Going on Offense - by Behnam Tabrizi (Hardcover)

About the Book

Going on Offense is a powerful resource for anyone looking to transform their organization or themselves, exploring the key ingredients that fuel the mindset of companies dedicated to perpetual innovation and relentless experimentation. Based on a comprehensive seven-year study from Stanford University, Going on Offense provides an insider view into the transformative drivers of success displayed in 26 innovative organizations--including industry giants like Apple, Tesla, Amazon, Microsoft, and Starbucks--along with actionable advice on how to replicate this transformation.

Book Synopsis

#2 WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER

NEXT BIG IDEA BOOK CLUB 2023 MUST-READ BOOK

FEATURED IN HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW, FORTUNE, FAST COMPANY, AND BIG THINK

SELECTED AS ONE OF THE TOP FIVE BUSINESS BOOKS BY USA TODAY, FORBES, INC., AND ENTREPRENEUR

From the bestselling author of Rapid Transformation and The Inside-Out Effect, this essential guide is designed to transform organizations and their employees into a powerhouse of perpetual innovation.

How do the most innovative and agile companies develop a winning mindset that runs throughout the entire organization?

Going on Offense is a powerful resource for anyone looking to transform their organization and their people into a perpetual innovator. Based on a comprehensive seven-year study from Stanford University, Going on Offense provides an insider view into the drivers of success and challenges in 26 organizations--including industry giants like Apple, Tesla, Amazon, Microsoft, and Starbucks--along with actionable advice on replicating their winning approaches. In addition, the book highlights the similarities and differences among their five cultures, which, interestingly, mirror the five icons of industry who are leading or led them: Steve Jobs (Apple), Elon Musk (Tesla), Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Satya Nadella (Microsoft), and Howard Schultz (Starbucks). The findings draw on a survey of over six thousand executives, academics, and consumers and interviews with several dozen current and former employees of most of the 26 firms.

Explore the challenges of once-innovative tech giants like Facebook and Google and the factors behind their struggles. Delve into the reasons behind an organization's decline through in-depth analysis and real-world examples. Going on Offense analyzes these cases and offers a practical playbook for companies and individuals looking to transform into a winning mindset.

Written by world-renowned expert in transformation, bestselling author, and award-winning teacher, scholar, and global advisor, Behnam Tabrizi, Going on Offense is a must-read for any organization looking to stay innovative and competitive in today's rapidly changing market. Armed with this book, a company will be able to go on offense--continually improving its culture, adapting to new environments, and expanding into new territories.

Review Quotes

"I anticipate Going on Offense: A Leader's Playbook for
Perpetual Innovation to quickly become required reading in boardrooms and
classrooms around the world."

--RON JOHNSON, Senior Vice President of Apple and pioneer of Apple
store under Steve Jobs, 2000-2011; CEO of JCPenney, 2011-2013; Board Member of
Ermenegildo Zenga Group, 2019-Present

"Behnam Tabrizi and I both started our careers at IBM, and
it's been exciting to see him become an expert on organizational and leadership
transformation and trusted advisor to more than 100 companies. Going on Offense
is full of practical and actionable solutions for unlocking game-changing innovation.
It should be required reading for companies of all sizes."

--MAYNARD WEBB, Former Chief Operating Officer of eBay,
Director at Salesforce and Visa, Founder of the Webb Investment Network, and
bestselling author

"Based on practical lessons from the most innovative
companies, Behnam Tabrizi provides a well-researched playbook for organizations
looking to enhance their culture while adapting to new challenges and expanding
into new markets. Going on Offense: A Leader's Playbook for Perpetual Innovation
is rich with actionable insights to help you drive innovation in your
organization."

--HAMID MOGHADAM, Cofounder, CEO, and Chairman of Prologis,
the world's largest industrial landlord

"As a former student and researcher for Professor Tabrizi at
Stanford, I have applied many of the practical toolkits of his earlier books,
especially Rapid Transformation, throughout my career. In his latest book,
Going on Offense, his keen game-changing insights outline critical frameworks
and blueprints for any manager or executive that wants to keep their company
ahead in a rapidly accelerating world."

--DREW BENNETT, Tesla Head of Global Charging reporting to
Elon Musk, 2018-2020; Executive Vice President of Network Operations, Volt
Charging, recently sold to Shell Global

"I have known Behnam for the better part of a decade from
since I introduced the "Strategic Execution Framework" I had studied at
Stanford as the key management system into the European Parliament. Behnam is a
prolific thinker and writer. Going on Offense will give you the best of his
in-depth knowledge about very successful companies and leaders making agility
their reality."

--KLAUS WELLE, Secretary General European Parliament,
2009-2022

"I expect Going on Offense: A Leader's Playbook for
Perpetual Innovation to quickly become required reading for entrepreneurs,
CEOs, and boardrooms."

--ARASH FERDOWSI, Cofounder of Dropbox

"Behnam Tabrizi offers us a comprehensive playbook for how people and organizations must work in the modern economy. Unlike the many management books that focus on a single important topic like purpose, Going on Offense brings it all together--purpose, agility, leadership, ambidexterity, radical collaboration, and more--presenting a treasure chest of practical insights for companies that are serious about thriving in a turbulent future."

--AMY EDMONDSON, Professor at Harvard Business School and author of Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well

"A rich and actionable compendium on sustaining innovation
in large enterprises, Going on Offense fills a critical gap in the literature
on leadership and organizational management."

--LILY SARAFAN, Cofounder and Executive Chair of TheKey,
Board Member at Stanford University, Instacart, and Thumbtack

"Behnam Tabrizi knows the key to some of the most successful
companies in the world is unleashing human magic to inspire innovation.
Companies like Apple, Starbucks, and Microsoft have done so successfully, and in
Going on Offense, you'll hear the lessons that helped them stay agile and tap
into the power of their teams. These lessons gained from years of Tabrizi's own
research at Stanford, through his teaching and consulting with various
companies, can be applied to organizations of all sizes and used by leaders at
all levels. This book is a must-read for creating the right innovative
culture."

--HUBERT JOLY, Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business School,
former Chairman and CEO of Best Buy, and bestselling author of The Heart of
Business: Leadership Principles for the Next Era of Capitalism

"After reading Professor Behnam's book, I can relate my
experience observing the author's work with our commercial bank in Thailand to
his belief that culture drives transformation and innovation. We have hired
many renowned consultants to help us transform our bank to cope with rapidly changing
industry forces. Professor Behnam's approach and his commitment to
implementation set him apart from our other advisors. By the end of his transformation
coaching, he had us all believing that empowerment is a critical success factor
in creating an agile culture that puts clients' needs at the center of every
innovation. This book is the definite innovation playbook."

--KATTIYA INDARAVIJAYA, CEO of Kasikornbank, Thailand's
second largest commercial lender and ranked #1 in digital banking services

"When it comes to transformation, Behnam Tabrizi is the best
of guides. His work is based on deep research, powerful human connections, and
insights gathered from the world's leading organizations. Going on Offense is
required and inspiring reading."

--STUART CRAINER, Cofounder of Thinkers50

"Behnam Tabrizi is a guru of transformation and innovation.
Going on Offense brings it to the next level with detailed actions companies
can take to achieve perpetual innovation, which is becoming a necessity since
new and faster competitors are showing up every day."

--SPENCER FUNG, Group Executive Chairman of Li & Fung

"Behnam Tabrizi has written a must-read primer for anyone
considering transforming their organization into a perpetual innovator. . . .
Read this book and learn from the best."

--DAN WALKER, Chief Talent Officer, under Steve Jobs, 2000-2005;
Chief Talent Officer, JC Penny, 2011-2013

"Behnam Tabrizi has written a well-researched book that
provides a practical playbook on how to turn your organization and employees
into perpetual innovators. I highly recommend this book."

--GEOFFREY MOORE, Innovation Expert, well-known author of Crossing
the Chasm, and Partner at Wildcat Venture Partners

"Going on Offense provides a practical blueprint and timely shift to the winning mindset and practices that enable best-in-class organizational innovation and transformation. I'm done playing not to lose, and I'm grateful for Dr. Tabrizi's playbook guiding my improvement journey."

--ARIA SAMENI, Senior Vice President of CVS Health