Churchill's Adaptive Enterprise: Lessons for Business Today
by Mark Kozak-Holland

[Business - General]

Winston Churchill is widely regarded as one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century. But as he became Prime Minister in May 1940, in a period of calamitous change, what did he actually do? How did he transform his organization to turn his perilous situation around? Both Churchill in 1940 and business people today grapple with an unprecedented level of change adversely impacting their organizations at the enterprise, business unit, or project level. Churchill's Adaptive Enterprise is about how Churchill, under tremendous pressure, inspired his nation to continue a fight already considered lost. Not only did he have to stave off an imminent enemy invasion but he had to move the peacetime economy to one that could support a war. This meant focusing slender resources on the immediate threat, unifying a disparate economy, and directing its output into immediate military use. Within a very short time, Churchill had to transform his organization to the modern-day equivalent of an Adaptive Enterprise so that it could adapt to this unexpected situation. He did this using the emerging technologies of the day, and of course he had to get it right the first time and make the investments count. As he illustrates Churchill's journey to an Adaptive Enterprise, author Mark Kozak-Holland draws parallels between events in World War II and today's business challenges. An Adaptive Enterprise modifies the way an organization behaves -- primarily, in how it wrestles with change. Adaptive Enterprises rapidly react to business events in real-time, comparing them against various scenarios, and enact appropriate countermeasures to stay ahead of the competition and thrive. Through recent advances in emerging technology, large organizations can become more agile and mimic the characteristics of a small organization. Churchill created his Adaptive Enterprise in a very dire situation. Not only did the transformed organization work, but it surpassed all expectations and changed the course of history. This book will show you how he did it, and how you can do the same in your own organization.

"Makes contemporary comparisons to the famous leader's approach to problem solving." - 2007 Eric Hoffer Book Awards

Churchill is recognized as one of the most inspiring figures of the twentieth century, almost single-handedly keeping a nation on its feet in the face of destruction. Kozak-Holland uses these lessons to motivate Information Technology professionals. The comparison is an environment of rapid change and adaptability. The business world is littered with examples of companies that have failed in the face of sweeping changes, and the IT professional often stands at the forefront of these assaults. In moments of crisis, it's not a bad idea to ask: What would Churchill do? Kozak-Holland shows us, making contemporary comparisons to the famous leader's approach to problem solving. - 2007 Eric Hoffer Book Awards