Issue 77, Winter 2014

In this issue

A Strategist’s Guide to the Internet of Things, Best Business Books 2014, China’s Philosopher-CEO Zhang Ruimin, and More

The Global Innovation 1000: Proven Paths to Innovation Success

by Barry Jaruzelski, Volker Staack, and Brad Goehle

Ten years of research reveal the best R&D strategies for the decade ahead.

Technology
A Strategist’s Guide to the Internet of Things

by Frank Burkitt

The digital interconnection of billions of devices is today’s most dynamic business opportunity.
Business Literature
Best Business Books 2014

by Theodore Kinni

Our annual review of the year’s best business books. Strategy: To the Nimble Go the Spoils, Marketing: Brand Diving, Executive Self-Improvement: The Human Factor, Organizational Culture: The Nothing That’s Everything, Innovation: Greasing the Skids of Invention, Sustainability: Tomorrow’s Bottom Line, Economics: All Things Being Unequal
Business Literature
Best Business Books 2014—In Pictures

View a slideshow of our picks for the best business books of 2014 in seven categories.
Thought Leaders
Erin Meyer Can Make Your Global Team Work

by Christie Rizk

The INSEAD professor shows how people can communicate
across cultures.
Thought Leaders
China’s Philosopher-CEO Zhang Ruimin

by Art Kleiner

Haier’s leader describes how he built a winning global company by continually reframing his management philosophy.

Politicians for Prosperity

by Ram Charan, Michael Useem, and Dennis Carey

National leaders, such as India’s new prime minister, Narendra Modi, can make or break their country’s business climate.
The Sharing Company

by Robert Vaughan

Behind the hype of peer-to-peer economics is a quiet B2B revolution.
Young Profs

The Untapped Value of Overseas Experience

by Dan Wang

How skilled return migrants can be your company’s agents of change.
Can Media Firms Become Digital Video Mavens?

by Christopher Vollmer, Sebastian Blum, and Kristina Bennin

Traditional entertainment companies are buying up new multichannel networks in pursuit of online audiences.
s+b Trend Watch: The Profit Conundrum

Revenues go up, but so do costs — and even with overhead cuts, company leaders don’t see the expected benefits of scale.

Kings of the Cloud

by Olaf Acker, Germar Schröder, and Florian Gröne

The leading companies in the tech industry are reworking their business models to deliver everything-as-a-service.
What Mom-and-Pop Stores Can Teach Grocery Chains

by Tim Laseter and Steffen Lauster

To stave off online competitors, supermarkets should work with their suppliers and get back to personalized service.