The Opposable Mind

The Opposable Mind: How Successful Leaders Win Through Integrative Thinking is a book published in December 2007 by Roger Martin, Dean of the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. The book introduces the new concept of integrative thinking, using academic theory and insights from prominent business leaders to substantiate the idea.

Book Summary

Martin argues that to emulate the world’s best leaders people need to study how leaders think. He argues integrative thinking, is a common feature found in successful leaders. The book gives a working definition of integrative thinking as: “The ability to face constructively the tension of opposing ideas and, instead of choosing one at the expense of the other, generate a creative resolution of the tension in the form of a new idea that contains elements of the opposing ideas but is superior to each”.

Martin notes some of the major differences between integrative thinkers and conventional thinkers. Integrative thinkers: take a broad view of what is salient despite the increase it causes in the complexity of problems, consider multi directional and non linear casual relationships, keep the entire problem in mind while working on individual segments, and search for creative resolutions rather than accept trade offs.

In the second half of the book Martin outlines how to develop integrative thinking capabilities. The three main components that make up the integrative thinkers personal knowledge system are stance, tools and experience; “the tripod supporting the system”. Martin devotes a chapter to each element of the tripod, explaining their significance in the integrative thinker’s development and how they combine to create an effective integrative thinker.

Throughout the book, Martin studies the thought processes of prominent leaders and for each chapter uses several examples outlining how the leader used a particular aspect of integrative thinking to create successful strategy.

Leaders used in Book

* Isadore Sharp, founder of Four Seasons Hotels
* A.G. Lafley CEO of Procter & Gamble
* Bob Young, co-founder of Red Hat software
* Piers Handling, director of Toronto International Film Festival
* Moses Znaimer co-founder Citytv
* Victoria Hale, founder of The Institute for OneWorld Health (IOWH)
* Taddy Blecher, co-founder of CIDA City Campus

Reaction

The book has been noted for having a strong thesis that understands "that fresh thought processes are required to deal with the world's contradictions and complexities" [Evans, Richard. "The either/or dilemma." The Financial Times 19/12/2007 2. 10 Jul 2008 .] and has been praised for showing how great leaders think rather than what they do. [Robb, Jay. "Why settle for the best bad choice?." The Hamilton Spectator 09/02/2008 10 Jul 2008 .]

The main criticism of the book has been its inability "to teach "generative reasoning" or to provide readers with specific conceptual tools and a knowledge system for integrative thinking." [Evans, Richard. "The either/or dilemma." The Financial Times 19/12/2007 2. 10 Jul 2008 .] However, the reviews on the success of this have been mixed as India’s Business Today argues that his explanation of generative reasoning, casual relationships and assertive inquiry will “almost certainly enable you to go beyond the sort of reasoning taught at most B-schools.” [Sridharan, R.. "The shrink's perspective." Business Today 17/03/2008 10 Jul 2008 .]

Integrative thinking is taught in MBA programs at several business schools, most notably the Rotman School. [Dearlove, Des. "Students advised to judge leaders by thoughts not deeds." Times Online 23/01/2008 10 Jul 2008 .]

See also

* Roger Martin

References

External links

* [http://www.amazon.com/dp/1422118924 The book on Amazon]
* [http://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/rogermartin/ Roger Martin Rotman School of Management Profile]
* [http://us.ft.com/ftgateway/superpage.ft?news_id=fto121920071524569238&page=2 Review of the book in The Financial Times]
* [http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/ew/2008/02/18/stories/2008021850070200.htm Review of the book in The Hindu Business Line]
* [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/career_and_jobs/mba/article3232266.ece Review of the book in The Times]
* [http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/279725 Review of the book in The Toronto Star]
* [http://www.principledinnovation.com/blog/2008/01/08/pi-podcast-interview-with-roger-martin/ Podcast with the author on Principled Innovation]
* [http://www.phorecast.com/2008/08/05/phorecast-podcast-no-8-dean-roger-martin-author-of-the-opposable-mind/ Podcast interview with Dean Roger Martin on The Opposable Mind, 2008]
* [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20071121.wmartindiscuss1128/BNStory/Front Q&A with the author in the Globe & Mail]
* [http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/di_special/20080123theopposabl.htm Special Report in Businessweek on The Opposable Mind including excerpts and podcast]
* [http://blogs.ft.com/management/2008/03/25/escaping-the-eitheror-trap-audio-interview/ Podcast with the author on the FT Management Blog]
* [http://www.imagingbiz.com/imagingbiz/Volume2_No7/harvard0707.asp Abstract from The Opposable Mind Harvard Business Review article]