We live in an age of global crises, from the climate emergency to spiralling income inequality. We can no longer ignore that established ways of doing business pose real existential threats to humankind and that businesses have been major contributors to the problems we face.
While we cannot change what has happened, we can change how we do things from now on and business leaders today are well placed to effect positive changes. So, what can businesses do to shift from being makers of goods to being a force for good?
In his new book, Radical Business, award-winning academic and business leader John Davis, 
argues the changes needed are surprisingly simple. The difficulty lies in the effort to change human behaviour and to dismantle decades of investment that reinforces obsolete practices. Drawing upon his experience of working with leaders and organizations across over forty countries, he offers clear, inspiring examples of companies that are already taking action and presents a simple framework to help C-suite leaders and executive teams reimagine and rearchitect their businesses to develop their own blueprint for putting societal value at the heart of their business.
Why this book matters:
- We live in an age where the global problems confronting us are unprecedented – climate crisis, social and economic injustice, war, pandemics. We need all companies from start-ups to Fortune 100 to innovate – quickly.
- McKinsey (2020) research shows that when companies invest in innovation during a crisis, they end up outperforming competitors by 10% on market capitalization; and those that invest in innovation postcrisis outperform competitors by 30%.
- Consumer behaviours are changing significantly. They are increasingly making purchase decisions based on companies’ contributions to society.
- Evidence based – written by author who has spent half his professional life in the business world and half in academia.
- Gaining critical acclaim from CEO’s and academics worldwide
BOX OUT: “Businesses are more than products and profits. The best ones are a vital part of our social lives, well-being, and what lies in and beyond our happiness. With people worldwide seeking companies that do well by doing good, Radical Business is the new MBA, showing you what business in the 21st century must do to improve the world.”-Jenn Lim, Co-Founder, CEO and Chief Humanity Officer at Delivering Happiness.
Radical business is divided into three overarching sections about how a business in the 21st century can create value:
- Value Meaning: focus on defining the business’s societal value aspiration
- Value Measure: focus on how progress toward the business’s aspiration is evaluated
- Value Mobilization: focus on the actions and activation tactics businesses must undertake to achieve their aspiration
Each chapter gives clear, crisp and actionable recommendations which are evidence based and begins with a captivating story of a key person or leader that was interviewed, which sets-up the focus for the rest of the chapter. Radical Business while being academically rigorous is also accessible for the layman and provides a guide for leaders and companies that are wanting to embrace the challenges facing them in hope of a ensuring a healthier society and planet.
Radical Business: How to Transform Your Organization in the Age of Global Crisis by John A Davis is published by Emerald, available April 19 priced £22.00
