
In this issue
Cover story
- The economic growth of nations is linked to one factor: adoption of information and communications technology.
The Global ICT 50: The Supply Side of Digitization
The top 50 companies providing IT and telecom hardware, software, and services are facing dramatic change and convergence. Their response will transform life for the rest of us.Blank Checks: Unleashing the Potential of People and Businesses
How an unusual management technique inspires business teams to envision — and achieve — breakthrough results.The Social Life of Brands
A marketing strategy informed by neuroscience can help companies enhance customer engagement — and make better use of tools like social media.The Thought Leader Interview: Douglas Conant
The coauthor of TouchPoints and former CEO of Campbell Soup Company explains how executives build their company’s capabilities by connecting with people more effectively.
Leading Ideas
Managing in a Multipolar World
Why global companies need to rethink their operating models.Planning for Facebook’s Future
As CEO of a public company, Mark Zuckerberg needs to engage his board in developing the next generation of leaders.Why Walmart is like a forest
Thinking about your company as an ecosystem yields lessons for innovation, growth, and renewal.Scaling Up Social Media
A survey of senior marketers reveals three capabilities for building better online consumer relationships.Lessons from the E-Commerce Wars
Entrepreneur Jim McCarthy on why online innovations succeed — or fail.
Essays
The Business Case for the European Union
To corporate leaders, this year’s economic crisis is a sign that a more unified Europe is a solution, not a problem.Staying on the Road to Growth
Even amid ongoing tensions, Middle East leaders must maintain their commitment to economic reform.School Reform for Realists
Partnerships between business and education have a place in solving the talent gap, but not in the way most executives expect.
Books in Brief
Another Universe?
A review of Turing’s Cathedral, by George Dyson.Riding with Hannibal
A review of Hannibal and Me, by Andreas Kluth.Gatorade for Innovators
A review of Reverse Innovation, by Vijay Govindarajan and Chris Trimble.A Global Mash-Up
A review of Standing on the Sun, by Christopher Meyer with Julia Kirby.
Recent Research
Venture Capital Firms Trim Their Wings
In cutting down on risky investments, the VC industry is both curbing its upside potential and shortchanging startups.