Robert S. Hartman was born in Berlin on January 27, 1910. In the early stages of his career, Hartman worked with the Walt Disney Company as a strategist and adviser and helped the business expand into parts of Europe and South America. He also served as Walt Disney's personal adviser.

Hartman's life-long quest was to answer the question, "What is good?"— and eventually left Disney to begin his studies and research in the field. He believed that he had found the answer in the axiom upon which he based his science of axiology: a thing is good when it fulfills its concept.

In the field of psychology, he applied his axiology in "The Hartman Value Inventory," a value profile widely used by consultants and psychiatrists, which measures with exactness the character of an individual. Before his death, five of the largest corporations in the country used the Hartman value concepts in developing the sensitivity of their executives to the human value aspects of management decisions.

His international reputation and the esteem in which he is held by scholars throughout the world are reflected in the book Value and Valuation: Axiological Studies in Honor of Robert S. Hartman (1972). Hartman has also been credited with being the founding spirit behind the business-retirement plan, the 401K.

Dr. Robert K. Smith is the creator of the ZERORISK Hiring System, the Clear Direction Management Development Program, the Individual Contributor Development Program, and the Clear Direction Team Directory, and is a consultant for and adviser to ZERORISK HR. Known as a leader in professional development, team-building, and executive advisory services, Dr. Smith is the author of four books, including the award winning management book Discover Your Blind Spots.

Dr. Smith has provided executive advisory services to companies such as EDS, the Department of Labor, NCR, Universal Studios, Comcast-Spectacor, and the Sara Lee Corporation. His work is based on the science of axiology, a science discovered by Nobel Prize nominee Dr. Robert S. Hartman.

Dr. Smith has three graduate degrees, including a doctorate in human development and conflict management from Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, California. In 1980, Dr. Smith was named a case study fellow with Harvard's Graduate School of Business and had two cases published.

Dr. Smith is well known as a leader in formal axiology and in human resources issues such as behavioral interviewing, retention, pre-employment testing, hiring, motivating, management training, and team building.