Getting Beyond Better: How Social Entrepreneurship Works

Marc Notes: Who really moves things forward in our society and how do they do it? How have they always done it? Strategy guru Roger Martin and Skoll Foundation CEO Sally Osberg make a compelling argument that social entrepreneurs are agents of change who recognize, in our current reality, various kinds of equilibria-systems in need of change-and then advance social progress by transforming these systems, ultimately replacing what exists with a new equilibrium. Seen in this light, social entrepreneurship is not a marginal activity, but one that unleashes new value for society by releasing untapped human ambition. The book begins with a probing and useful theory of social entrepreneurship, moving through history to illuminate what it is, how it works, and the nature of its role in modern society. The authors then set out a framework for understanding how successful social entrepreneurs actually go about producing transformative change. There are four key stages: understanding the world;envisioning a better future;building a model for change;and scaling the solution. With both depth and nuance, Martin and Osberg offer rich examples and stories, and share lessons and tools applicable to everyone who aspires to drive positive change, whatever the context. Getting Beyond Better offers a bold new framework demonstrating how and why meaningful change actually happens in the world, and offering concrete lessons and a practical model for businesses, policy-makers, and civil society organizations to generate new value, again and again. --; Provided by publisher.; Who really moves things forward in our society and how do they do it? How have they always done it? Strategy guru Roger Martin and Skoll Foundation CEO Sally Osberg make a compelling argument that social entrepreneurs are agents of change who recognize, in our current reality, various kinds of equilibria--systems in need of change--and then advance social progress by transforming these systems, ultimately replacing what exists with a new equilibrium. Seen in this light, social entrepreneurship is not a marginal activity, but one that unleashes new value for society by releasing untapped human ambition. The book begins with a probing and useful theory of social entrepreneurship, moving through history to illuminate what it is, how it works, and the nature of its role in modern society. The authors then set out a framework for understanding how successful social entrepreneurs actually go about producing transformative change. There are four key stages: understanding the world;envisioning a better future;building a model for change;and scaling the solution. With both depth and nuance, Martin and Osberg offer rich examples and stories, and share lessons and tools applicable to everyone who aspires to drive positive change, whatever the context. Getting Beyond Better offers a bold new framework demonstrating how and why meaningful change actually happens in the world, and offering concrete lessons and a practical model for businesses, policy-makers, and civil society organizations to generate new value, again and again--; Provided by publisher. Review Quotes: Advance Praise for "Getting Beyond Better" Paul Polman, CEO, Unilever The most persuasive account yet of the relationship between our biggest global challenges and the role of social entrepreneurship. Essential reading for anyone who still doubts the power of the social entrepreneur. Melinda Gates, cochair, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Through the stories of status quoshifting entrepreneurs, including two of my heroes, Paul Farmer and Molly Melching, this powerful book shows what more equitable societies could look likeand what we can all do to make that new normal a reality. Tim Brown, President and CEO, IDEO; author, "Change by Design" Social entrepreneurship is a powerful vehicle for positive societal impact, but to exploit it successfully we must first understand what it is and where it has been done well. "Getting Beyond Better" brilliantly provides the clear definition and case studies that will inspire practitioners, students, funders, and teachers to add their contribution to this important global movement. Muhammad Yunus, founder, Grameen Bank; father of microcredit and social business; and winner of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Poverty, worsening income-wealth-opportunity disparity, and climate change are threatening the world. To make the world socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable, we need to bring out the social entrepreneur in all of us. This enlightening yet deeply practical book will help us do that. Bill Drayton, founder and CEO, Ashoka: Innovators for the Public Roger Martin and Sally Osberg s "Getting Beyond Better" is the bestthe best explanation of how social entrepreneurship regularly upsets crazy but deeply rooted social patterns. And the most clearly written book I ve read in years. Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen, founder and Chair, Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society; author, "Giving 2.0" "Getting Beyond Better" shines a spectacular light on social entrepreneurshipwhat it is and what it requires. Roger Martin and Sally Osberg brilliantly bring together invaluable years of theory, practice, and wisdom to create a must-read for anyone striving to disrupt the status quo for good. "Biographical Note: Roger L. Martin has written many award-winning books, including "Playing to Win" (with A. G. Lafley), as well as numerous articles in "Harvard Business Review" and other leading journals and newspapers. He is former dean of the University of Toronto s Rotman School of Management. He has been on the board of the Skoll Foundation since its formation in 1999. Sally R. Osberg is President and CEO of the Skoll Foundation. Under Sally s leadership, the Foundation has invested in more than one hundred ventures led by social entrepreneurs active on five continents; established the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at the Said Business School of Oxford University; created the annual Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship; and brokered cutting-edge partnerships with organizations such as the Sundance Institute and the Social Progress Imperative."Publisher Marketing: Who drives transformation in society? How do they do it? In this compelling book, strategy guru Roger L. Martin and Skoll Foundation President and CEO Sally R. Osberg describe how social entrepreneurs target systems that exist in a stable but unjust equilibrium and transform them into entirely new, superior, and sustainable equilibria. All of these leaderscall them disrupters, visionaries, or changemakersdevelop, build, and scale their solutions in ways that bring about the truly revolutionary change that makes the world a fairer and better place. The book begins with a probing and useful theory of social entrepreneurship, moving through history to illuminate what it is, how it works, and the nature of its role in modern society. The authors then set out a framework for understanding how successful social entrepreneurs actually go about producing transformative change. There are four key stages: understanding the world; envisioning a new future; building a model for change; and scaling the solution. With both depth and nuance, Martin and Osberg offer rich examples and personal stories and share lessons and tools invaluable to anyone who aspires to drive positive change, whatever the context. "Getting Beyond Better" sets forth a bold new framework, demonstrating how and why meaningful change actually happens in the world and providing concrete lessons and a practical model for businesses, policymakers, civil society organizations, and individuals who seek to transform our world for good."

Contributor Bio:  Martin, Roger L Roger L. Martin is Dean of the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management and an adviser to CEOs on strategy, design, innovation, and integrative thinking. In 2011, Roger was named by Thinkers50 as the sixth top management thinker in the world. This is his eighth book; he also contributes regularly to Harvard Business Review, the Financial Times, and the Washington Post, among others. Contributor Bio:  Huffington, Arianna Arianna Huffington has been named one of Washington's most influential commentators by both Newsweek and People. Her syndicated column appears twice weekly in newspapers around the country, including the Los Angeles Times, the New York Post, and the Chicago Sun-Times. She is a frequent guest on television talk shows from Crossfire to Politically Incorrect, and a contributing writer to Talk magazine. The author of seven previous books, she lives in Los Angeles and Washington, D. C., with her two daughters.