Ants, Galileo, and Gandhi: Designing the Future of Business Through Nature, Genius, and Compassion [Paperback]

Sissel A. Waage (Author), Ray Anderson (Introduction)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1874719713 | ISBN-13: 978-1874719717 | Publication Date: September 2003

Although sustainability efforts in business are still a work in progress, it is increasingly clear that key elements of a new generation of enterprises will be radically different from those of our contemporary modern industrial eco nomy. The core distinctions between what currently exists and what is being created are communicated in this book through the compelling metaphor of "Ants, Galileo and Gandhi". This collection, developed from The Natural Step's conference on Sustainability and Innovation in 2002, provides radical ideas for generating a new perspective on the dynamics of business systems. "Ants" symbolise the lessons to be learned from nature and the dependence of individual beings on broader, complex systems. "Galileo" embodies brilliance in perceiving and proving that the current paradigm is flawed. "Gandhi" exemplifies exceptional compassion in fighting for fundamental change. All of these attributes are increasingly relevant in a world where, globally, we are experiencing both a steady decline in life-supporting resources and rising demands. Recognition of these challenges is sparking innovation within the private sector where the first glimmers of systemic change can be seen. The book examines the emergence of 21st-century enterprises that recognise their reliance on broad social and ecological systems ("ants"), incorporate sparks of genius rooted in rigorous analyses ("Galileo"), and acknowledge the importance of compassion and determination within any endeavour ("Gandhi"). With contributions from Ray Anderson, Gretchen Daily, Karl-Henrik Robert, Alois Flatz, Allen White and many more, the book illustrates that pioneering companies recognise that new opportunities emerge from recognising the broader systems on which all businesses rely. Efforts to work with ecological and social dynamics of vibrancy and resilience offer a new space for innovation. Companies are stepping in to this space and exploring innovative approaches to developing sustainability-focused products, operations and strategies. These sustainability-inspired business efforts are considering new ways to address human needs and desires. The most promising approaches are based on systems thinking and recognition of the linkages between "upstream" and "downstream" effects of actions. Understanding the undesired "downstream" impacts of a firm's practices draws attention "upstream". This assessment highlights the most expedient approach: to design these impacts out of enterprises from the very start. The book is divided into five sections to present a set of theories emerging about sustainability and its application to: business strategy and operations; financial-sector practices; accountability and reporting drivers; and organisational change pathways. Together, these sections illustrate the current range of sustainability theories and applications. "Ants, Galileo and Gandhi" is useful reading for both academics looking for robust teaching material, practitioners looking for inspiration and the general reader interested in exploring the state of the art in the realignment of 21st-century business.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"... provides a good sampling of the kind of thinking and action that will be needed to pull our world from ..." -- William R. Blackburn, Blackburn Consulting and Former Vice-President and Chief Counsel, Corporate Environment, Health and Safety, Baxter International Inc.

"Ants, Galileo, and Gandhi argues that new designs for all enterprises are becoming clear." -- Michael Baldwin, President, Marion Institute and Baldwin Brothers, Inc.

"We owe a debt of gratitude to the pioneering work of Ray Anderson, Matt Klein, and others affiliated with ..." -- Woody Tasch, Investors’ Circle

About the Author

Sissel Waage is Director of the research programme at The Natural Step's US office. She has been working on sustainability, conservation and development issues for over ten years and has experience on three continents. Dr Waage has conducted research on a range of topics, including natural resource-based businesses and economies, community-based conservation, collaborative decision-making and consensus-building processes. Prior to joining The Natural Step, she worked with Sustainable Northwest and facilitated the establishment of a new community conservation-based developed organisation in rural north-eastern Oregon. Dr Waage has also served as a programme officer in the East and Southern Africa Programme of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), where she collaborated with public-sector and private-sector partners to design and manage conservation-based development projects. She has also worked at a forest research station and several other conservation and development organisations. Dr Waage completed her PhD at the University of California, Berkeley, in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Amherst College, in Massachusetts. She has also studied at the University of Oslo, in Norway, as a Fulbright Scholar, and at the National University of Singapore.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Greenleaf Publishing (September 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1874719713
• ISBN-13: 978-1874719717
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #581,773 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent progress report on sustainability, February 22, 2005

By 

Bill Godfrey (Mt Stuart, TAS Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ants, Galileo, and Gandhi: Designing the Future of Business Through Nature, Genius, and Compassion (Paperback)

More and more businesses are making real progress in the quest for ecological and social sustainability, while maintaining or improving profit. Good practical methodologies for this have been developed.

This book provides a progress report on the methodologies, progress and the forward agenda. The short (9 pages plus charts) Introduction by Ray Anderson of Interface Inc provides a brilliant and inspiring summary of what can be achieved and what is involved in achieving it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Helping Business Contribute to a Thriving Society for All, May 10, 2004

By 

"tonycortese" (Cambridge, Massachusetts United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ants, Galileo, and Gandhi: Designing the Future of Business Through Nature, Genius, and Compassion (Paperback)

Ants, Galileo, and Gandhi is one of the most informative, comprehensive and inspiring works on how business and industry must think and can act to help create a healthy, just and sustainable society worldwide. It is the first book to link business decision-making and strategies for action to a framework and set of scientific principles that can lead to true sustainability. Masterfully written and based on solid theory backed up by impressive case studies, Ants, Galileo, and Gandhi is a `must-read' for decision-makers in industry, government, and civil society and should be required reading in all business, economics, and engineering education.

5.0 out of 5 stars Just what the doctor ordered, April 29, 2004

By 

Joel Makower (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ants, Galileo, and Gandhi: Designing the Future of Business Through Nature, Genius, and Compassion (Paperback)

Ants, Galileo, and Gandhi is just what the doctor ordered: smart, detailed, in-the-trenches case studies of how companies align sustainability with business success, along with the scientific and societal rationale that amplify these initiatives‚ importance. There may be no better set of principles to guide today's companies through tomorrow's challenging markets. I highly recommend it.