The 2000 Percent Solution: Free Your Organization from "Stalled" Thinking to Achieve Exponential Success (Hardcover)

~ (Author), (Author), Robert Metz (Author) "A mind-set is simply the way we organize our thinking, consciously or unconsciously..." (more)
Key Phrases: theoretical best practice, procrastination stall, exponential success, Grey Poupon, United States, Stallbuster's Guide (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

BOOKNEWS "Argues that ingrained habits in organizations, often masquerading as efficient procedures, actually stall growth, and shows how to recognize typical stalls and overcome them. Uses unorthodox examples, ranging from the Titanic to da Vinci's bicycles, to examine common stalls, and gives direction for dealing with these causes of organizational inertia and inefficiency." -- BookNews

COMPUTERWORLD, February 1, 1999 "The authors tackle 'stalled' thinking . . . Tradition, Disbelief, Misconception, Unattractiveness, Bureaucratic, Communication and Procrastination. Any information technology manager is likely to

recognize all of these. Chapters 9 through 16 identify 'stallbusters' -- seven steps for overcoming these problems. Chapter 9 is an excellent source for overcoming one's own 'stalls.' The book is enlivened with brief vignettes incorporating historical examples." -- ComputerWorld, February 1, 1999

Donald Frey (former Chairman and CEO of Bell & Howell) in DIRECTORS & BOARDS, Volume 23 #2 Winter 1999 "THE 2,000 PERCENT SOLUTION is a brightly written, well organized, enjoyable and instructive book on how to revive companies that have 'stalled out' (not growing, with shrinking market share and profits). The title refers to the exponential improvement that can be gained by getting companies out of a stall . . . I strongly recommend the book. Any managerial, and many non-managerial, members of large companies will identify with much of the book. Their world will be mirrored in any number of its pages. I hope that reading the book will motivate such people in our too-many stalled companies 'to stop the slow leaks'. . . ." -- Donald Frey

THE WASHINGTON TIMES, March 29, 1999 "Are you procrastinating? . . . The authors . . . have a handle on the issue of complacency . . . [The authors] provide a clear and concise look at the many road blocks that good ideas must overcome in most companies. By identifying and offering other directions, they show how companies can avoid these blocks and find some other roads to travel." -- The Washington Times, March 29, 1999

Thomas Brown (Editor) MANAGEMENT GENERAL, August 1, 1999 "This book is nominated to be one of the 10 best business books of 1999. 'Stretch goals!' How many times have you either heard or spoken those words? The phrase is so often spoken that it has unfortunately become a clich. Along come three authors who obviously not only believe in stretch goals but have built a kind of science around them. They begin their book by suggesting that a great number of us are in "a stall," which is a polite way of saying 'stuck in the status quo.' No argument there, from perhaps just about all readers; few people believe their organizations are driving at 100% throttle, let alone 2000%! So, quickly, the authors assert that you, personally, can do something about this: 'Shoot for the Moon When It Counts' is their advice. Then they go, chapter by chapter, enumerating those myriad places where individuals (just like you) and teams (just like yours) get stuck: in traditions, in disbelief, in misconception, in communications, in bureaucracy, in procrastination. Less kind reviewers might say, "Yawn!" to such a list of basics; yet, taken as a whole, this book is verbal dynamite. The authors' repeated insistence that there isn't even one area of organizational life that can't be turbocharged by upping the gain on the goals' amplifier makes for a great book. Their last paragraph is worthy of framing; it says, in part: 'We must each evolve into self-actualized individuals, who can recognize stalls and the stall mind-set, both personal and corporate, and then guide companies and organizations to overcome specific stalls to become self-actualized. Mitchell, Coles, and Metz are now experts in stretch-goaling (or stall busting); their book is a testament to the fact that, with just a little effort, you can be an expert in this field as well." -- Thomas Brown

William Mahoney (Editor) UPDATE, February 1999 " THE 2,000 PERCENT SOLUTION is written to inspire executives to free themselves and their business organizations from their 'mind-forged manacles' to 'achieve exponential success' . . . Filling the book with true-life business stories, the authors ask executive readers to extract lessons from the problems and find solutions that can help them. How-to steps are included, along with calls to action, for setting objectives and plans that achieve more than today's best practices and that go for the 'maximum result that can be achieved' . . . Then, they introduce 'stallbusters,' namely ways to analyze and overcome your habits and those of your company... A series of questions guides readers on how to create the ability to 'soar like an eagle' . . . Curious about the title? It's the payoff for thinking big. 'Forget about 100 percent improvement; the achievable goal is expanded to breakthrough 2,000 percent progress' . . . ." -- William Mahoney

Product Description

Organizations, like people, are creatures of habit. They tend to approach problems and practices in predictable ways. This revolutionary book argues that such ingrained habits, which often masquerade as efficient procedures, actually obstruct growth. And while it's no small task to unblock "stalled thinking" (we resist at every turn), the payoff is immense. Forget 100 percent improvement; the achievable goal is expanded to breakthrough 2,000 percent progress. THE 2,000 PERCENT SOLUTION introduces "stallbusting" a process that shows you how to recognize typical stalls and overcome them. The book also helps you understand why companies habitually 'think small' in order to feel comfortable and in control. And it explains that only by learning to break certain patterns can we stride rapidly forward, solve seemingly impossible problems, and arrive sooner and more easily at the future. Through unorthodox examples ranging from the Titanic to Leonardo da Vinci's bicycle, The 2,000 Percent Solution redirects our knee-jerk reactions, or stalls, and gets readers on the road to sustainable change. The book examines such ubiquitous dodges as the Psychology-of-Disbelief Stall, the Tradition Stall, and the Bureaucratic Stall -- each from the stallbusters' point of attack. You'll find concise directions for overcoming these causes of organizational inertia and inefficiency. In addition, you'll learn about a new set of thought processes for designing and implementing solutions that will reap benefits 20 times greater or faster than the same tired "normal" solutions. Packed with specific advice on process improvement for going beyond today's best practices through better measurement and performance management, THE 2,000 PERCEMT SOLUTION is an outside-the-box guide to removing the blinders at every level of business in order to focus on different areas, set higher standards, and pursue them in new, more effective ways.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 265 pages
• Publisher: AMACOM (February 9, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814404766
• ISBN-13: 978-0814404768
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (91 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,134,636 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unstoppable Change: Peril or Opportunity?, November 13, 2000

By	Robert Morris (Dallas, Texas) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I presume to suggest that you first read the authors' more recently published book, The Irresistible Growth Enterprise in which they explain how to achieve "breakthrough gains from unstoppable change." One of the key points in that book it is imperative to understand the nature and extent of such forces as they affect a given organization...then respond accordingly. Another key point stresses the importance of anticipating future changes which inevitably create problems. Each of these problems requires an effective solution. That is, a "2,000 Percent Solution" which enables an organization to get "20 times better and faster results from the same or fewer resources."

The subtitle of this book correctly suggests why the authors wrote it: To "free" organizations from "stalled" thinking so that they can achieve "exponential success." Note the words embraced by quotation marks. Most organizations (especially the larger ones) can easily become captive to basic assumptions and presumptions which are no longer valid...or at least appropriate. As a result, those involved feel obligated to defend the status quo. Their thinking is stalled. Managers become bureaucrats. Because they are defending the status quo, they resist and resent any suggested changes of it. Of course, change does occur: The organization deteriorates. The "best and the brightest" employees leave as do under-served customers.

The reference to "exponential success" is also very significant. The authors correctly believe that, in the absence of Divine Intervention, sustainable success can only be achieved exponentially: building a skyscraper one floor at a time, paving a road to Oz one yellow brick at a time, eating a whale one bite at a time.

Part One explains how you can free your organization from "mind-forged manacles." To do so, you must overcome:

The Stall Mind-Set ["If I ignore it, it will eventually go away."]

The Tradition Stall ["But we've never done it that way before."]

The Disbelief Stall ["I can't believe you suggested that."]

The Misconception Stall ["Wet highways cause rain."]

The Unattractiveness Stall ["It may work but it just doesn't look right."]

The Communications Stall ["I'll get back to you with some feedback when I can."]

The Bureaucratic Stall ["This is highly irregular."]

The Procrastination Stall ["Interesting. I'm going to give it the careful thought it deserves."]

The authors analyze each of these familiar stalls and evasions. Then in Part Two, they suggest (and explain in detail) "Eight Steps" by which to overcome them. This book is "primarily about what to do differently rather than how to do something better than you do it today." Pogo once observed, "We have met the enemy and he is us." Stalling and evading strategies are basic to human nature. We tend to employ one or more of them whenever we feel threatened or confused or inadequate...or because, like Melville's Bartleby the Scrivener, we simply don't want to do what we are asked to do.

I highly recommend this book. The wealth of information and material is carefully organized and lucidly presented. The authors seem to have no illusions whatsoever as to the difficulty of implementing the "Eight Steps." The success of those initiatives will indeed be exponential. My guess is that organizations which have the greatest need for this book will be most resistant to its recommendations. Those involved in such organizations would be well-advised to "think small." That is, select a specific situation in which "unstalled thinking" can have an immediate, obvious, and quantifiable impact. Complete the "Eight Step Process." And then leverage that success to achieve other successes...one "2,000 Percent Solution" at a time.

Obviously, both this book and The Irresistible Growth Enterprise can be read separately and still have great value. As noted previously, I suggest that the latter be read first. I also presume to suggest that both books will have even greater value if read in combination with Peter Schwartz's The Art of the Long View.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Ho Hum, November 9, 2004

By	G. J Wiener (Westchester, NY USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Everyone seems to love this book. Me, I find it long on theory and a bit short on examples. The writing style sounds like reasonable corporate management theory. However the examples are just not very memorable and even quite boring.

Truthfully the authors could have been better served by talking in a language that would reach a wider audience. They over-analyze this stall process like its a big part of organizations today. The big part of succesful organizations is those who encouragement teamwork. This is hardly emphasized here or if it is the dry writing style hides it quite well.

Some good theory yes, but overall The 2000 Percent Solution has a dull dry style that really only delivers at 40%.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond best practice: "perfection as only you can imagine", March 7, 1999

By A Customer

The title of The 2000 Percent Solution, the new book from business strategists Don Mitchell, Carol Coles, and Robert Metz, plays off the famous Sherlock Holmes mystery title. But the mystery here is how the authors have uncovered a whole new way of looking at improving business performance.

They define the "stall' - a condition that affects us all - which keeps us from achieving accelerated growth. They introduce "stallbusters" - a plethora of ideas for overcoming the dreaded stalls. They pepper their analysis with hundreds of colorful examples and anecdotes, such as the story of Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of penicillin. A typical stall Is: avoidance of the unattractive. Fleming did the opposite by focusing on the green mold such as found on old bread.

In the second part of the book, they introduce the eight step process for improving performance twenty-fold - 2000%. Their advocate "uncovering and capturing maximum opportunity by asking new questions". They go beyond best practices to discussing how to pursue the theoretical ideal best practice, which they call "perfection as only you can imagine it".

Don't miss their stimulating "thought-starters", any one of which could justify your time investment in reading this book. If you have a problem stretching your mind on a Sunday afternoon or a long plane ride, here's your 2000 percent solution.

Roger Fridholm; President, Business, Technology, and Staffing Services Group; MSX International.