Shift: A Leader's Guide to the Platform Economy

Disruption is an increasing concern among business leaders as the global economy restructures around super-corporations like Apple and Alibaba. Companies that fail to adapt to this economic shift are disappearing while those that do are reshaping how careers are built. How are companies adapting? Where are you in this transformation? How can you improve your chances for success? Innovation and disruption expert Haydn Shaughnessy answers these questions and more in Shift: A Leader's Guide to the Platform Economy. Shaughnessy explains how recent changes have affected all levels of business, from new employees to seasoned executives, freelance entrepreneurs and small business owners. Part One explains how the current turbulence in enterprise operating models came about and how it affects companies and individual careers. Part Two explains how successful companies adapt to a new way of doing business. Part Three focuses on the individual by explaining how the changing economy and disrupted business models impact people, their careers and livelihood now and into the future. Most importantly, this part identifies the skills and abilities required to thrive in business moving forward. Shift is critical reading to ensure you and your company are adapting appropriately in a disruptive and uncertain economy. Whether you are a business leader or an employee, a freelance or small business owner you are sure to find unique value in the insights from Shaughnessy's observation on an economy in flux.

"Shift tells us everything we wanted to know about the emerging digital economy but were afraid to ask. It gives a uniquely comprehensive and deep explanation of emerging leadership and management practices. Among many other important contributions to our understanding of economic change, it shows how the practice of strategic options building can help position companies in a time of uncertainty and provides insights into the new tools of managing complexity."

- Stephen Denning, author, The Leader's Guide to Radical Management

"Shift shines a light through all of the hype around driving and surviving disruptive change in business today. It is an engaging and thought-provoking read.."

- Amar Hanspal, senior vice president, IPG Product Group, Autodesk

"To transform anything, start by changing your lens. Shift by Haydn Shaughnessy is a must-read lens-changer for innovation junkies everywhere."

- Saul Kaplan, founder and chief catalyst, Business Innovation Factory

"Shift is mandatory reading for anybody who wants to move beyond the tactics of enterprise innovation. Haydn has done a tremendous job in contextualizing innovation by elastic and fluid enterprises that have the capabilities to move at rocket speed in today's fast moving disruption environment. The chapters on innovation capabilities, platform thinking and externalisation represent some of the most refreshing reflections and insights of the last decade. With Shift, Haydn has positioned himself in the same league as Clayton Christensen."

- Peter Vander Auwera, co-founder, Innotribe