Shared Purpose: A thousand business ecosystems, a connected community, and the future

by James F. Moore

This book is a progress report on a study of leadership in the vast network of business ecosystems associated with ARM Holdings and its 1000 plus community of partners. You have this technology next to your body right now. The community's products power 98% of smartphones (Apple, Samsung, HTC, MotoX, all Android), 100% of disc-drive controllers, a third to a half--and rising fast--of all "embedded" controllers--such as those in smart thermostats (Nest), wearable athletic monitors (BodyMedia), portable medical devices (pocket EKG), refrigerators, ranges, washers--and your car's GIS, entertainment system, stability control, emergency communications, and machine vision/advanced safety technology. What makes these companies most interesting is the degree to which they share the purpose of creating a sustainable, thriving community of businesses that transform the world. They have established a cooperative ethos among themselves that is rare in business today. They have combined many of the traditional strengths of technology companies with attitudes of openness characteristic of the open source software movement. The result is a powerful hybrid style of leadership that has enabled the community to grow and prosper, disrupting and transforming traditional businesses and weathering the economic storms of the past few years. This community continues to spread its influence around the world at an increasing rate.

82 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2013