The Four Workarounds: Strategies from the World's Scrappiest Organizations for Tackling Complex Problems

by Paulo Savaget

FINANCIAL TIMES' BEST SUMMER BOOKS OF 2023
"Groundbreaking" ―Next Big Idea Club

"This book helps us live happier, successful, and more fulfilling lives." ―Jenn Lim, CEO and cofounder of Delivering Happiness, and bestselling author of Beyond Happiness

We constantly encounter complex problems at home, in our places of work, and in society at large. Even if we had all the time and money in the world, sometimes no good solution can be found. So, what should we do, especially when we can’t wait? The a workaround .

For ages, global corporations have been lecturing small organizations and not-for-profits on how to get things done. As it turns out, it should have been the other way around. In this groundbreaking book, award-winning researcher Paulo Savaget shows how the most valuable lessons about problem-solving can be learned from the scrappiest groups.

Savaget draws most of his examples from small organizations dedicated to social action that have made an art form out of subverting the status quo and have proved themselves adept at achieving massive wins with minimal resources. Through his research, Savaget identified the four workarounds that these groups commonly the piggyback, the loophole, the roundabout, and the next best. With vivid and fascinating examples from his life and travels, he demonstrates how each one works and how to know which one to use when.

The Four Workarounds shows how seemingly intractable problems―from public urination to the challenges of delivering lifesaving medicine to remote communities―were addressed using unconventional tactics. Some of the world’s biggest and most admired companies are already using Savaget’s research to transform the ways they do business. And these same lessons can also revolutionize the ways we approach the challenges we all encounter every day of our lives.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Management, Entrepreneurship, Audiobook, Personal Development, Leadership

304 pages, Hardcover

Published March 7, 2023

Reviews

[Jammin Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book that talked about how scrappy organizations (and people) were able to workaround problems they encountered. One example was how a person worked with Coca-Cola to get oral rehydration salts shipped to remote areas in Brazil. Another was how women near Portugal were able to get around the system by offering family planning & reproductive services off the coast on the water since it wasn't specifically in the country of Portugal. Not sure how I will use this going forward, but it does give you ideas. I want to thank the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for giving me an e-copy of this book, in return for an honest review.

[Steve Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Stevo’s Novel Ideas, I am a long-time book reviewer, member of the media, an Influencer, and a content provider. I received this book as a free review copy from either the publisher, a publicist, or the author, and have not been otherwise compensated for reviewing or recommending it. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

This book was Stevo's Business Book of the Week for the week of 2/26, as selected by Stevo's Book Reviews on the Internet and Stevo's Novel Ideas. Even if we had all the time and money in the world, sometimes no good solution can be found. So, what should we do, especially when we can’t wait? The answer: a workaround.

In the Firesign Theatre album "How Can You Be In Two Places At Once When You're Not Anywhere At All?" Nick Danger pulls into a gas station and asks for directions to the Old Same Place and is told, "You can't get there from here."

The phrase has always intrigued me, as the insinuation is that the desired outcome is impossible no matter what you try. By nature I'm an optimist, so my immediate reaction to such negativity is to recall the sales addage: "If you can't get into a house through the front door, use a window."

The house in Savaget's "The Four Workarounds" has four windows, labeled The Piggy-Back (utilizing unrelated relationships), The Loophole (legally bending often unfair rules), The Roundabout (my favorite - using feedback loops that lead to self-reinforcement), and The Next Best (when the target absolutely can't be reached, getting as close as you can to it).

Using many social action organizations that are used to doing the most with the least, "The Four Workarounds" is packed with examples of each approach, from Henry VIII's creating a new church so he could divorce Catherine of Argon and marry Anne Boleyn (Loophole) to repurposing old cell phones to listen for the sound of chain saws to catch illegal loggers in tropical rainforests (Next Best.)

The best businesses use innovation and unconventional approaches to move forward, but there are few books that describe, in a readable and actionable style, how to initiate and complete these tactics. "The Four Workarounds" takes readers from being excited about the possibilities to saying, "Oh, *that's* how to do it."

Find more Business Books of the Week on my Goodreads Listopia page at https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9..., and find many more reviewed and recommended books and products by searching for me on Google.

[Scot Glasgow]

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing the advance reader copy of this audiobook. I was pleased to get an early review copy, as problem solving and decision making are fields of study I am particularly interested in.

The Four Workarounds: Strategies from the World's Scrappiest Organizations for Tackling Complex Problems by Paulo Savaget and narrated by Roger Wayne was quite an enjoyable exploration of various ways that innovation and creativity can be utilized to solve real world problems of various levels of scale and importance.

The workaround types of Piggybacks, Loopholes, Roundabouts and Next Best were explained clearly, concisely and with interesting real-world examples. Additionally, an entire section was dedicated to developing a Workaround mindset and building on the fundamentals explained in the book to drive solutions in our own lives.

The narration by Roger Wayne was very solid. I would recommend both the book itself and the audiobook to anyone else who may be interested in learning how to use workarounds in an effective and efficient way in their everyday lives.

[Jon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting ideas but really beats a dead horse with examples (and repetition of examples). Could have been an essay or long-form article.

[Amir Sarabadani · Rating 3 out of 5]

First half is great, the second half is terrible.

[Lindsay Nixon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was expecting a more traditional business book. This feels more like an op-Ed or memoir. I do appreciate illustrative examples but there are too many here and they are also too drawn out. I would have liked it to be more succinct. The meat of the book could have been easily summarized well in a HBR article, which makes the book feel drawn out.

Other reviews name the four workarounds so I won’t here. The book is a helpful reminder to avoid black and white thinking. As a lawyer, I live for loopholes!

Thanks netGalley for my ARC

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scrappy Big Organization

This was a really good book on business and ethics.

How to get the most out of everything that you need to do.

I really enjoyed the tips and found it really an important read.

I will definitely be using the tips from this book and have already noticed a change in my interactions!

4.3/5

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Four Workarounds
Strategies From the World’s Scrappiest Organizations for
Tackling Complex Problems
By Paulo Savaget

Delightfully Informative and Thought-provoking

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

SUMMARY
The Four Workarounds shares how organizations have creatively solved problems and created unique solutions to complex problems. The idea of a workaround is to devise a solution quickly and with little fuss. Workarounds must be effective and use easy methods for tackling complex problems.

Author Paulo Savaget has identified four types of workaround that the companies he researched typically employ. The four types are piggyback, loophole, roundabout, and the next best. Savaget tells real-world stories of problems solved using workarounds, such as getting much-needed diarrhea medicine to remote areas of Zambia by piggybacking with Coca-Cola distributors or the roundabout practice in India of discouraging public urination by posting images of deities on outdoor walls.


REVIEW
The Four Workarounds is a delightfully informative and thought-provoking book exploring creative ways to get things done. I loved the clear explanations of the various workarounds, the explanations of real-world applications, and the intriguing problem-solving methods. As a manager and management auditor for many years, I found this book fascinating, and I encourage all managers who must tackle problems, large or small, to read it. There is always a better way to do things.

Author Paulo Savaget is an associate professor at Oxford, University’s Engineering Sciences Department and the Said Business School. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge as a Gates Scholar and has a background working as a lecturer, consultant, entrepreneur, and researcher.

The audiobook narrator Roger Wayne’s pacing, inflection, and tone added immense value to the enjoyment and understanding of the book.

Thanks to Netgalley and MacMillan for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher MacMillan Audio/Flat Iron Books
Published March 7, 2023
Narrated Roger Wayne
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

[Andrew Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those few self-help / business books that offers practical, actionable advice and provides genuine insights, even if you've already read a dozen of this kind of book. Savaget offers the usual mix of anecdotes and structured advice, though because the topics covered in this book are largely on the periphery of society, almost by default, this book lacks the frequent reference to psychology and sociology studies that others in this category rely on.

However, I think Savaget uses that as a strength. In the space of those studies, the book includes additional stories, providing insight into the four workarounds in other fields and industries, and from other perspectives, giving the reader a clearer, more complete understanding of these methods. I found the break of the usual formula refreshing, and I think I genuinely have a firmer grasp on each of the four workarounds than I usually do on the topics of this genre of book.

Although that could be due to Savaget's writing style, which I found easy to read but not oversimplified. Additionally, I found myself relieved to discover that, when a workaround steered into ethically and morally ambiguous areas, Savaget acknowledged that, and the same goes for the stories that served as teaching examples of each workaround. Not only do those stories come with enlightening context, but Savaget points out when the issues being addressed by the workarounds stem from systemic problems (which is frequently).

Overall, I would say that not only did I retain more from this book than the usual of its class and enjoy reading it more, but the actual content--the four workarounds themselves--are insightful and practical tools that I can see myself using regularly, both in my personal and professional life.

[Read Walk Repeat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Synopsis:
A deep dive into how organizations problem solve in creative and non-traditional ways, supported by real-world examples from a variety of sources. The book explores ideas such as: the piggy-back strategy (linking onto an established system) and the next-best strategy (starting with a partial or temporary solutions until the time is right for a pivotal change), and offers suggestions on how to incorporate these work-around strategies into your problem solving routines.

✍️ My review:
A well researched book with lots of memorable examples, these ideas can be applied to problem solving for just about any scenario. It was refreshing to hear that there is rarely “one” right solution (no one-size-fits-all) and that any solution is likely going to have to evolve, pivot, and change over time. The audio was well paced and engaging, but as there was a lot of ideas / info presented, I’d likely need the print copy or a work-book if I was going to apply some of these strategies in a meaningful way.

💕You might like this book if:
🔹you are ready to look at innovative ways to approach problems
🔹 you learn best when given real-world examples to connect to
🔹you enjoyed books such as Atomic Habits by James Clear

A huge thank-you to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for providing me with an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Manouane Beauchamp · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dans ce livre, l'auteur présente des stratégies adoptées afin d'innover et trouver une solution simple à un problème. Dans les pages, il présente 4 grands types de stratégies :

1. The Piggyback : Utiliser des ressources existantes et sans rapport pour atteindre un objectif (exemple : transporter des produits pharmaceutiques insérés dans les caisses de transport de bouteilles de soda, afin de s'assurer que le produit soit disponible partout dans un pays avec peu de ressources).
2. The Loophole : Exploiter une faille dans les règles pour contourner un problème.
3. The Roundabout : Contourner un obstacle en adoptant une approche indirecte afin de gagner du temps ou désamorcer une situation (exemple : placarder des images saintes en Inde pour faire en sorte que les jeunes hommes cessent d'uriner sur les murs des maisons).
4. The Next Best : Opter pour une solution imparfaite mais réalisable, lorsque la solution idéale est hors de portée (exemple : utiliser des téléphones portables usagés pour surveiller les sons de la forêt et lutter contre la déforestation).

L'idée ici est de souligner qu'avec de l'imagination et de la créativité, il est possible de trouver des solutions simples et efficaces.

Maintenant que vous connaissez les idées centrales au livres, vous pouvez vous éviter de le lire car ce livre est ennuyeux.

[Neesa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting collection of stories about unconventional ways to solve variety of problems is presented in this book.

I really enjoyed the part where the stories supporting each Workaround strategy (namely: Piggybacking, Loopholes, Roundabouts and The next best) were described in details.

However, the part where the author tried to explain how to apply these strategies to readers' realities felt unapplicable and more of a repeat of the same stories from the first part of the book.

The author also dives deep into explaining why following rules doesn't always benefit us to think in a Workaround way. Which I thought was a completely unnecessary part in this book.... we got from all the stories that we need to bend the rules and deviate from the prescribed behavior to achieve an enlightenment of a workaround idea....

I thought a couple of examples where the author takes us through the thinking pattern of workaround solutions were fun and helpful: the wolf and the 3 piglets story and the German woman helping immigrants.

But overall I felt like the message was: think outside the box (though that's exactly the expression the author doesn't like) and be creative.

Ok got it... Easy....

Overall: 3.5/5

[Wan Shoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Four Workarounds" offers valuable wisdom for finding solutions, presenting quicker and more efficient alternatives to conventional approaches. The author emphasizes the importance of thinking outside the box to tackle complex problems, innovate, or improvise when completing tasks. Each case study effectively illustrates the four workarounds, highlighting the power of creativity and boldness in achieving goals.

The book’s focus on trial-and-error and quick-thinking methods strongly resonated with me. It taught me that pivoting away from rigid plans is often essential to minimize further setbacks—something we frequently resist due to our attachment to meticulously structured approaches. I was particularly inspired by the pioneers who dared to take the road less traveled, paving the way for more efficient, resource-conscious solutions that improve well-being.

The four concepts are well-defined and easy to remember. I highly recommend this book, as you may already be using some of these workarounds without realizing it. Understanding them in depth can help refine and enhance your problem-solving strategies.

[Francois Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC courtesy of NetGalley.

The Four Workarounds surprised me: I run a small, modest business in Namibia and have always been at odds with many popular business books because most of them are always written within an American, sanitised Western context. This was the first book in a long while that actually uses a couple of examples from Africa, and I am not surprised as many of the workaround strategies in this book are an everyday reality for many of us doing business in Africa. Often, my biggest frustration lies not with the local challenges of doing business but in dealing with global companies that are more inflexible and resistant to change than one might imagine.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found myself nodding at various points throughout. The Four Workarounds is a breath of fresh air and not just "pie-in-the-sky"; it offers real ideas and suggestions. It also encourages one to actively challenge the status quo and not just mindlessly following rules/procedures because that was how it was always done.

[Kari Kirfman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

The Four Workarounds contains solid ideas about how to work around problems in your daily life or an organization. Further, it gives many examples of the four archetypes of workarounds and instructions on how/why to use them and identify that you might need a workaround.

I enjoyed listening to this audiobook and hearing the examples where these workarounds have been implemented. However, you could sum up the ideas and pointers in an HBR-length article instead of an entire book. This seems like too little substance for a book.

[Amanda Munn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a couple of takeaways but ultimately felt I was being constantly reassured of many of my practices when it comes to problem-solving. I do see how this would be highly beneficial to individuals who are early in their careers or who are not necessarily solution-oriented.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author shares four problem-solving strategies familiar to readers who've accumulated considerable life and work experience: roundabouts, loopholes, piggybacks, and next bests. I wouldn't exactly call these concepts groundbreaking. But he does recount examples of how these strategies work in many startup and nonprofit organizations, with some direction on how to implement them elsewhere.

[Patrick Pilz · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and highly entertaining perspective on obstacles in our lives and in our society and how to think about them differently, how to either overcome them, but them into a holding pattern or permanently resolve them.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read that includes a variety of creative and innovative solutions to seemingly and actual big challenges. This may be inspirational or just informative, but it is a pretty good read. Recommended.

Thanks very much for the free ARC for review!!

[Kedijik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not cohesive or well thought-out to be memorable or implementation friendly. More like saying "have you tried getting creative?" Sure, maybe that starts some people's brains running but unlikely to be effective in most cases.

[Mary FCarnduff · Rating 3 out of 5]

May be worthwhile for someone new to problem-solving, but really just described options any leader may use to address issues. I didn't feel it was particularly actionable and the examples were drawn out.

[CatReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like I've read dozens of business/strategy books that have the same/very similar underlying concepts, just packaged differently.

[Melinda Kline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some very practical solutions to problem solving! Specifically helpful in the non-profit world.

[Mert · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,7 I would say!

[Aaron Ladd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots to digest and could have been broken in better sections, but greatly informative.

[Tom Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the first half of the book - with lots of practical and interesting examples, but found the second half much tougher - more academic and much less practical.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come

[Helen Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great examples from corporations across history & a global mindset within the examples used

[Yama Chen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Many books related to similar topic are much better than it.

[Robin]

四種變通方法的一種，我將它們命名為：搭便車、鑽漏洞、迂迴側進、退而求其次