Seeing Around Corners: How to Spot Inflection Points in Business Before They Happen

by Rita Gunther McGrath

Inflection points, as discussed first by Andy Grove in his book, Only the Paranoid Survive, are paradigmatic shifts that lead to entrepreneurial opportunities, such as those companies like Amazon and Netflix seized, or lead to failure, if not responded to adequately as in the instances of companies like Nokia, Blockbuster, Intel, Kodak, and Xerox. Leaders must “see around corners” to identify disruption and must respond appropriately. Business School Professor and consultant Rita McGrath contends that though the disruption often seems sudden, it is not entirely random and can be anticipated. Typically, it is the result of process that has been brewing for some time. Armed with the right strategies and tools, organizational leaders can identify that a disruption is arriving and can benefit from it if they take timely steps. This book is a guide to anticipating, understanding, and capitalizing the inflection points in the lives of business. Rich in example, it
provides a structured approach to understanding and responding to the disruptive inflections every business inevitably face. Case study presentations and illustrations are central. This book is a must for navigating in a world of constant disruptions.

Alfred Marcus, Edson Spencer Professor of Strategy and Technology University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management.

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