1st Edition

Five Superpowers for Co-Creators How change makers and business can achieve the Sustainable Development Goals

By Katrin Muff Copyright 2019
    206 Pages 50 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    206 Pages 50 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    This groundbreaking and timely book provides change makers, organizations and facilitators with practical tools to initiate and conduct multi-stakeholder co-creation processes. Such processes are of critical importance in times of rapid change, where mega trends and grand challenges influence the market dynamics of business in entirely new ways. The book provides a concrete pathway for business to become future-ready by building capacity to work outside its traditional boundaries.

    The book unfolds the shift of multi-stakeholder teams from a state of competition to a state of collaboration, addressing the inner and outer dimensions of such a change. The five superpowers identified in the book are: (1) the genuine engagement of individuals, (2) collective solutions of groups, (3) transformative spaces created by facilitators, (4) the building blocks of co-creation, and (5) an effective strategy process for organizations. The book explores the challenges to achieve each of these superpowers. It also shares the stories of "heroes of transformation" and explores what have been the reasons for their success.

    The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the grand challenges, the future of work…call it what you want, the future is here and organizations, change makers and facilitators need nothing less than these superpowers to collaborate with other players to solve these wicked problems.

    Foreword by Paul Polman: Co-creation in the era of the SDGs Part I: The Dynamics of Change  1. The Interconnection of Society, Organizations, and Individuals 2. The secrets of stakeholder transformation Part II: Challenges and Solutions for Stakeholder Co-creation  3. Superpower #1 – Genuine Engagement of individuals 4. Superpower #2 – Collective Solutions of groups 5. Superpower #3 – Transformative Spaces of facilitators  Part III: Co-creation for Change Makers  6. The Different Types and Roles of Change Makers 7. Superpower #4 – The building blocks of co-creation 8. Measuring Progress in Co-creation  Part IV: Co-creation for Organizations  9. Superpower #5 – The positive-impact tool of organizations Part V Conclusion 10. The five superpowers for co-creators

    Biography

    Katrin Muff is a thought leader, consultant and facilitator in the transformative space of sustainability and responsibility. From 2008 to 2018, she has helped shape Business School Lausanne, first as Dean and later as Professor in Business Sustainability & Responsibility. Prior to this, she worked as a strategist for Alcoa in Europe, the U.S. and Russia and for P&G in the Netherlands. She holds a PhD from Exeter University, an MBA from BSL and is a certified coach.

    ‘In a world of ever increasing uncertainty, fear, and separation, we drown in conflicts. The conflicts take root not in our weaknesses but in our strengths. In this amazing book we learn how to integrate our competing strengths to co-create the world for which we all yearn. It is a must read.’Robert Quinn, Professor Emeritus, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan

    ‘We live in a world of disruption that makes us either turn backwards by closing our mind, heart, and will (i.e. amplifying ignorance, hate, fear) or leaning forward through opening our mind, heart, and will (i.e. cultivating curiosity, compassion, courage). Which of these two pathways we embody is a question of our intention and our capacity. This book tells you how to develop the capacity for the second path. How to co-create as an individual, as a team, and as an organization. Essential reading for change makers and forward thinking organizations.’ — Otto Scharmer, author of Theory U

    ‘We are at a period in our collective history where the anticipated changes now emerge as realities that consist of complex and systemic challenges. We need to work together to achieve the seismic shift that can catapult us into a new economic order, which is more social, lean, integrated and circular. The book offers a concrete pathway to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through much required co-creation. Read the book and be inspired.’ — Lise Kingo, Executive Director, United Nations Global Impact

    ‘For all leaders – current and future – this book provides an invaluable roadmap. It explains the process of collaboration in a structured way, and shows through a series of practical exercise how leaders can become change makers.’ — Paul Polman, Chief Executive Officer, Unilever plc

    'In times of transformation, the world certainly needs change makers charged with superpowers and Katrin Muff's innovative approach to co-creation has given her invaluable insights into how to cultivate them. An essential and highly readable book.'  — Kate Raworth, Doughnut Economics