Leading the Revolution

Hamel argues that to thrive in the age of revolution, companies must adopt a radical new innovation agenda. The fundamental challenge companies face is reinventing themselves and their industries not just in times of crisis--but continually. Hamel's Leading the Revolution is an action plan--indeed, an incendiary device--for any company or individual intent on becoming and staying an industry revolutionary. This book will ignite the passions of entry-level assistants, neophyte managers, VPs, CEOs, and everyone else who worries that their company may be caught flat-footed by the future. Based on the experiences of world-class companies including Charles Schwab, Cisco, Virgin Atlantic, Disney, and GE Capital, the book explains the underlying principles of radical innovation, explores where revolutionary new business concepts come from, and identifies the key design criteria for building companies that are activist-friendly. It will show companies how to avoid becoming "one-vision wonders"; harness the imagination of every employee; develop new financial measures that focus on creating new wealth; and create vibrant internal markets for ideas, capital, and talent. Drawing on the examples of activists who profoundly changed their companies with their bare hearts, Hamel outlines the practical steps anyone can take to lead a successful revolution in their own firm.

Contents

1. Facing up the revolution
   
   1. The end of progress
      
   2. Rising expectations, diminishing returns
      
   
   
2. Finding the revolution
   
   1. Business concept innovation
      
   2. Be your own seer
   
   
3. Igniting the revolution
   1. Corporate rebels
      
   2. Go ahead! Revolt!
      
4. Sustaining the revolution
   
   1. Gray-haired revolutionaries
      
   2. Design rules fpr innovation
      
   3. The new innovation solution