Roger L. Martin - When More Is Not Better: Overcoming Americas Obsession with Economic Efficiency

Roger Martin understands how we got to where we are in the United States today. He is not happy but refuses to give up, offering proposals to restore life in our political system, which is too far divided economically. His proposals wont be easy to enact, but they need urgent attention if we are to save the best chance for democratic capitalism. A must-read!

The late Paul Volcker, former Chairman, US Federal Reserve

In When More Is Not Better, Roger Martin leverages his deep knowledge of economic systems to precisely diagnose the systemic shortcomings of the modern economy and his practical experience to lay out a pathway to an economy that works for all. A must-read.

Paul Polman, cofounder and Chair, IMAGINE; former CEO, Unilever

Friction and separation are good; efficiency and connectedness are overrated. These are some of the important, if surprising, messages in this book by one of the worlds most creative business minds. Roger Martin offers a realists path toward a more resilient America, with concrete suggestions for business leaders, politicians, educators, and citizens.

Dani Rodrik, Ford Foundation Professor of International Political Economy, Harvard Kennedy School; author, Straight Talk on Trade

Once again, Roger Martin has taken on a complex and thorny subject and provided compelling new insights and practical wisdom. When More Is Not Better shows what will truly set up our economy for long-term success: a better balance of efficiency and resilience. And its also the prescription we need as individuals. A must-read for our time!

Arianna Huffington, founder and CEO, Thrive Global

Roger Martin is my generations Peter Drucker. He enables us to see beyond the traditional boundaries of business theory to the bigger system at play in our efficiency-obsessed world. And, like Druckers, his prescriptions are clear, realistic, and practical.

Jim Hackett, President and CEO, Ford Motor Company

Martin shows how leaders fall short of achieving effectiveness because they confuse effectiveness with efficiency. Why? Because its what prevailing organizational norms teach them about how to winbut only in the short term. Shortchanging your employees and customers by giving them less isnt the path to making your organization more effective. Martin guides you to frame your organization within a dynamic, complex system where adopting a less efficiency-obsessed and more human-centered approach results in the lasting, sustainable prosperity that it desperately needs.

John Maeda, former President, Rhode Island School of Design; author, How to Speak Machine

In When More Is Not Better, Martin provides important insights on the most paradoxical challenge the world is facing today: while the world has never been so well oiled and well connected, we remain more divided, with many feeling left behind and deeply frustrated. Martin not only provides a deep and clear understanding of why this is the case but also what can relatively easily be done. Thus, I was left with a feeling of optimism about bringing greater resilience to our world.

Jrgen Vig Knudstorp, former CEO, LEGO Group; Executive Chairman, LEGO Brand Group

Roger Martin on the fate of democratic capitalism is the perfect match of author and subject, for it allows one of the worlds top thinkers to tackle one of the worlds toughest problems. When More Is Not Better delivers a trenchant critique of the efficiency-at-any-price economic model. But it also offers something equally important and exceedingly rare: real, practical solutions. This is a timely, urgent book for business leaders, politicians, and educators everywhere.

Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author, Drive, When, and A Whole New Mind

A system can be shaped to meet societys needs or it can be mismanaged so as to become unfit for any purpose. Just when America needs it most, When More Is Not Better brilliantly reveals where democratic capitalism has gone wrong and what new design principles we need to fix it.

Tim Brown, Chair, IDEO; author, Change by Design

WHEN MORE IS NOT BETTER

WHEN MORE IS NOT BETTER

Overcoming Americas Obsession with Economic Efficiency

ROGER L. MARTIN

HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW PRESS

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS