Supercorp Book Summary By Rosabeth Moss Kanter

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SuperCorp (2009) is a book that offers an inspiring vision for businesses of the future.

It introduces readers to a new type of company - the "vanguard" enterprise - that is committed to earning a healthy profit while still fulfilling its social responsibility and acting as a force for good in its community.

Through this book, readers will gain understanding and insight into what makes these companies successful and sustainable in today's competitive landscape.

SuperCorp provides practical guidance on how these firms can be managed ethically, with an eye towards achieving both long-term profitability as well as an equitable stakeholder distribution of profits.

Book Name: SuperCorp (How Vanguard Companies Create Innovation, Profits, Growth, and Social Good)

Author(s): Rosabeth Moss Kanter

Rating: 3.7/5

Reading Time: 14 Minutes

Categories: Economics

Author Bio

With her combination of experience and expertise, it's no surprise that Rosabeth Moss Kanter is one of the foremost authorities on strategy, leadership and innovation.

She has been a professor at the Harvard Business School for over thirty years, serving as both an editor and author of numerous books.

Kanter's academic successes are vast and varied.

She is the author of Confidence: How Winning Streaks and Losing Streaks Begin and End, and she was also the former editor for Harvard Business Review.

Clearly, if you're looking for information about business development from an experienced authority figure, look no further than Kanter!

The Benefits Of Being A Vanguard Company: Combining Altruism With Corporate Profits

The vanguard company is designed to be the perfect balance of success and altruism.

Instead of having to choose between a high-paying job and one that’s altruistic, you can have it all with this new type of company.

Vanguard companies such as IBM, Procter & Gamble and Banco Real prioritize both profit and making meaningful contributions to society.

These businesses invest in community projects, environmental protection, and campaigns that promote the universal values of trust, tolerance and innovation.

By streamlining their organization structure, they replace hierarchy with human relationships; creating an atmosphere where people are empowered to make a real difference in the world.

If you’re looking for an organization that prioritizes both bottom-line results as well as doing good in the world around us, then vanguard companies like those mentioned above are a great choice!

For The ‘Vanguard Generation’, Making A Profit And Making A Difference Go Hand In Hand

When it comes to corporations, many people view them as greedy and corrupt entities that are only out for their own gain, heedless of any consideration of the environment or society at large.

We see stories every day of powerful CEOs getting rich while ignoring the issues of poverty, food shortages, and pollution in the world.

Fortunately, a new generation of businesses is emerging: the vanguard companies.

Built with an eco-friendly business model that values both financial success and social responsibility, vanguard companies aim not just to make profits but also to find solutions for global problems.

They don’t just rely on charitable donations to effect change; rather, being socially conscious is part of their everyday business practices.

This attitude helps to inspire millennials born in the 1980s and 1990s to try to prove that you can do well financially while still doing good for humanity.

Companies like IBM have long been involved with helping rebuild communities worldwide after natural disasters–such as their 2004 efforts after the devastating tsunami in four countries in Asia–without waiting for government intervention or outside help.

Vanguard companies give us hope that we can still depend on corporations doing right by people instead of putting profits first.

How Companies Adapt To A Volatile Economy By Focusing On Corporate Culture

In times of volatility and uncertainty, vanguard companies that can remain unfazed by an unreliable economy are the ones that are able to adapt to rapid changes.

A prime example is Digitas, a digital marketing company.

When their fortunes turned for the worse after 9/11 and the dot-com bubble burst, CEO David Kenny set out to focus on aspects of his company that were reliable: its values and corporate culture.

To keep employees motivated despite economic turmoil, Kenny sent regular voice mails addressing instability in the market and reassuring them of the company’s loyalty.

This was vital in helping Digitas weather the storm and allowed employees to connect with executives more than ever before.

He also forged strong relationships with tech giants such as Microsoft and Yahoo, ensuring that Digitas stayed up-to-date with technological developments.

The lesson here is that even in difficult times, vanguard companies can successfully adapt to change by focusing on culture, building strong relationships and keeping their employees motivated.

How Acting According To Values Can Create A Successful Business: The Story Of Banco Real

When we hear of a company that is successful and thriving, we usually think of it as having the latest in technology or groundbreaking marketing.

However, any company can have the most advanced tools at their disposal; what truly makes them stand out is their dedication to core values and positive actions.

Fabio Barbosa set an example for this kind of thinking when he was hired as the CEO of Banco Real, a bank in Brazil experiencing stagnation.

Barbosa revitalized Banco Real by giving it a new identity based around values and principles of corporate culture.

He made sure his commitment went beyond words on paper, putting into action initiatives such as cleaning up the alley alongside their headquarters.

Not only did they accomplish that task, but they provided employment opportunities to those in need by setting up two kiosks for disenfranchised young adults in the area.

Living according to core values paid off not just for the local environment but also for Banco Real’s business endeavors – between 2001 and 2006, profits increased steadily by 20 percent each year thanks to practices that showed customers and investors that this was a trustworthy place to put money into.

This proves how living according to your values can give you a competitive edge over rivals!

Vanguard Companies Embrace Innovation And Use It To Make The World A Better Place

Vanguard companies always have innovation at the forefront of their mission and prioritize being innovative in order to keep up with the ever-changing and competitive marketplace.

Companies like IBM and Proctor & Gamble are great examples of this, both taking steps to innovate within their respective industries.

For example, IBM began a partnership with K-12 public schools back in 1994 to tackle everyday challenges and develop the tools necessary for educating children.

To reach a solution, P&G Brazil sought out input from all parts of their business, as well as external partners such as trade partners and advertising agencies.

Through collaboration they came up with the idea of transparent packaging, which ultimately lead to greater profits within a year’s time.

The takeaway here is that vanguard companies prioritize collaborations in order to maximize creativity when it comes to innovating – proving that pooling resources can lead to more sustainable solutions down the line.

Vanguard Companies Reject Rigid Industrial Model And Empower Employees With Flexibility And Decision-Making Authority

Vanguard companies place a high value on giving their employees the freedom to find the work-life balance that suits them best.

They offer flexible schedules and often give their workers the option to work remotely, creating an atmosphere of trust between employer and employee.

One example of this is IBM, where 40% of its workers participate in remote working opportunities – be it from customers’ homes or offices, planes or even from the comfort of their own home.

This peace of mind allows employees to feel comfortable and perform better, while also providing parents additional flexibility to focus on family matters at certain times, such as picking up kids from daycare or school.

Not only that, but vanguard businesses entrust employees with decision-making power too, aiming to reduce bureaucracy and eliminate unnecessary waiting for managerial approval.

This system encourages staff to think about what’s best for the entire organization over individual gain.

In summary, vanguard companies have flexible workplaces and empowered employees – allowing them to work freely and productively while following the company’s mission for positive change.

The Benefits Of Diversity In The Vanguard Workplace

Vanguard companies recognize the importance of diversity and have embraced it in order to succeed in the globalized economy.

They understand that having a diversified workforce can help them better understand the cultures of different nations they operate in, as well as emerging social issues in new markets.

These vanguard companies take care to ensure that employees know to respect the differences of various groups and individuals.

It helps to ease interaction and collaboration among employees, so they work together better as one unit instead of being divided by cultural or social differences.

Banco Real is an example of a company taking steps towards becoming a vanguard company was when it formed its “diversity committee” and held events highlighting how unique each employee was from another.

For instance, all employees wrote descriptive adjectives on their name tags describing themselves; like “goofy” or “anxious” – showing that everyone is different.

Without recognizing and understanding diversity, your business won’t be able to run at its full potential.

To become a vanguard company you must cultivate an enlightened workforce that appreciates the importance of diversity awareness.

Wrap Up

At the end of SuperCorp, readers will come away with a powerful understanding of how companies can positively impact their communities.

The key message is that money and social responsibility don’t have to be at odds – in fact, the best ways for businesses to succeed financially are often intertwined with doing good for society.

The book outlines how vanguard companies achieve this by putting their values at the core of their operations.

As demonstrated throughout the book, these companies are not all talk, but actively strive to make a positive difference in every way.

It’s an empowering message that, if applied correctly, could revolutionize business models for many years to come.

Arturo Miller

Hi, I am Arturo Miller, the Chief Editor of this blog. I'm a passionate reader, learner and blogger. Motivated by the desire to help others reach their fullest potential, I draw from my own experiences and insights to curate blogs.

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