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Capitalism At The Crossroads: The Unlimited Business Opportunities In Solving The World's Most Difficult Problems
Global capitalism stands at a crossroads-facing international terrorism, worldwide environmental change, and an accelerating backlash against globalization. Today's global companies are at a crossroads, finding new strategies for profitable growth has never been more challenging. Both sets of problems are intimately linked, says Stuart L. Hart-and so are the solutions. In Capitalism at the Crossroads, Hart shows companies how to identify sustainable products that can drive new growth as they also help solve today's most crucial social problems. Drawing on his experience consulting with top companies and NGOs worldwide, Hart shows how to integrate new technology to deliver profitable solutions that reduce poverty and protect the environment at the same time. Along the way, you'll learn how to become truly indigenous to all your markets-and avoid the pitfalls of traditional "greening" and "sustainability" strategies. This book transcends yesterday's stale debates about globalization, pointing the way toward a capitalism that's more inclusive, more welcome, and far more successful. But great ideas aren't enough. Hart presents on-the-ground techniques for transforming them into reality, helping leaders re-ignite innovation, growth, and profitability in their own businesses, starting today.
241 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2005
93 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 27, 2019
Optimistic and yet clear-eyed view of how corporations will need to evolve to embrace sustainable practices, environmentally, and culturally. Somewhat inspiring to think about local, low-cost solutions for the BoP: I loved the goal of "impatient for profits, patient for growth." I probably lean somewhat more skeptical around business' ability to realize the stated benefits purely in profit/bottom-line terms, but it's cause for modest hope.
August 25, 2013
Sometimes, I miss optimism. The daily headlines about poverty, warfare, disease and economics seem overwhelmingly bleak. At times like this, it is good to have a book like "Capitalism at the Crossroads" near at hand.
This is another volume that was recommended to me as a "top business book." It is a book written for a popular or lay audience by a business academic. As such, it is at times a touch dry and pedantic. But the content far outweighs those mild downsides. Dr. Stuart Hart is one of the foremost thinkers in the world about the concept of sustainability in business. His ideas about sustainability goes far beyond the simplistic notions of using less fossil fuels.
In fact, in this book, Hart encourages business leaders to get beyond greening and accept creative destruction in the marketplace as a modus operandi for moving to the next stage of opportunities. Leapfrog technologies and business ideas that began at the margins of society will disrupt current models and be the next wave of global capitalism - and Hart believes that this is not only inevitable but necessary. Four billion people are not a part of what Hart calls "the money economy" and unless we find ways to integrate these people, living in "the traditional economy" while respecting the "natural economy" we will lose everything we have gained.
But this is not a negative book! Hart believes that business can and will step up to the challenge. Those who do not will miss out on excellent opportunities to do well while doing the right thing. Hart challenges businesspeople, especially those in larger multi-national corporations (MNC's), to find ways to engage with minority stakeholders, especially those four billion at the base of the economic period. From unusual partnerships will come opportunity. This book even discusses some successes and failures from current MNC's, providing examples of what can be done with innovative thinking, courage and yes, optimism.
Recommended for those who want a taste of what business could be in the 21st century.
This is another volume that was recommended to me as a "top business book." It is a book written for a popular or lay audience by a business academic. As such, it is at times a touch dry and pedantic. But the content far outweighs those mild downsides. Dr. Stuart Hart is one of the foremost thinkers in the world about the concept of sustainability in business. His ideas about sustainability goes far beyond the simplistic notions of using less fossil fuels.
In fact, in this book, Hart encourages business leaders to get beyond greening and accept creative destruction in the marketplace as a modus operandi for moving to the next stage of opportunities. Leapfrog technologies and business ideas that began at the margins of society will disrupt current models and be the next wave of global capitalism - and Hart believes that this is not only inevitable but necessary. Four billion people are not a part of what Hart calls "the money economy" and unless we find ways to integrate these people, living in "the traditional economy" while respecting the "natural economy" we will lose everything we have gained.
But this is not a negative book! Hart believes that business can and will step up to the challenge. Those who do not will miss out on excellent opportunities to do well while doing the right thing. Hart challenges businesspeople, especially those in larger multi-national corporations (MNC's), to find ways to engage with minority stakeholders, especially those four billion at the base of the economic period. From unusual partnerships will come opportunity. This book even discusses some successes and failures from current MNC's, providing examples of what can be done with innovative thinking, courage and yes, optimism.
Recommended for those who want a taste of what business could be in the 21st century.
January 10, 2011
One of Cambridge Sustainability's Top 50 Books for Sustainability, as voted for by our alumni network of over 3,000 senior leaders from around the world. To find out more, click here.
Capitalism at the Crossroads begins by showing why our current model of capitalism is unsustainable. The book takes 'the contrarian's' view that business is uniquely equipped to lead us toward a sustainable world. Properly focused, the profit motive can accelerate (not inhibit) the transformation toward global sustainability, with non-profits, governments and mutlilateral agencies all playing crucial roles as collaborators.
Hart 'foresees massive opportunities for companies both to make money and to make the world a better place, particulalrly among the four billion poor at the base of the economic pyramid'. This view is a deliberate challenge to what he calls the 'Great Trade-Off Illusion': the belief that firms must sacrifice financial performance to meet societal obligations.
Capitalism at the Crossroads begins by showing why our current model of capitalism is unsustainable. The book takes 'the contrarian's' view that business is uniquely equipped to lead us toward a sustainable world. Properly focused, the profit motive can accelerate (not inhibit) the transformation toward global sustainability, with non-profits, governments and mutlilateral agencies all playing crucial roles as collaborators.
Hart 'foresees massive opportunities for companies both to make money and to make the world a better place, particulalrly among the four billion poor at the base of the economic pyramid'. This view is a deliberate challenge to what he calls the 'Great Trade-Off Illusion': the belief that firms must sacrifice financial performance to meet societal obligations.
June 14, 2011
Stuart L Hart needs no mention in the academic circle of sustainability. One of the founding fathers of theory of sustainability and bottom of pyramid (together with late C.K Prahlad), Hart presents bold ideas of sustainability and how the private sector is ideally positioned for a social and environmental change. Not only does he make a case that it is required but also how companies can profit from sustainable ideas and business models. He recommends a complete change in thinking and business model for companies in the short and long term future, so that they can not only effect a positive change.
As a follower and believer in the theory of sustainability, I found this book very refreshing, vivid and simple in language, yet filled with examples on sustainable business ideas already in practice. Considering that this was written more than 10 years ago, it presents a radical change in business thinking.
As a follower and believer in the theory of sustainability, I found this book very refreshing, vivid and simple in language, yet filled with examples on sustainable business ideas already in practice. Considering that this was written more than 10 years ago, it presents a radical change in business thinking.
June 4, 2007
Informative and well-written book, I found it to be better and easier to read than The Fortune At The Bottom Of The Pyramid.
Author makes a convincing case that capitalism will thrive by embracing sustainability, so it is imperative that it will do so.
Author makes a convincing case that capitalism will thrive by embracing sustainability, so it is imperative that it will do so.
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April 22, 2009Sustainable global enterprise as the key to reducing poverty, reversing environmental destruction, and counteracting terrorism
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews