Business Experimentation

Having worked with both authors I am continually struck by the impact that they and their methodology has on senior leaders. Their approach is both provocative and pragmatic and has led to some amazing experiment results. Following the pandemic our organisation has entered a phase where experimentation is ever more critical. Leaders now know very clearly that the future is uncertain and nobody has the perfect answer. We can only find the answers through exploration and experimentation if we are to innovate and thrive in the new world. Creating a culture where this is not just encouraged but seen as essential will become a key differentiator of organisational resilience and performance. * Roger Minton, Head of Leadership Development, Anglo American * In today's volatile and uncertain world, experimentation is the best way to test assumptions and respond quickly to changes. James and Goddard have been teaching the how to of experimentation to executives for the past two decades. They have now put their insights and wisdom into this practical and very readable book. It is a winner! It belongs on the shelf of every manager. * Professor Costas Markides, Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, London Business School. * Competent managers deliver on the promise; they follow processes, simply put, and they play the game well. Exceptional leaders on the other hand, challenge the status quo; they dream big, take bold risks, ignite a movement. They create a new game . Rob James and Jules Goddard in their book, Business Experimentation, provide a fresh and innovative perspective of this notion of change, and the role of experimentation in triggering transformational change. Based on my first-hand experience as a participant in Randstad's Transformational Leadership Program, it's clear that under Rob's and Jules' guidance, the experimentation movement has changed our game. In fact, it has become a key part of ensuring that our organization is future ready. * Paul Dupuis, CEO, Randstad Japan * In partnership with London Business School, and with the authors playing a key role, we co-designed a program to prepare our leaders for transformation. By creating connections, building networks and using experiments as a catalyst for change, the program has contributed to Randstad becoming the world market leader in our industry. * Jos Schut, Chief Human Resources Officer, Randstad * Most seasoned executives buy into the idea that we should encourage more experimentation in business, but they often don't know where to start. This book solves the problem - it is full of practical advice, and it is written by two genuine experts, Rob James and Jules Goddard, who have been helping organisations run business experiments for more than a decade. * Professor Julian Birkinshaw, Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, London Business School * I have greatly enjoyed learning with Jules over the last several years in the Academic Council of CEDEP at Fontainebleau. He and Rob have written an exceptional book to focus on the importance of experimentation in business. The world's biggest innovations and discoveries have been made as a result of thoughtful experiments, observations with mindfulness and learning from what worked and what did not. This requires us to foster curiosity, the spirit of adventure and the courage to formulate new hypotheses that challenge conventional wisdom, embrace failure and learn. Jules and Rob have been richer with twelve years of facilitating experiments in several business organizations and have sourced deep insights gained as a result. Their writing is a dance between philosophical gems and practical nuggets and readers are stimulated to think about how they could embark on their own journeys of experimentation to create meaning and serving the well. * Anil Sachdev, Founder and Chairman, School of Inspired Leadership, India * This is a deeply insightful, thought-provoking and practical book, offering an approach that will be of value to organisations of all kinds. The authors unpack experimentation with commendable clarity. * Dr Andrew MacLennan, Founder and Managing Director, Strategy Execution Ltd *