INSEAD new book offers firms a guide to escaping the growth curse

Fontainebleau (France), Singapore, Abu Dhabi, San Francisco, 11 June 2024 – INSEAD professor Yves Doz and Senior Researcher Keeley Wilson have launched a ground-breaking new book Escaping the Growth Curse: Paths Toward Stronger Strategies, which explores the crucial roles of boards in setting the strategic direction of firms.

They argue that to break out of the destructive short-termism of the ‘growth curse’, of CEOs and executives relentlessly exposed to demands for higher and higher predictable growth, governance must change, it has to become more strategic. This means boards need to be more proactive in safeguarding the future of the companies they serve on behalf of all stakeholders and not just the most vocal shareholders and volatile stock prices.

This book outlines a comprehensive blueprint for achieving a more strategic form of governance. The first part identifies the early warning signs of short-termism setting, signalling the need for the board to intervene. The second part provides a framework for building an effective board, one that can add value by getting involved in strategy making, and explores the processes for defining a long-term strategy. The final part delves into specific areas where the board and executives should collaborate to achieve strategic renewal and suggest how such collaboration may be effective.

According to Professor Doz: “This is my most important book. Of course, flexibility in managing global operations, alliances, and strategic agility matter a lot, but making corporate governance more strategic, focused on addressing long term challenges rather than pursuing short term expediency, is most important. Better governed companies will not just create value, they will also help us reach a better, more responsible world.”

Published on June 11th, 2024, by Berrett-Koehler Publishers, the ground-breaking book is an invaluable resource for understanding the challenges to long-term sustainable company growth.

To order the book, visit here [

About the authors:

Yves Doz is the Solvay Chaired Professor of Technological Innovation and Professor of Strategic Management Emeritus at INSEAD. A fellow of all three major academic societies in management who holds a rare Lifetime Distinguished Scholar award from the Academy of Management, he has advised many global corporations.

Keeley Wilson is an award-winning management researcher and writer. With a focus on leadership challenges, governance, global innovation strategies and strategic alliances, she has worked with a wide range of companies around the world in her work as both a senior researcher at INSEAD and an advisor.