 |
| Title: |
Business Model Generation |
| Author: |
Alexander Osterwalder & Yves Pigneur |
| Published: |
2010 |
| Comments: |
This is a 'today' book: more pictures than words. Which isn't, actually, a crticism. The book introduces a way of thinking about business models - the nine building blocks - and has practical advice on how to develop the approproate business model for your venture. A useful, unpretentious, reference book. |
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| Title: |
Cognitive Surplus: Creativity and Generosity in a Connected Age |
| Author: |
Clay Shirky |
| Published: |
2010 |
| Comments: |
As Marshall McLuhan identified, the medium is the message, by which he meant any new technology, be it a Roman road or the Internet, changes not only the way the world operates, but the way it thinks about things. So here's Clay Shirky's take on the way the Internet is changing everything. By 'cognitive surplus' he means the brainpower we have left over from our day at work and his book is about the way the Internet - by allowing people to connect up their combined cognitive surplus - is changing the way we do things. A much more thoughtful read than much of the blah about social media. |
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| Title: |
Understanding Media |
| Author: |
Marshall McLuhan |
| Published: |
1964 |
| Comments: |
In truth, this should come with a companion volume, 'Understanding Marshall McLuhan', because it's a challenging read. Here's a passage almost at random, 'The artist can correct the sense ratios before the blow of new technology has numbed conscious procedures. He can correct them before numbness and subliminal grouping and reaction begin.' So, it'll do your head in, but it's worth persevering with because his core insight is profound: new technologies don't just change the way we do things, they change the way we think about the world. So, for example, the technology of type introduced us to a linear way of thinking that in turn influenced the way we understand the concept of time. |
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| Title: |
Obliquity |
| Author: |
John Kay |
| Published: |
2010 |
| Comments: |
John Kay is a British economist and Fniancial Times columnist. This is a really interesting exploration of why many of our goals are best pursued indirectly. In particular, he points out that successful companies do not have 'making money' as thier primary goal... they hve a higher level objective. |
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| Title: |
Whole Earth Discipline |
| Author: |
Stewart Brand |
| Published: |
2009 |
| Comments: |
If you remember the 70s, you probably remember the Whole Earth Catalogue and the start of the environmental movement. In this book the man behind the Whole Earth Catalogue, Stewart Brand, challenges much of current environmental orthodoxy and argues in favour of nuclear power, living in cities and genetic modification. |
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When risk management expert Cecilia Farrow was working on a distribution model that was radically new to the industry, she asked Odyssey to help with the name, branding and marketing. Triplejump is now a rapidly expanding franchise network.
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