Exponential Organizations Book Summary - Exponential Organizations Book explained in key points
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Exponential Organizations summary

Salim Ismail Michael S. Malone Yuri van Geest

Why New Organizations are Ten Times Better, Faster and Cheaper than Yours (and What to Do About It)

4.5 (108 ratings)
22 mins

Brief summary

Exponential Organizations by Salim Ismail, Michael S. Malone, and Yuri van Geest explains how companies can leverage new technologies and strategies to achieve rapid growth and disruption in the modern business world.

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    Exponential Organizations
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    While still a new concept, exponential organizations are the future of business organizations.

    Have you heard of companies like Uber or AirBnB? If you have, then you’ve also come face to face with an exponential organization.

    An exponential organization, or ExO, describes an organization that because of its ability to leverage new technologies can claim production, output or overall impact that is at least ten times larger than a regular organization in the same field.

    In short, an ExO can do more, produce more and dominate its market niche with less people or resources when compared to a non-ExO company.

    ExOs are experts in adaptation. These companies are part of a new business paradigm, in which competition doesn't necessarily mean heavy hitters based in China or India. In fact, competing firms  could come equally from a start-up based in your neighbor’s garage!

    How long a company has been around or how many employees it has just doesn’t guarantee success anymore. Kodak, for example, was a historic, large organization that went belly up almost overnight.

    This new, finicky nature of the business world has other benefits, too: a company can now experience unprecedented rates of growth and success with a minimum of resources.

    Exponential growth as a concept is often not completely understood. Take the Human Genome Project, the goal of which was to sequence the human genome. In the project’s first seven years, researchers were able to only sequence one percent of our genome; yet in the following seven years, researchers were able to complete the remaining 99 percent!

    This sort of rapid progress is what sets ExOs apart – companies like Uber, AirBnB and Google are just some examples of successful ExO firms.

    Ideally small and flexible, the ExO model doesn’t just apply to businesses, but works also for NGOs and governmental bodies.

    Even the scientific field has embraced ExO ideas. Publications such as Researchgate and Figshare are now open source, so their work can reach even more people.

    The ideas behind exponential organizations have reshaped much of what we know about business today. And it’s only the beginning...

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    What is Exponential Organizations about?

    Exponential Organizations offers an expert look into this new, critical form of company organization that the authors contend will soon become an industry standard. You’ll learn exactly what an exponential organization, or ExO, is and how you can build your own. Companies like Uber and AirBnB are some top examples of ExOs; if your company wants to survive, you’ve got to adapt.

    Exponential Organizations Review

    Exponential Organizations (2014) is an insightful read that explores the dynamics of modern businesses and how they can leverage technology to achieve rapid growth. Here's why this book is worth your time:

    • Unveiling the secrets of today's most successful companies, the book offers valuable insights that can be applied to any business striving for innovation and global impact.
    • It presents a roadmap for organizations to thrive in the digital age, leveraging strategies like leveraged assets, engaged communities, and algorithms to achieve exponential growth.
    • The book combines in-depth research with real-world examples, making it engaging and relevant, and definitely not boring.

    Best quote from Exponential Organizations

    You have to disrupt yourself, or others will do it for you.

    —Salim Ismail, Michael S. Malone and Yuri van Geest
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    Who should read Exponential Organizations?

    • Anyone who wants to be ready for the market of the future
    • Anyone looking to found a start-up company
    • Anyone who wants to make sure their organization is in step with modern thinking

    About the Author

    Formerly a vice president at Yahoo, author Salim Ismail is now the founding executive director at Singularity University. Michael S. Malone is a prominent technology writer who has written nearly 20 award-winning books and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal. Yuri van Geest is an international keynote speaker and has served as a consultant for Google, Heineken and ING Bank.

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    Exponential Organizations FAQs 

    What is the main message of Exponential Organizations?

    The main message of Exponential Organizations is how to thrive in an era of accelerating technology and transform your business to become more agile and effective.

    How long does it take to read Exponential Organizations?

    The estimated reading time for Exponential Organizations is several hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.

    Is Exponential Organizations a good book? Is it worth reading?

    Exponential Organizations is a valuable read for anyone wanting to understand the challenges and opportunities brought by technology-driven disruption in business.

    Who is the author of Exponential Organizations?

    The authors of Exponential Organizations are Salim Ismail, Michael S. Malone, and Yuri van Geest.

    What to read after Exponential Organizations?

    If you're wondering what to read next after Exponential Organizations, here are some recommendations we suggest:
    • The Wise Company by Ikujiro Nonaka and Hirotaka Takeuchi
    • Reinventing Organizations by Frederic Laloux
    • Scaling Up Excellence by Robert I. Sutton and Huggy Rao
    • Mastering Leadership by Robert J. Anderson and William A. Adams
    • Leadership Strategy by Powerful Business Solutions
    • The Art of War (new version) by Sun Tzu
    • The ONE Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan
    • Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
    • The Anarchy by William Dalrymple
    • The Power of When by Michael Breus