Eric Ries: Why Good Companies Go Bad and How Great Companies Stay Great

What if the most radical idea in business is that purpose is the best tool for unlocking long-term growth? And what if the secret to sustaining your organization’s integrity is readily available if you look in the right places?

In his new book Incorruptible, Eric Ries reveals the hidden forces that he says cause even great organizations to drift from their original reason for being. Then he shows how to design businesses that can withstand that pressure. Drawing on two decades of work with founders, CEOs and investors, he exposes the flaws that make companies vulnerable to short-term thinking. He offers a blueprint for “mission-controlled” organizations that can grow, prosper, and endure without losing their soul.

Using lessons gleaned from generations-old retailers and manufacturers to recently founded tech sector stars, Ries reframes the ethical longevity of business as a practical design problem. He provides every builder—founder, executive, investor or citizen—“a playbook to help avoid the inevitable pitfalls” (according to Mark Cuban) and the tools to create enterprises that uplift rather than exploit. He explores positive case studies such as Cost Plus Drugs, Costco, Hershey’s, Khan Academy, REI and others; he also delves into cautionary tales from Cadbury, J. Crew, Gateway, The Limited, Polaroid, Sears and Whole Foods.

Success alone will not protect what matters most; Ries says only incorruptible design can.

Notes

Photo courtesy of the speaker.

Speakers

Eric Ries, Entrepreneur; Author, Incorruptible: Why Good Companies Go Bad and How Great Companies Stay Great

In Conversation with Scott Cook, Co-founder and Chairman of the Executive Committee, Intuit

5:30 p.m. doors open & check-in
6–7 p.m. program
7 p.m. book signing
(all times Pacific Time)