'Business should help people learn how they can live better lives and lead society to create the systems and technologies to do so. Core is a great guide to how business can take on that task.'
Charles Leadbetter, author of We-think: the power of mass creativity, and leading management consultant
'I enjoyed this book, learned from it - and strongly recommend it for those trying to succeed at the interface between business and society.'
John Elkington, Chairman, Volans, and co-author with Jochen Zeitz of The Breakthrough Challenge: 10 Ways To Connect Today's Profits With Tomorrow's Bottom Line
'CORE is a really important piece of work. We need this kind of principled clarity more than
ever before.'
Simon Anholt, Founder, Good Country, and Honorary Professor at the University of East Anglia, UK
'No business can prosper in the future without a clear purpose and here at last is a practical management tool to turn a great theory into gritty reality.'
Mike Barry, Director, M&S Plan A, UK
'This is a great reflection on the movement beyond CSR to one that connects business - through purpose - to the real issues on which our societies need to deliver. It's a great recipe for future success - and one that is much needed. It will be a good practical reference for any organisation wanting to make a positive difference.'
Rachel Brown, Founder & CEO of Sustainable Business Network, New Zealand
'There's been a lot of pontification about why businesses need to develop a social purpose but precious little insight on how they can go about it. Refreshingly, Neil's done exactly that with this book - a must read for any business that wants to create social change.'
Jilly Forster, founder, Forster Communications, UK
'When you have a core idea at the heart of your business, as co-operatives tend to in focusing on member needs, there can be a richness of motivation and a special kind of empowered collaboration at work. Keep it simple and you can bring more people on board.'
Ed Mayo, Secretary General, Co-operatives UK and author of
Values
'As he says, identifying the odd win-win is not radical enough. And in the digital age, there is no more time for spin and greenwash. Businesses need to change in a more fundamental way, and Neil's idea of a Single Organising Idea (SOI) is compelling.'
Johnathan Glennie, Director, Ipsos' Sustainable Development Research Centre
'I agree with your argument that business needs to focus on its core, rather than philanthropic CSR, and I like the idea of companies bringing focus to how they do that through an SOI. This latter point is what I think really is new in your book.'
Zahid Torres-Rahim, Founder, Business Fights Poverty
'The fictionalized story really grabbed me. It dramatically brings home the new reality of extreme global connectivity.'
David Grayson, Director of the Doughty Centre for Corporate Responsibility, Cranfield School of Management
