What is the difference between a fire fighter and an architect? One deals with crises as they arise while the other is capable of building something that can withstand all weathers.
Using this analogy, this revised edition of Architects of Change provides you with the tools to grasp, leverage and harness the dynamics that shape tomorrow's markets. It encourages you to nurture an entrepreneurial mind-set to transform the way a business – or even an entire industry – operates.
With updated content taking into account two water-shed events – the post-pandemic reality and the emergence of generative AI – this second edition incorporates crucial lessons from recent years. It expands on how the pandemic introduced us to exponential change – a pattern we’ll likely see replicated with climate change – and explores the intensifying impact of geopolitical rivalries and AI advancement.
Giving you the tools to analyse your environment and future trends to reinvent the way you do business, this book will teach you how to:
- Identify actors of change
- Conduct simulations about the future
- Assess threats of political instability
- Build a strategy for a profitable and sustainable firm amid ongoing uncertainty
- Become an architect of change yourself
Containing original interviews with industry insiders, this is a critical resource to help you thrive in the current business environment.
Table of contents (16 chapters)
Front Matter
Pages i-xvi
A Tale of Two Professions
Jeremy Ghez
Pages 1-13
Case Study: When James Bond Met Q
Jeremy Ghez
Pages 15-22
The World We Live In
Jeremy Ghez
Pages 23-42
Case Study: The Change-Maker Game
Jeremy Ghez
Pages 43-49
The Road to Reinvention
Jeremy Ghez
Pages 51-60
Case Study: Founding a Popular Pizza Place in Paris
Jeremy Ghez
Pages 61-66
The Power of Analysis
Jeremy Ghez
Pages 67-74
Strategizing, When Globalization Folds
Jeremy Ghez
Pages 75-82
The Case for Foresight
Jeremy Ghez
Pages 83-97
Case Study: Getting Ready for the World in Five Years
Jeremy Ghez
Pages 99-106
The Purpose of Imagination
Jeremy Ghez
Pages 107-117
Case Study: Conducting a Pre-Mortem
Jeremy Ghez
Pages 119-143
The Meaning of Creativity
Jeremy Ghez
Pages 145-156
Case Study: Looking for Talent in a Chaotic World
Jeremy Ghez
Pages 157-163
A Tribute to My Kids (the Ultimate Architects of Change)
Jeremy Ghez
Pages 165-174
Epilogue: In the Mind of an Architect of Change
Jeremy Ghez
Pages 175-193
Back Matter
Pages 195-199
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Reviews
“The world needs more builders like Jeremy Ghez. Drawing on his deep expertise, insatiable curiosity, and certainly inspired by fellow Architects, Jeremy provides a toolbox that 'speak of its time and place, but yearns for timelessness' as Frank Gehry would put it. In times of bewildering uncertainty, and widespread fatalism, this book shows that things can actually be done – both a powerful call to action and a blueprint for change agents around the world." (Ludovic Subran, Group Chief Investment Officer, Allianz)
“It is common to hear that we live in turbulent times shaped by geopolitics, technology, and climate change. It is much less common to hear what to do about it. This book helps business leaders think like architects rather than firefighters, arguing that they can be transformative in the private sector. It pulls you away from 'business as usual' and empowers you to become an agent of change with the strategic foresight necessary for success." (Greg Treverton, Former Chairman of the US National Intelligence Council)
