The book that inspired me
| THE STARFISH AND THE SPIDER is an excellent narration on the emergence of leaderless organisations in modern times, which have demonstrated success through a hierarchy-less or flat organisation structure "" for instance, Wikipedia, Skype and eBay. Granted, these are largely new generation companies that use technology as a platform to exist. |
| However, there are hidden lessons that could benefit even traditional businesses that need to redefine wealth creation as a societal responsibility rather than individual or organisational. |
| The analysis of the growth of the al-Qaeda by the same principle is also explored in this book, which really makes the reader stretch his imagination. The book is far from being the typical two-dimensional management read. |
| Ultimately, the core inspiration of the book wins: If you cut a spider's leg off, it is crippled; if you cut its head off, it is dead. If you cut off a starfish's leg, it grows a new one. And the old leg can grow into an entirely new starfish. |
| Monisha Advani, Managing Director, Randstad India |
| THE STARFISH AND THE SPIDER Authors: Ori Brafman and Rod A Beckstrom Publisher: Penguin Books India Price: Rs 395 ISBN: 0143101358 |
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First Published: Feb 19 2008 | 12:00 AM IST