Seeing Around Corners: How to Spot Inflection Points in Business Before They Happen
- Downloads：6639
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-10-01 06:51:22
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Rita McGrath
- ISBN：0358646529
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
- Download
Summary
The first prescriptive， innovative guide to seeing inflection points before they happen—and how to harness these disruptive influences to give your company a strategic advantage
Featuring a foreword by Clayton Christensen
Paradigmatic shifts in the business landscape， known as inflection points， can either create new， entrepreneurial opportunities （see Amazon and Netflix） or they can lead to devastating consequences （e。g。， Blockbuster and Toys “R” Us）。 Only those leaders who can “see around corners”—that is， spot the disruptive inflection points developing before they hit—are poised to succeed in this market。
Columbia Business School professor and corporate consultant Rita McGrath contends that inflection points， though they may seem sudden， are not random。 Every seemingly overnight shift is the final stage of a process that has been subtly building for some time。 Armed with the right strategies and tools， smart businesses can see these inflection points coming and use them to gain a competitive advantage。 Seeing Around Corners is the first hands-on guide to anticipating， understanding， and capitalizing on the inflection points shaping the marketplace。
Featuring a foreword by Clayton Christensen
Paradigmatic shifts in the business landscape， known as inflection points， can either create new， entrepreneurial opportunities （see Amazon and Netflix） or they can lead to devastating consequences （e。g。， Blockbuster and Toys “R” Us）。 Only those leaders who can “see around corners”—that is， spot the disruptive inflection points developing before they hit—are poised to succeed in this market。
Columbia Business School professor and corporate consultant Rita McGrath contends that inflection points， though they may seem sudden， are not random。 Every seemingly overnight shift is the final stage of a process that has been subtly building for some time。 Armed with the right strategies and tools， smart businesses can see these inflection points coming and use them to gain a competitive advantage。 Seeing Around Corners is the first hands-on guide to anticipating， understanding， and capitalizing on the inflection points shaping the marketplace。
Reviews
Phillip Berry
，
Good book。 Very academic in tone but thought provoking。 McGrath frames her approach around Andy Grove's concept of "inflection points" and makes a good case for using a more systematic model for anticipating big changes。 She uses some great case studies to support her argument around the need for a systematic approach and how best to execute on it。 She gets distracted in a few places throughout the book as she stretches to some different kinds of examples but she returns frequently to inflection Good book。 Very academic in tone but thought provoking。 McGrath frames her approach around Andy Grove's concept of "inflection points" and makes a good case for using a more systematic model for anticipating big changes。 She uses some great case studies to support her argument around the need for a systematic approach and how best to execute on it。 She gets distracted in a few places throughout the book as she stretches to some different kinds of examples but she returns frequently to inflection points and it helps center her story。 I particularly enjoyed some of her excursions into leadership stories and style as well as her ability to prompt some deeper thinking along the concepts she presents。 There are no silver bullets in this book but many golden nuggets and I anticipate returning to it as our business continues to evolve through its own inflection points。 。。。more
Teresa
，
https://www。youtube。com/watch？v=cfPiO。。。 （done） https://www。youtube。com/watch？v=cfPiO。。。 （done） 。。。more
Dilip Menon
，
Amazing book for readers who are curious on learning how Netflix， Uber， Adobe and Microsoft （ under Satya） was build。 Simple language and lot of inspiring anecdotes。 My fav being fall in love with the problem rather than solution ！
Linh
，
A good overview of a few practices to generate possibilities and be aware of "weak signals"， there wasn't any content that felt particularly new。 A good overview of a few practices to generate possibilities and be aware of "weak signals"， there wasn't any content that felt particularly new。 。。。more
Kloe Desrosiers
，
Good book for those in product and/or marketing。
Ashley
，
Rita does a nice job in combining two powerful frameworks - the Harvard Business Case Study model and Christensen's Job Theory。There's some good application here in drilling into problems and understanding how elements of a current market that are irritating to users， can become the catalyst for a major change and inflection point （irritation with paying late fees w/ Blockbuster was the line in for the original mail-in Netflix model）。Unique to this book is the strong warning that the goal isn't Rita does a nice job in combining two powerful frameworks - the Harvard Business Case Study model and Christensen's Job Theory。There's some good application here in drilling into problems and understanding how elements of a current market that are irritating to users， can become the catalyst for a major change and inflection point （irritation with paying late fees w/ Blockbuster was the line in for the original mail-in Netflix model）。Unique to this book is the strong warning that the goal isn't to "see" as far into the future as possible and act on it， but to use that information to plan for the appropriate time to act。 Being the first to act on an inflection point too-far in the future can be set up for significant cost and failure （some examples with Microsoft's portable music player strategy）。Anyway， fun read。 Recommended - particularly if you prefer learning via case studies as opposed to stepping through frameworks with point-solution examples。 。。。more
Ben Wiener
，
Didn't work， sadly :-（ Didn't work， sadly :-（ 。。。more
Chris Harris
，
Purchased this book based on the summary as it sounded intriguing。 While the contents are not earth shattering in many respects such as the idea of getting out of the office and talking with stakeholders。 That said I still found the book to be a worthwhile read。 I really liked the chapters “Snow melts from the edges”， Customers not hostages”， and How leadership can and must learn to see around corners。 In the chapter “Customers not hostages” the author discusses Netflix and innovative processes Purchased this book based on the summary as it sounded intriguing。 While the contents are not earth shattering in many respects such as the idea of getting out of the office and talking with stakeholders。 That said I still found the book to be a worthwhile read。 I really liked the chapters “Snow melts from the edges”， Customers not hostages”， and How leadership can and must learn to see around corners。 In the chapter “Customers not hostages” the author discusses Netflix and innovative processes as it involves change。 Certainly much has been written about Netflix， but the author does a great job of using this as a case study in supporting customers needs see around corners and not only continue to meet their needs， but stay ahead of the competition。 There are some gems within the pages and good lessons。 。。。more
Yong
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 https://thenextwavefutures。wordpress。。。。Inflection points， closer to the edge， chaos reign， bricolage https://thenextwavefutures。wordpress。。。。Inflection points， closer to the edge， chaos reign， bricolage 。。。more
George Kuruvilla
，
Always been a fan of Rita's work （Discovery Driven Growth， End of Competitive Advantage etc。） and this is no exception。 In seeing around corners， Rita teaches us how to businesses can spot inflection points much before it happens and how we can act on them when the signal is still weak and capitalize on market opportunities before it becomes obvious。 Plenty of great insights from business leaders and some great case studies along the way that I found to be invaluable。 The last chapter provides i Always been a fan of Rita's work （Discovery Driven Growth， End of Competitive Advantage etc。） and this is no exception。 In seeing around corners， Rita teaches us how to businesses can spot inflection points much before it happens and how we can act on them when the signal is still weak and capitalize on market opportunities before it becomes obvious。 Plenty of great insights from business leaders and some great case studies along the way that I found to be invaluable。 The last chapter provides insights into how we can evolve our careers to be prepared for such changes and taking a design thinking approach towards career progress and development。 Great read！ 。。。more
Aniaszafa
，
A nice structure to the magical projects of change and transformation in business。
Dsetser
，
Excellent book about managing business through major inflection points。
Alyssa
，
Great book for helping spot inflection points。。。 But I would've liked more depth when discussing how to act on them。 Great book for helping spot inflection points。。。 But I would've liked more depth when discussing how to act on them。 。。。more
Matt Busche
，
I was hoping to get a lot more out of it。 Mostly a rehash of other books about how businesses are changing。
Jonathan Beigle
，
I loved this book， and I can't believe it's had so few ratings。 Rita McGrath focuses on how to identify and anticipate inflection points in any industry。 The key quote of the book is， "When spring comes （a metaphor for an inflection point）， snow melts first at the periphery because that is where it most exposed。" If we can keep any on what is happening around the edges， then we have a slight edge in identifying inflection points。 I want to make sure that I empower and trust those who are on the I loved this book， and I can't believe it's had so few ratings。 Rita McGrath focuses on how to identify and anticipate inflection points in any industry。 The key quote of the book is， "When spring comes （a metaphor for an inflection point）， snow melts first at the periphery because that is where it most exposed。" If we can keep any on what is happening around the edges， then we have a slight edge in identifying inflection points。 I want to make sure that I empower and trust those who are on the edges of our businesses because they may be able to identify the biggest breakthroughs。Favorite quotes:p。 14 - "Evidence of an emerging inflection point doesn't indentify itself neatly on the conference table in the corporate boardroom。 It is the people who are directly in contact with the phenomenon who usually notice changes early。"p。 38 - "Make sure your people are incentivized to hear about reality， not the reverse。"p。 102 - "Your ability to look into the future is only as well developed as the set of possibilities you are prepared to entertain。"p。 137 - "People who approach problems with a 'growth mindset' are focused on learning， on keeping an open mind toward new information， and are less concerned with being good than with getting better。"p。 182 - "High performing CEOs are unanimously alike in this one thing: they insist on total candor and brutal truth， even if it challenges their previously held assumptions。 No， make that especially if it challenges their previously held assumptions。" 。。。more
Riccardo Bua
，
Are you wondering what is going to happen next？ You're already behind the curve， one of the most impressive recent read on strategy Are you wondering what is going to happen next？ You're already behind the curve， one of the most impressive recent read on strategy 。。。more
Jari Pirhonen
，
Didn't get much out of it。 Basically - try to see the weak signals and predict disruptions in you business。 Mostly about changes because of digitalization and examples of companies who succeeded or failed to change。 Didn't get much out of it。 Basically - try to see the weak signals and predict disruptions in you business。 Mostly about changes because of digitalization and examples of companies who succeeded or failed to change。 。。。more
Carrie Craft Wheeler
，
Incredibly valuable book and an engaging read。 I took a lot of notes！
Mukom Akong
，
I loved the genera thesis of the book and the examples she presented。 I however would have loved to see the tools developed to be more tactical that would help people implement the ideas of the book。
Somogyi Béla
，
Couple of takeaways from this book:Listen to other people who have other interests。 Analyze their point of view。New information-new attitude， new behaviourIsolation is dangerousWe have to concentrate on our co-workers not only ourselves。Always analyze in small tasks， being opened is vital
Hannamari
，
Though I found this book to have little original ideas， I think this is a good and well-structured package of modern practices on business strategy and leadership summarising and combining ideas from the likes of Ries， McChrystal and Christensen。
Lauri Svan
，
The concept or inflection points seems very similar to Gladwell's tipping point， yet this author builds a bit more classification of organisation readiness for it。Personally， I am more interested in how inflection points are created and therefore found this book of less value than Tipping Point。 The concept or inflection points seems very similar to Gladwell's tipping point， yet this author builds a bit more classification of organisation readiness for it。Personally， I am more interested in how inflection points are created and therefore found this book of less value than Tipping Point。 。。。more
Denis
，
Outstanding book if you want to position yourself or your company to capitalize on （or survive） future inflection points。 It is also a good way to run your career over 40+ years。
Jim
，
An interesting discussion！The idea of inflection points is truly individual as the author points out。 The text is an interesting look at this and the processes one can undertake to improve themselves and their organizations ability to make strategic adjustments。
Greg
，
Paradigmatic shifts in business， also knows as inflection points， can make or break organizations。 This book helps business leaders know how to spot those and take action to prepare for opportunities or disruption。This book is written well。 This is the first book of Rita Mcgrath I’ve ever read and I found it interesting and insightful。 I can’t wait to read her other book The End of Competitive Advantage。The points in this book are well presented。 There are also figures that help illustrate the p Paradigmatic shifts in business， also knows as inflection points， can make or break organizations。 This book helps business leaders know how to spot those and take action to prepare for opportunities or disruption。This book is written well。 This is the first book of Rita Mcgrath I’ve ever read and I found it interesting and insightful。 I can’t wait to read her other book The End of Competitive Advantage。The points in this book are well presented。 There are also figures that help illustrate the points。 It is a bit academic and practical at the same time。 。。。more
Lasse Larvanko
，
Felt that 90% of the stuff has been in other books。 Still interesting stuff， last 100 pages are top notch。
Scott Wozniak
，
This is a solid summary of the ways to approach innovation and disruption。 The standard tools that work in a stable environment won't work in a situation where you don't know the path， where you can't build a step by step plan。 Don't spend a lot of money upfront and don't measure the same things as your usual projects。 Instead， look for insight from the "edges" of your community。 Run a lot of small experiments。 Celebrate learning， not efficiency or profit。 And lead in a high trust， low command & This is a solid summary of the ways to approach innovation and disruption。 The standard tools that work in a stable environment won't work in a situation where you don't know the path， where you can't build a step by step plan。 Don't spend a lot of money upfront and don't measure the same things as your usual projects。 Instead， look for insight from the "edges" of your community。 Run a lot of small experiments。 Celebrate learning， not efficiency or profit。 And lead in a high trust， low command & control way。 。。。more
Eduardo Menezes
，
A professora Rita McGrath não é considerada uma das maiores influenciadoras em pensamento estratégico à toa。 Nessa obra， ela busca atender a uma demanda relativamente antiga de gestores "quando concentrar esforços em desenvolver iniciativas que tirem proveito de potenciais pontos de inflexão？" Para isso， ela trouxe uma abordagem ora prescritiva ora descritiva， combinando teoria com diversos cases de empresas e gestores， o que torna a leitura fluida。Para tirar proveito do livro， recomendo que o l A professora Rita McGrath não é considerada uma das maiores influenciadoras em pensamento estratégico à toa。 Nessa obra， ela busca atender a uma demanda relativamente antiga de gestores "quando concentrar esforços em desenvolver iniciativas que tirem proveito de potenciais pontos de inflexão？" Para isso， ela trouxe uma abordagem ora prescritiva ora descritiva， combinando teoria com diversos cases de empresas e gestores， o que torna a leitura fluida。Para tirar proveito do livro， recomendo que o leitor pesquise brevemente pelos seguintes conceitos: arena competitiva （da própria autora）， Job-to-Be-Done e ponto de inflexão。 Embora os conceitos sejam direta ou indiretamente expostos no decorrer da obra， ter uma definição clara para cada um deles ajuda a maximizar o entendimento de cada página。Fazendo uma análise mais técnica， cabe ressaltar os méritos do livro:- Mostrar a importância de envolver todos os agentes no processo de inovação， em especial os que lidam com a operação;- Entender que organizações disputam por um conjunto de recursos escassos e que um ponto de inflexão muda as circunstâncias da disputa;- Apresentar ferramentas tão simples quanto poderosas para elucidar as condições que podem moldar um ponto de inflexão;- Fornecer insights para que indivíduos preparem suas carreiras para pontos de inflexão capazes de representar uma ameaça ou oportunidade para si。Há poucos aspectos negativos， mas eles devem ser apresentados:- Alguns capítulos se perdem em constatações óbvias， como a de que é preciso ir a campo para entender a magnitude do problema e testar soluções preliminares e a de que é preciso combater silos para que a inovação prospere。 Porém， a autora deve ter feito isso considerando que leitores mais conservadores podem representar expressiva parcela do todo; - Alguns poucos conceitos， como o de Imagination Premium Ratio， não só foram mal apresentados como comprometeram a qualidade do capítulo。 Em um livro de apenas 210 páginas de texto corrido， há espaço para detalhamento em uma edição futura。Dado que a crença de que vantagens competitivas são duradouras é uma miragem， empresas precisam desenvolver e reforçar capacitações não só para prosperar em novas arenas competitivas quanto para consolidar sua posição naquelas em que já está inserida。 Por isso， a leitura desse livro é obrigatória para （futuros） gestores de todos os ramos！ 。。。more
Nick Frazier
，
Good read discussing why organizations （businesses in this case） fail to adopt innovation efforts。Anybody serving in the military can feel the pain when the author discusses "innovation theater" or the attempt to start innovating but failing to back it with processes， education， culture， or leadership。 Good read discussing why organizations （businesses in this case） fail to adopt innovation efforts。Anybody serving in the military can feel the pain when the author discusses "innovation theater" or the attempt to start innovating but failing to back it with processes， education， culture， or leadership。 。。。more
Michael Payne
，