The Jericho principle - Ralph Welborn

"In the spirit of Christensen and with the urgency of Foster and Kaplan, Welborn and Kasten have dissected one of the critical challenges facing business leadership in times of great uncertainty: the collaborative imperative. Applying Ronald Coase's seminal work on transaction costs to an economic environment increasingly characterized by Robert Metcalfe's theory of the value of networks, they conclude: 'in times where uncertainty is the rule rather than the exception, we must find ways to drive down the transaction cost of innovation.' This creates a collaborative imperative that is both 'inexorably necessary and inherently risky.' Realizing the opportunity and managing the attendant risk of collaboration is the vital subject that comprises the body of this book. This is neither theoretician's tome nor overwritten journalistic screed; The Jericho Principle is a serious analytical contribution for the practitioner 'about implementing strategy, not creating it.'"

Robert E. Kiernan III, Chief Executive Officer, Resolution Capital Management

"The Internet crushes barriers to communication, collaboration, and business execution. Firms and governments that fail to master the new organizational and economic imperatives of business collaboration will become carcasses along the trail. But how? Into this void comes The Jericho Principle, a guidebook to help executives identify and execute dynamic collaborations that make partnering an integral part of companies' strategy and execution engines. With this guidebook in hand, executives can lead their firms without fear into the collaboration den."

Ted Schadler, Principal Analyst, Forrester Research

"If you plan to lead an organization into the next economic upswing, you must read The Jericho Principle. This book clearly explains how and why business collaboration models that we have never seen will change the competitive landscape for next generation corporations. Demands on these new organizations to collaborate will be unprecedented as technologies enable previously unseen flexibility in organization structure and business processes, and the demands of customers and markets create previously unseen requirements for rapid innovation and a new level of customer service. The Jericho Principle is wonderfully timed as it provides a framework for thinking about business collaboration that goes well beyond the buzzwords that are often used but rarely deliver real economic value. If you believe the next generation of elite companies will be driven, and structured, to collaborate, The Jericho Principle will provide a wonderful catalyst to accelerate your thinking about the drivers, models, and benefits surrounding business collaboration."

Brian Otis, Director of Advanced Technology and Technology Directions & Standards, Swiss Reinsurance Company

"Every day, business collaboration is emerging as a competitive necessity. As a result, every business leader in the future will need to understand and leverage the value of different types of collaboration. Today, people collaborate on an ad hoc basis. What is needed is an understanding of how to make systematic and powerful the opportunities of collaboration. The Jericho Principle provides that understanding. It focuses on how we can analyze and understand collaborative opportunities, harness this competitive necessity, and achieve real value through collaboration."

David Sanders, Senior Vice President, BearingPoint and Vice Chairman, Information Technology Association of America

"Success is all about seeing the big picture. The ancient scholars looked to the sky, connecting the stars to make sense of the world. Today, it's a bit more complicated. You need to connect the dots among a myriad of converging global trends. Looking for a quick fix, many executives turn to technology but all too often view it in isolation. You can network a company with a common platform but cannot ignore the effects of customers, employees, business process, politics, and the market. Hence, in the struggle to compete, business collaboration is now all the rage. In this book, Welborn and Kasten connect trends with reality and give practical advice to succeed in a dynamic global economy. They put real meaning to the buzzwords, mapping a strategy on how to survive in a world where the dots keep moving."

Dominick Cavuoto, President, Unisys Global Financial Services