Models of Opportunity
How Entrepreneurs Design Firms to Achieve the Unexpected

A fresh perspective on emerging trends in entrepreneurship, organisational change and high-growth firms.

Gerard George (Author), Adam J. Bock (Author)

9780521765077, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 16 February 2012

322 pages, 24 b/w illus. 18 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.9 cm, 0.6 kg

'Some of the best works on business models are conceptual and case-based books that have been written by experienced entrepreneurs … The contribution of Models of Opportunity to this literature is the importance of narratives. George and Bock's emphasis on the importance of communication and the management of narrative is likely to resonate well with those immersed in practice and matches my own experiences from working with numerous start-ups.' Administrative Science Quarterly

Entrepreneurship is changing. Technology and social networks create a smaller world, but widen the opportunity horizon. Today's entrepreneurs build organisations and create value in entirely new ways and with entirely new tools. Rather than just exploit new ideas, innovative entrepreneurs design organisations to make sense of unlikely opportunities. The time has come to overhaul what we know about entrepreneurship and business models. Models of Opportunity links scholarly research on business models and organisational design to the reality of building entrepreneurial firms. It provides actionable advice based on a deeper understanding of how business models function and change. The six insights extend corporate strategy and entrepreneurship in a completely new direction. Case studies of innovative companies across industries demonstrate how visionary entrepreneurs achieve unexpected results. The insights, tools and cases, provide a fresh perspective on emerging trends in entrepreneurship, organisational change and high-growth firms.

List of figures
List of tables
List of boxes
Six insights to achieve the unexpected
1. Rethink organisation design
2. Appreciate imperfect opportunities
3. Remodel for coherence
4. Build bridges
5. Inspire the narrative
6. Embrace the unexpected opportunity
7. Hindsight
Index.

Subject Areas: Entrepreneurship [KJH], Business innovation [KJD]