The Starfish and the Spider: The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organizations

Author(s): Ori Brafman; Rod Beckstrom; Rod A. Beckstrom

Personal Development

If you cut off a spider's leg, it's crippled; if you cut off its head, it dies. But if you cut off a starfish's leg, it grows a new one, and the old leg can grow into an entirely new starfish.What's the hidden power behind the success of Wikipedia, craigslist, and Skype? What do eBay and General Electric have in common with the abolitionist and women's rights movements? What fundamental choice put General Motors and Toyota on vastly different paths? How could winning a Supreme Court case be the biggest mistake MGM could have made?After five years of ground-breaking research, Ori Brafman and Rod Beckstrom share some unexpected answers, gripping stories, and a tapestry of unlikely connections. The Starfish and the Spider argues that organizations fall into two categories: traditional "spiders", which have a rigid hierarchy and top-down leadership, and revolutionary "starfish", which rely on the power of peer relationships.The Starfish and the Spider explores what happens when starfish take on spiders (such as the music industry vs. Napster, Kazaa, and the P2P services that followed). It reveals how established companies and institutions, from IBM to Intuit to the U.S. government, are also learning how to incorporate starfish principles to achieve success. This audiobook explores:How the Apaches fended off the powerful Spanish army for 200 yearsThe power of a simple circleThe importance of catalysts who have an uncanny ability to bring people togetherHow the Internet has become a breeding ground for leaderless organizationsHow Alcoholics Anonymous has reached untold millions with only a shared ideology and without a leaderThe Starfish and the Spider is that rare book that will change how you understand the world around you.

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aOne of those delightful business books that transcend the genrea
a"Boston Globe"
a"The Starfish and the Spider," like "Blink, The Tipping Point," and "The Wisdom of Crowds" before it, showed me a provocative new way to look at the world and at business. Itas also fun to read!a
aRobin Wolaner, author of "Naked in the Boardroom"
aA must read. Starfish are changing the face of business and society. This page-turner is provocative and compelling.a
aJ. David Martin, CEO of YPO International

Ori Brafman is a lifelong entrepreneur. His adventures include a wireless startup, health food advocacy group, and a network of CEOs working on public benefit projects, which he co-founded with Rod Beckstrom. He holds a BA in Peace and Conflict Studies from UC Berkeley and an MBA from Stanford Business School.Rod A. Beckstrom is a serial start-up entrepreneur. He founded CATS Software Inc, which he took public and has helped start and build other high tech firms. Rod has served on various private and nonprofit boards. He holds a BA and MBA from Stanford and is a Fulbright Scholar.


 

General Fields

  • : 9781591841838
  • : Penguin Publishing Group
  • : Portfolio (Hardcover)
  • : 0.221
  • : June 2008
  • : United States
  • : March 2007
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : 240
  • : bl2015021408
  • : General Adult
  • : 302.3/5
  • : English
  • : Paperback
  • : Ori Brafman; Rod Beckstrom; Rod A. Beckstrom