The Solution Revolution

Increasingly, companies, civil society players and governmental players are joining efforts to redesign the world of tomorrow. Indeed, between the scope of social and environmental issues on the one hand and limited state resources on the other, it has become utopian to rely exclusively on public initiatives. Moreover, social and technological advances offer unprecedented possibilities to coordinate initiatives for greater collective efficacy. In The Solution Revolution, William D. Eggers and Paul Macmillan lay the foundations for this new situation. They cite many examples showing that financial and social interests can be made to converge. From the development of the Indian soap market by Unilever to the latest smartphone applications involving citizens in managing their neighborhood or facilitating car sharing, they identify drivers which can be used to improve the social impact of a business. Far from talking about philanthropy, the authors demonstrate how highly pragmatic players reconcile financial objectives, practical constraints and the desire to increase their positive contribution on social issues. Parts II and III abound in advice on the use of collaborative technologies to achieve objectives despite limited resources. Parts IV and VI specifically cover how to form good partnerships and motivate each stakeholder. Although often written to encourage public players to work with private players, this book is also inspiring for company leaders who would like to increase their social impact.