The book is about achieving exponential improvement through converging parallels. What the authors are saying is that when we begin from scratch, we do not make exponential gains or radical progress. It is only when we begin with a new perspective instead of trying to improve an existing thing, do we make exponential progress.
The key is that for any radical improvement we must have a 'what could be' - a pretty radical change in what we envision (like landing on the moon when no one conceived the idea instead of saying we'll fly higher) and - know 'what is'. The delta change between what could be and what is drives the change. So choose - improvement or exprovement.
To exprove - ask he right question to start with (like the Walkman guy who put a small bx in front of his team and said he would like his stereo player to fit into that) and then look at parallels in unrelated areas (nature, similar or diverse products). The ways it can come is through disruption (creating the next big context), innovation (creating something that fits into a futuristic context, through application of a new technology), design thinking and behavioral economics.
There are tons of examples and lovely stories of how designers and innovators from different walks of life have achieved exprovement. How a football team learned to exprove and thus win by using microprocessors driven devices and technology that measured everything - from hamstrings, players movements, pitch density, diagnostics, garments etc, Huge results. How toys aided exprovement in space exploration, or even landmine detection, how Formula One pit stop efficiency made drastic changes to a toothpaste line, how popsicle technology aided creation of ice glaciers or ice stupas in Ladakh, how pizza boxes have devices that could tell whether the temperature was right and the same technology can be used to detect cancer, how a sixties fad like a mood ring can detect health issues by giving biofeedback.
Perhaps the statement of the Michelin restaurant owner who said 'creating is not copying' and went about completely changing the way his restaurant went into developing a radically different cuisine - lots of experimentation and space to do that. Another interesting story is how a gamer used gaming technology to make physiotherapy more fun for patients who otherwise drop off. Banks who lend time, kites that store energy...limitless ideas to choose from. The answers appear to be all round if you care to look.
The key to exprovement then is to look at the Delta graph - define what could be and look at what is and find ways to get there. Ask the right questions to start with (questions that make the team ponder, taht are based on the desired outcome, that use parallels to form the right perspective and that define what could be). Then draw parallels. Stay optimistic, engage the right team, know that stupid is good, make mistakes and keep persisting.
It's a fine book to read and one that can be used at every place- home, industry wherever. It is also what I learned from 'Measure what Matters' by John Doerr who talks of the process of how to 10x the result. I enjoyed reading it and I am sure will recommend to those who are interested in such kind of thinking. Well written, crisp and well presented. I realise its not easy to pack so much information and so many diverse examples in a easy to read format and they have achieved that. More so because I believe it could an important book that could change people's perspectives on how to make radical change. Good one Hersh Haledkar and Raghunath Mashelkar.
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