What's Next?: Exploring the New Terrain for Business [Paperback]

Eamonn Kelly (Author), Peter Leyden (Author), Members of Global Business Network (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2, 2003

What's Next? brings together fifty of the world's most remarkable scientists, educators, writers, economists, artists, historians, inventors, and other thought leaders of Global Business Network to provide insights into the new forces that will shape the business environment over the next decade. Kelly and Leyden have compiled a unique collection of surprising and provocative observations out of a series of recent interviews with such pioneering thinkers as: Francis Fukuyama on biotech, Ester Dyson on Russia, Peter Schwartz on geopolitics, and poet and educator Betty Sue Flowers on identity and spirituality. The result is a highly stimulating field trip to the future that also provides practical suggestions on how organizations can adapt effectively to this new terrain for business.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Kelly and Leyden, of Silicon Valley- based consultancy Global Business Network, chat with 50 "remarkable people," including entertainers like Laurie Anderson and geographic demographers like Joel Garreau, about everything from China's role in world politics to biotechnology, while trying to figure out how these trends mesh. After everyone's chimed in, the authors propose that the 21st century's successful business leaders will be those who develop an "adaptive advantage" over their competitors, learning to gauge the culture as effectively as the marketplace. They further suggest such corporate-minded entrepreneurs will be the most likely candidates to develop creative solutions for the world's toughest problems. The enthusiasm for corporations isn't unexpected, given Leyden's pro-globalization stance in 1999's The Long Boom, which he co-authored; and much effort is spent explaining why today's recession hasn't nullified those earlier predictions for a prosperous future. One analyst compares the wave of failed dot-coms to "regular brushfires to... make space for fresh growth," while another believes increased antidepressant usage created fearless investors, who pumped the market up to unsustainable levels. With so many people discussing subjects outside their specialized fields, the reflections swerve from insightful to inane, and despite the authors' attempt to structure the book thematically, there's still a disjointed feel to what is, essentially, a hodgepodge of excerpted transcripts. "Things are going to be wild and crazy much sooner than we expect," one contributor warns (as if they weren't already!), but for all the speculation, the book's only practical advice is to learn how to think fast.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"!What's Next is genuinely different!" (The Independent, 2 November 2002) "!'What's Next?' offers a range of powerful and controversial insights into increasingly important fields such as science and technology, culture and civilisation, geopolitics and the environment to help shape the decade ahead!" (AccountingWEB.UK, 26 November 2002) "!not your typical business book but a fascinating, informative and provocative read!" (Business Plus, February 2003) "!it makes a nice change to read something that makes you wonder what to think, rather than tells you!" (Gulf Business, April 2003) "!stimulating concepts!" (Managing Information, January 04) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books (September 2, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738208558
• ISBN-13: 978-0738208558
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,802,224 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Futurism that's both thought provoking and relevant, July 4, 2003

By 

PAUL FARRINGTON (ENGLAND, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What's Next?: Exploring the New Terrain for Business (Hardcover)

This very readable book was given a favourable mention in last year's 'Wired' magazine. It presents informal, interview style responses to topical questions affecting the future landscape of business. The 'What' in 'What's Next' includes Economic trends, Public policy, Ethics, Biotechnology, Terrorism and many more. Futurism is often a distracted and boffinish business, in which little or no practical advice is offered as to how to use its predictions. This text however has a strong strategic skew. It targets a business reader with a view towards orienting long term business strategy to take advantage of emerging and yet to emerge trends. If you want informed medium and long term predictions this is a good resource, particularly if you have an interest in technology investment.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Many big ideas about the future, as you'd expect from GBN, March 7, 2003

By 

Craig Schmidt (Needham, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What's Next?: Exploring the New Terrain for Business (Hardcover)

I really enjoyed this book. It is a collection of short 1-2 page quotes from one of the GBN members espousing their views on a given topic. The quotes are arranged by topic, so you get a whole range of viewpoints on the big issues that the world may face in the next 10 years.

The GBN members make their points in a very entertaining fashion, full of good quotes and stories. I found it to be densely thought provoking. You want to stop and ponder after every few pages. You may not agree with all of what they say, but the GBN has an interesting world view.

If you're unfamiliar with GBN, be sure to check out the GBN book club recommendations on their website. It is a collection of some of the most interesting books I've read.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars shaping forces, March 31, 2005

By 

Jonathan G. Curtis "game player and book reader" (Worcester MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What's Next?: Exploring the New Terrain for Business (Paperback)

A large variety of forces are shaping our future, and the book aims to explore the many forces. There are many views about many subjects, and the book provides interesting samples.