Book Review: A Mathematical Incongruity That Works In Business

‘Exprovement- Exponential Improvement By Converging Parallels’ by Hersh Haladker and Raghunath Mashelkar is a pragmatic guide that delivers actionable insights on personal and professional development. Incremental progress and monumental shifts, evident on personal and institutional scales, form the core premise of the book.

If you remember your basic math, parallels never converge. The book starts with an intriguing title suggesting ‘converging parallels’. It offers a fascinating perspective on how unrelated parallels can unexpectedly yield solutions to problems that might not have been considered otherwise. Despite the mathematical principle that parallels never converge, the authors introduce the intriguing notion of 'converging parallels.' This refers to their approach, demonstrating the limitless possibilities of generating new ideas by leveraging information and knowledge from one parallel to another.

The authors appear to have introduced a novel term, 'Exprovement,' denoting exponential improvement achieved by drawing connections between seemingly disparate events or experiences. The authors distinguish between ‘improvement’ and ‘exprovement’ by stating that if the anticipated change is relatively minor, it falls under improvement. In contrast, if the expected change is radical, it qualifies as exprovement. Consequently, an exprovement approach typically entails strategic changes, while improvement primarily occurs at the operational level. Their prime illustration is Henry Ford's ground-breaking approach to the automotive industry, where he drew inspiration from the workings of the meat-packing industry. Ford contemplated whether the assembly line concept from meat processing could be applied to car manufacturing. It proved successful, and the rest is history.

The authors' straightforward approach and real-world examples make it a valuable resource for those seeking practical strategies to enhance their lives. The book's focus on improvement through experimentation is refreshing, providing a solid foundation for readers to implement positive changes. Overall, a no-nonsense guide that offers genuine value.

According to the authors, “While improvement is incremental, exprovement is an exponentially improved outcome to an existing or foreseeable challenge, accomplished by creating something that is currently not part of the ecosystem within which the problem exists”.

Leaders can discover unique solutions to intricate challenges by exploring beyond their current domain, drawing inspiration from seemingly unrelated areas. The book emphasises that gaining a fresh perspective, as highlighted, is essential for addressing problems or stimulating growth in unconventional ways. It underscores the exprovement perspective, which enables companies to embark on a new trajectory by exploring parallels beyond their industry.

The book is intricately organised into 18 chapters, each dedicated to a compelling case study spanning diverse industries – ranging from retail and energy to manufacturing, healthcare, and entertainment. The authors adeptly intertwine examples of industries and specific companies that have successfully applied the concept of exprovement, achieving noteworthy breakthroughs.

The book is filled with intriguing stories, one standout being Phil McCrory's. A hair salon owner, he stumbled upon an idea while witnessing an otter amid the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. The otter's fur absorbing oil sparked McCrory's 'lightbulb moment,' leading to a tool that now aids in large-scale oil spill cleanup.

The latter part of the book delves into contemporary issues like cryptocurrency, big data, and the innovative concept of 'time banking.' A prime example of an ongoing exprovement is the beta-testing phase of time banking. Anticipating the strain on social security in developing economies by 2050, particularly due to the rising elderly population, some countries are exploring time banking. The idea involves dedicating hours in one's youth to elder care, accumulating these hours like currency with interest. Upon reaching retirement age, the accumulated hours can be redeemed for an equivalent number of caregiving hours.

An intriguing case study from the initial chapters details how Leicester City Football Club (LCFC) employed scientific methods to enhance players' overall health and prevent injuries. The systematic measurement, recording, and analysis of players' data, including factors like hamstring muscle condition, player movement, pitch density, and implementing a 48-hour recovery process after games, enabled LCFC to intervene before players reached a breaking point, reducing the risk of injuries.

The authors take care to clarify commonly misunderstood terms in boardrooms, such as 'disruption,' benefiting lay readers and enlightening those already familiar with the distinctions between the status quo and the 'exprovement' thesis. "Exprovement" imparts strategies for providing individuals and companies with optimal opportunities for significant improvement in a relatively brief period

The book wraps up with an extensive notes section, offering additional bibliographic references. This is a highly recommended read for entrepreneurs and individuals aiming to cultivate innovation within their respective fields. This book also holds particular relevance for mid-career professionals seeking valuable insights.

A central theme of the book is the importance of innovative solutions emerging from cross-functional collaborations. The authors advocate open-mindedness, urging readers to explore unconventional ideas, even if they initially seem incongruous within their respective industries.

Exprovement embodies the art of posing profound questions – queries that evoke creativity, inquiries that venture into the realm of 'could be.' It is a perpetual vigilance for insights across diverse industries, a fearless embrace of mistakes, and an unwavering optimism that propels the pursuit of transformative possibilities.