With the popularization of Simon Sinek's "Start with Why", the purpose-driven life and organization seem to have ingrained themselves into business conversations. But how, precisely, do you do that...and still make money?
Robert E. Quinn and Anjan V. Thakor, in their book, "The Economics of Higher Purpose: Eight Counterintuitive Steps for Creating a Purpose-Driven Organization" explain why purpose-driven organizations have failed to gain traction and the evidence that they can and do make money as well (if not more!).
One author is a management professor and the other is a finance professor, so I got a crash course on business economics and of a higher purpose:
- The foundation of business economics starts with a "conventional mindset" where "principals (bosses) and agents (employees) engage in conventional relationships of transactional exchange: for this amount of money, we agree that you will do this amount of work."
- The foundation of a higher purpose is a "social system in which the greater good has been envisioned, articulated, and authenticated....[It is] the arbiter of all decisions, and people find meaning in their work and in their relationships despite the conflicts. They share a vision and are fully engaged. They strive to transcend their egos and sacrifice for the common good."
The authors, rather than believing these two theories are mutually exclusive, set about to find where they intersected...and go from there.
Ironically enough, Part I is about the why we should consider be a Purpose-driven Organization - and the dangers of faking it e.g. making it a PR campaign vs. the way to do business.
Part II is the 8-step method, which frankly, isn't THAT counterintuitive, but definitely requires some intentional thought and actions. The steps seem simple enough, but will probably be hard (not easy!) to do.
I have three clients who consider themselves to be purpose-driven organizations (or on the path toward calling themselves such). I am suggesting they read this book and confirm what they are doing well - and then have a frank and authentic discussion about what they are NOT doing yet SHOULD be doing and/or what they can do differently based on the various steps.
One final thing: You don't have to be the CEO to read this book and implement these ideas. You can use this book an in individual, team, business unit or enterprise level. Good luck!
Have one to sell?

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer – no Kindle device required. Learn more
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera, scan the code below and download the Kindle app.


Flip to back Flip to front
The Economics of Higher Purpose: Eight Counterintuitive Steps for Creating a Purpose-Driven Organization Hardcover – Aug. 20 2019
by
Robert E. Quinn
(Author),
Anjan Thakor
(Author)
Amazon Price | New from | Used from |
Kindle Edition
"Please retry" | — | — |
Audible Audiobook, Unabridged
"Please retry" |
$0.00
| Free with your Audible trial |
Audio CD, CD, Unabridged
"Please retry" |
—
| — | — |
Enhance your purchase
Two distinguished scholars offer eight steps to help organizations discover and embrace an authentic higher purpose--something that will dramatically improve every aspect of any enterprise, including the bottom line.
What does a lofty notion like purpose have to do with business basics like the bottom line? Robert E. Quinn and Anjan J. Thakor say pretty much everything. Leaders and managers are taught that employees are self-interested and work resistant, so they create systems of control to combat these expectations. Workers resent these systems, and performance suffers. To address the performance issues, managers double down on the coercion, creating a vicious cycle and a self-fulfilling prophecy.
But there is a better way. Quinn and Thakor show that when an authentic higher purpose permeates business strategy and decision-making, the cycle is broken. Employers and employees see themselves as working together toward an inspiring goal, not just trying to hit quarterly targets. They fully engage, become proactive contributors, and, ironically, easily exceed those quarterly targets.
Based on their widely acclaimed Harvard Business Review article, Quinn and Thakor offer eight sometimes surprising steps for shifting from a transaction-oriented mind-set focused on constraints to a purpose-oriented mind-set focused on possibility. This iconoclastic book will help any organization discover its authentic purpose and weave it into the fabric of everything it does, leading to unprecedented levels of personal satisfaction, service and product innovation, and economic growth.
What does a lofty notion like purpose have to do with business basics like the bottom line? Robert E. Quinn and Anjan J. Thakor say pretty much everything. Leaders and managers are taught that employees are self-interested and work resistant, so they create systems of control to combat these expectations. Workers resent these systems, and performance suffers. To address the performance issues, managers double down on the coercion, creating a vicious cycle and a self-fulfilling prophecy.
But there is a better way. Quinn and Thakor show that when an authentic higher purpose permeates business strategy and decision-making, the cycle is broken. Employers and employees see themselves as working together toward an inspiring goal, not just trying to hit quarterly targets. They fully engage, become proactive contributors, and, ironically, easily exceed those quarterly targets.
Based on their widely acclaimed Harvard Business Review article, Quinn and Thakor offer eight sometimes surprising steps for shifting from a transaction-oriented mind-set focused on constraints to a purpose-oriented mind-set focused on possibility. This iconoclastic book will help any organization discover its authentic purpose and weave it into the fabric of everything it does, leading to unprecedented levels of personal satisfaction, service and product innovation, and economic growth.
- Print length240 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherBerrett-Koehler Publishers
- Publication dateAug. 20 2019
- Dimensions16.51 x 2.03 x 24.28 cm
- ISBN-101523086408
- ISBN-13978-1523086405
Frequently bought together
- +
- +
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Some of these items ship sooner than the others.
Choose items to buy together.
Product description
Review
“Authors Thakor and Quinn have produced the best kind of leadership prescription—a simple, applicable idea with profound consequences: leaders who provide a higher purpose achieve both better results and greater career satisfaction in employees. What could be more rewarding than engaging people in a cause bigger than themselves, with results far better than possible with traditional methods?”
—Richard Mahoney, former CEO, Monsanto
“Eminent scholars Quinn and Thakor offer a practical and inspiring approach toward building a purpose-driven organization that shows how to reconcile the critically important authenticity with the profit objectives of commercial enterprise.”
—Eric Van den Steen, Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School
“This book is a road map for transforming an organization by discovering its purpose, communicating it genuinely, and energizing the whole of the enterprise in a way that results in unheard-of employee dedication and loyalty and previously unimaginable business success. A must-read for today’s leaders.”
—Jim Weddle, former CEO and retired Managing Partner, Edward Jones
“This book bridges the gap between the aspirational ‘feel good’ treatment of purpose and the single-minded focus on wealth creation that characterizes great organizations. Quinn and Thakor succeed marvelously in bringing purpose to life and making it work.”
—Arnoud Boot, Professor of Finance, University of Amsterdam; member, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences; Chairman, Bank Council, Dutch Central Bank; and member, Scientific Council for Government Policy
“Two outstanding professors, one in management and one in finance, have come together to see how an organization can be designed when those involved share a higher purpose. It should be read by all those interested in governance and organizational design.”
—Franklin Allen, Professor of Finance and Economics and Executive Director, Brevan Howard Centre, Imperial College London
“The authors not only demonstrate why authentic purpose-driven organizations do better but also provide specific steps for creating such an organization. This book is thoughtful, clear, and immensely useful.”
—Vic Strecher, Professor, University of Michigan, and founder and CEO, Kumanu, Inc.
“Quinn and Thakor create a powerful case and practical guide for why and how we should run into a burning building. Their eight counterintuitive steps for purpose-driven management are a must-read for leaders who understand that all you can command is attendance, and all the good stuff is given willingly by those that understand and share the higher purpose of their organization.”
—Jim Mallozzi, former Chairman and CEO, Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services
“As an HR leader, I am constantly thinking about how to provide a richer, more meaningful work experience. The Economics of Higher Purpose provides a compelling blueprint to help our people connect to a deeper purpose in their work. If this is done well, work becomes more than a paycheck; it satisfies our desire to be a part of something bigger.”
—Shawn P. Patterson, Vice President of Organizational Effectiveness and Chief Learning Officer, DTE Energy
“In this book, Quinn and Thakor teach us a great yet challenging lesson: when we learn to look beyond profit maximization to a higher purpose, we learn to create lasting prosperity.”
—Charles C. Manz, Nirenberg Chaired Professor of Leadership, University of Massachusetts Amherst, and coauthor of Twisted Leadership and Twisted Teams
“In their new book, Quinn and Thakor share amazing insights and stories on how higher purpose turns everyone into a fully invested person. This volume is a profound playbook for those who want to unleash the human and economic power in the people around them.”
—Jim Haudan, Chairman, Root Inc.
“The authors take us on a compelling journey in which we discover the why and the how of creating organizations of higher purpose. Then they give us the gift of practical tools and exercises—it is a precious volume for those who want to make a difference.”
—Nick Craig, author of Leading from Purpose
“It is one thing to state that meaning makes money. It is quite another to show why and how. This book offers eight specific, actionable steps for linking purpose and profits. It is an invitation to personal development and organizational flourishing.”
—Dave Ulrich, Rensis Likert Professor, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, and Partner, The RBL Group
“By discovering what has made some organizations so hugely successful, Thakor and Quinn give higher purpose the instrumental role it deserves in everybody's life project, large or small. They have written a fantastic, eye-opening book. It is both visionary and highly practical. I have followed their rules unknowingly for the better part of my life.”
—Jan Krahnen, Professor of Finance, Goethe University, and Founding Director, Sustainable Architecture for Finance in Europe
—Richard Mahoney, former CEO, Monsanto
“Eminent scholars Quinn and Thakor offer a practical and inspiring approach toward building a purpose-driven organization that shows how to reconcile the critically important authenticity with the profit objectives of commercial enterprise.”
—Eric Van den Steen, Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School
“This book is a road map for transforming an organization by discovering its purpose, communicating it genuinely, and energizing the whole of the enterprise in a way that results in unheard-of employee dedication and loyalty and previously unimaginable business success. A must-read for today’s leaders.”
—Jim Weddle, former CEO and retired Managing Partner, Edward Jones
“This book bridges the gap between the aspirational ‘feel good’ treatment of purpose and the single-minded focus on wealth creation that characterizes great organizations. Quinn and Thakor succeed marvelously in bringing purpose to life and making it work.”
—Arnoud Boot, Professor of Finance, University of Amsterdam; member, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences; Chairman, Bank Council, Dutch Central Bank; and member, Scientific Council for Government Policy
“Two outstanding professors, one in management and one in finance, have come together to see how an organization can be designed when those involved share a higher purpose. It should be read by all those interested in governance and organizational design.”
—Franklin Allen, Professor of Finance and Economics and Executive Director, Brevan Howard Centre, Imperial College London
“The authors not only demonstrate why authentic purpose-driven organizations do better but also provide specific steps for creating such an organization. This book is thoughtful, clear, and immensely useful.”
—Vic Strecher, Professor, University of Michigan, and founder and CEO, Kumanu, Inc.
“Quinn and Thakor create a powerful case and practical guide for why and how we should run into a burning building. Their eight counterintuitive steps for purpose-driven management are a must-read for leaders who understand that all you can command is attendance, and all the good stuff is given willingly by those that understand and share the higher purpose of their organization.”
—Jim Mallozzi, former Chairman and CEO, Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services
“As an HR leader, I am constantly thinking about how to provide a richer, more meaningful work experience. The Economics of Higher Purpose provides a compelling blueprint to help our people connect to a deeper purpose in their work. If this is done well, work becomes more than a paycheck; it satisfies our desire to be a part of something bigger.”
—Shawn P. Patterson, Vice President of Organizational Effectiveness and Chief Learning Officer, DTE Energy
“In this book, Quinn and Thakor teach us a great yet challenging lesson: when we learn to look beyond profit maximization to a higher purpose, we learn to create lasting prosperity.”
—Charles C. Manz, Nirenberg Chaired Professor of Leadership, University of Massachusetts Amherst, and coauthor of Twisted Leadership and Twisted Teams
“In their new book, Quinn and Thakor share amazing insights and stories on how higher purpose turns everyone into a fully invested person. This volume is a profound playbook for those who want to unleash the human and economic power in the people around them.”
—Jim Haudan, Chairman, Root Inc.
“The authors take us on a compelling journey in which we discover the why and the how of creating organizations of higher purpose. Then they give us the gift of practical tools and exercises—it is a precious volume for those who want to make a difference.”
—Nick Craig, author of Leading from Purpose
“It is one thing to state that meaning makes money. It is quite another to show why and how. This book offers eight specific, actionable steps for linking purpose and profits. It is an invitation to personal development and organizational flourishing.”
—Dave Ulrich, Rensis Likert Professor, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, and Partner, The RBL Group
“By discovering what has made some organizations so hugely successful, Thakor and Quinn give higher purpose the instrumental role it deserves in everybody's life project, large or small. They have written a fantastic, eye-opening book. It is both visionary and highly practical. I have followed their rules unknowingly for the better part of my life.”
—Jan Krahnen, Professor of Finance, Goethe University, and Founding Director, Sustainable Architecture for Finance in Europe
About the Author
Robert E. Quinn is a professor emeritus at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business and a cofounder of the Center for Positive Organizations there. He is a fellow of the Academy of Management and the World Business Academy and is the author of eighteen books.
Anjan J. Thakor is the John E. Simon Professor of Finance at the Olin Business School at Washington University. Prior to that, Thakor was the Edward J. Frey Professor of Banking and Finance at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, where he also served as chairman of the finance area.
Anjan J. Thakor is the John E. Simon Professor of Finance at the Olin Business School at Washington University. Prior to that, Thakor was the Edward J. Frey Professor of Banking and Finance at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, where he also served as chairman of the finance area.
Product details
- Publisher : Berrett-Koehler Publishers (Aug. 20 2019)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 240 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1523086408
- ISBN-13 : 978-1523086405
- Item weight : 476 g
- Dimensions : 16.51 x 2.03 x 24.28 cm
- Best Sellers Rank: #909,372 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,760 in Organizational Behaviour (Books)
- #4,614 in Motivational
- #4,688 in Motivational Management (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Robert E. Quinn is chair of the Department of Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management at the University of Michigan School of Business. He is coauthor of Becoming a Master Manager (1990).
Customer reviews
4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
26 global ratings
How are ratings calculated?
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Top reviews from other countries

Kristin J. Arnold
5.0 out of 5 stars
Finally, the Roadmap to Creating a Purpose-Driven Organization
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 22, 2022Verified Purchase
Report

Jerald L. Duff
5.0 out of 5 stars
Quinn Has Done it Again
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 21, 2019Verified Purchase
Following his seminal book, Deep Change, Robert Quinn writes the lessons that I have learned in three decades of consulting. I am currently using this book with 17 pastors who need to make deep changes or face the the inevitable slow death. A deep read that asks the right questions.

Llema1
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book - pair it with Deep Change!
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 16, 2020Verified Purchase
Deep Change and this book have given me an excellent framework both for my professional and personal lives. Robert Quinn is an absolute gem of a human and his teachings have given me so much.

jason kegerreis
3.0 out of 5 stars
Worthwhile Read
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 9, 2019Verified Purchase
Interesting read with an engaging argument. However, the book took more of a philosophical than economical approach. I liked the idea, but didn’t feel they really proved their argument quantitatively which is what I expected going in.
In short, if you want an interesting read, with a complexing argument, this is the book for you, but probably can’t walk it into a board room to prove the changes for which you are looking.
In short, if you want an interesting read, with a complexing argument, this is the book for you, but probably can’t walk it into a board room to prove the changes for which you are looking.

C A
1.0 out of 5 stars
Speculative
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 27, 2019Verified Purchase
A feel-good tome with much speculation. Disappointing -- hoped there would be more analysis and evidence-based argument, but it appeals to speculation. Couldn't finish this mess.