Bio

With a partner, Grousbeck founded Continental Cablevision (later Media One) in 1964. He was President of that company through 1980, and Chairman through 1985. He was a Visiting Lecturer and then Lecturer at Harvard Business School from 1981-85. He became a Visiting Lecturer at Stanford in 1985, a Lecturer in 1986, and a Consulting Professor in 1996.

Grousbeck has served on numerous for-profit and not-for-profit Boards over the past 37 years, including (currently) Asurion Corp., ResponseLink, and the Boston Celtics. He was a Trustee of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Vice Chairman of the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education, Chairman and President of Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Chairman of the Board of Sponsors of New England Eye Bank, Overseer of Children’s Hospital (Boston), and Chairman of Menlo School and College. He is the principal owner of the Boston Celtics.

He holds an MBA from Harvard University, and Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Humane Letters (Hon.) degrees from Amherst College.

Show More

Academic Degrees

  • MBA, Harvard University, 1960
  • BA, Amherst College, 1956

Academic Appointments

  • At Stanford University since 1985
  • Co-Director, Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, Stanford GSB, 1996–2013
  • Lecturer, Harvard Business School, 1981–1985
  • Instructor, Harvard Business School, 1962–1964

Professional Experience

  • Chairman, Continental Cablevision, Inc., 1980–1985
  • President, Continental Cablevision, Inc., 1964–1980
  • Cofounder, Continental Cablevision, Inc., 1964

Awards and Honors

  • Doctor of Humane Letters (Hon.), Menlo College, 2016
  • Doctor of Humane Letters (Hon.), Amherst College, 2000
  • MBA Distinguished Teaching Award, Stanford GSB, 1987

Publications

Journal Articles

Books

Teaching

Degree Courses

2022-23
2021-22
2020-21
2019-20
2018-19

Stanford Case Studies

Show More

Stanford GSB Affiliations

Service to the Profession

  • Former Vice Chairman: Massachusetts Board of Higher Education

Director

  • Alta Colleges
  • Asurion, Inc.
  • Boston Celtics
  • ResponseLink

In the Media

Show More

Insights by Stanford Business

Show More

School News