In Dual Transformation, a book co-authored with Clark Gilbert and Mark Johnson, Scott Anthony explains how and why to combine assets and benefits of scale with entrepreneurial behavior to drive massive impact.
They observe:
“When you take your first algebra class, you’re introduced to the Greek letter delta. The capital form of the fourth letter in the Greek alphabet, Δ also serves as shorthand in math equations for change. The kind of change we’re talking about here is indeed a very large delta. Achieving that change requires following this formula:
A + B + C = Δ
“Here’s how it breaks down:
A = Transformation A: Reposition today‘s business to maximize its resilience.
B = Transformation B: Create a separate growth engine.
C = The Capabilities link. Fight unfairly by taking advantage of difficult-to replicate assets without succumbing to the sucking sound of the core.
“The formula’s simplicity belies the complexity of its execution.”
Anthony and his co-authors wrote this book to explain how to do all this…and more, much more.
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Scott D. Anthony is the Managing Partner of Innosight. Based in the firm’s Singapore offices since 2010, he has led Innosight’s expansion into the Asia-Pacific region as well as its venture capital activities (Innosight Ventures). To learn more about him and his work, please click here.
Dual Transformation: How to Reposition Today’s Business While Creating the Future was published by Harvard Business Review Press (March 2017).
Those who share my high regard for this book are urged to check out The Three-Box Solution: A Strategy for Leading Innovation in which Vijay Govindarajan provides what he characterizes as “a simple framework that recognizes all three competing challenges face that managers face when leading innovation.” That is, simultaneously managing today’s business while creating tomorrow’s and letting go of yesterday’s values and beliefs that could keep the company stuck in the past.