BOOKS
MY LATEST PROJECT
I am writing a new book on how modern industry organizations are ‘keystone’ bodies whose activities influence the trajectory of entire industries.
There are over 92,000 industry associations in the US alone, with even more worldwide. Memberships span the world’s largest firms to micro-businesses. However, most businesses have opted out of industrial-age industry associations, which are proving surprisingly immune to innovation and reform.
They linger on, acting in the interests of a select few. The very organizations meant to serve millions of modern businesses have an innovation problem.
My book will explain in real-world terms how business owners and leaders can succeed in creating new industry institutions that re-connect with businesses, re-energise relationships with governments and the community and reshape industry prosperity.
One surprising pattern I have discovered is that most industry or business associations have an innovation problem. Too many are stuck in the past and unwilling or unable to modernise and create more value for 21st century businesses.
I wondered why?
I came to see that the innovation problem with industry groups is more common and damaging than many realise. I had heard similar stories of frustration in board rooms, meetings with executives and listening to business owners.
Traditional industry associations have lost relevance today, yet long after business support has evaporated they are lingering on like zombies.
In 2019, I decided to write the paper ‘Creating 21st Century Industry Service Organizations: Don’t tinker – transform’, to share my insights with the business community. The interest and response from business leaders was positive and sustained.
Business leaders welcomed the fresh strategic view of the problem and what to do about it.