The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid, Revised and Updated 5th Anniversary Edition: Eradicating Poverty Through Profits

C.K. Prahalad

Jul 2009 · FT Press

About this ebook

Drawing on Prahalad's breakthrough insights in The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid, great companies worldwide have sought to identify, build, and profit from new markets amongst the world's several billion poorest people, while at the same time helping to alleviate poverty. Five years after its first publication, this book's ideas are no longer "theory": they are proven, profitable reality. In the 5th Anniversary Edition, Prahalad thoroughly updates his book to reveal all that's been learned about competing and profiting "at the bottom of the pyramid." Prahalad outlines the latest strategies and tactics that companies are utilizing to succeed in the developing world. He interviews several innovative CEOs to discuss what they've learned from their own initiatives, including the Unilever business leader who's built a billion-dollar business in India. You'll find a new case study on Jaipur Rugs' innovative new global supply chain; updates to earlier editions' key cases; and up-to-the-minute information on the evolution of key industries such as wireless, agribusiness, healthcare, consumer goods, and finance. Prahalad also offers an up-to-date assessment of the key questions his ideas raised: Is there truly a market? Is there scale? Is there profit? Is there innovation? Is this a global opportunity? Five years ago, executives could be hopeful that the answers to these questions would be positive. Now, as Prahalad demonstrates, they can be certain of it.

Ratings and reviews

C K Prahalad is a top notch thinker and changes the way industry leaders think at a basic level. His arguments confirms that if leaders continue to look at business at basic level, valuing the top end of the pyramid the important business need of sustainability will get lost. His updated version which cites mobile telephone growth which is undoubtedly coming from the bottom end confirms indeed that the poor can harness technology and that an industrys real growth can only be realised when leaders in those industries merge technology to have costs lows and having that technology in the hands of the bottom end of the pyramid. Citations from ICICI Bank in India actually confirms that its not the industry you are in that matters it is your thinking of how the bottom end of the pyramid grows your industry that counts. Chipiliro Katundu Head of Retail and SME Banking BancABC Mozambique

Although the replication of case studies and hypotheses presented in the book are quiet difficult but still this book breaks the barrier in to the reader's mind and open it for new possibilities. This book must be essential part of curriculum in MBA program. A must read

It is a wonder full book . it shows poverty can be eradicated by innovative BOP marketing, ...producing, ... in diversity humans,consumers ...,transparency,... avoiding .....corruption, cheating, ..through reach.. two third population of the world. The BOOK is eye opener for a power full method, concept and approach to be followed by developing countries and also developed countries. it must be followed. B S RAMULU...SOCIAL PHILOSOPHER..&.SOCIAL ECONOMIST.

About the author

C.K. Prahalad is Paul and Ruth McCracken Distinguished University Professor of Strategy at the Ross School of Business, The University of Michigan. He is a globally recognized management thinker. Times of London and Suntop Media elected him as the most influential management thinker alive today in 2007. He is coauthor of bestsellers in management such as Competing for the Future, The Future of Competition, and The New Age of Innovation. He has won the McKinsey Prize for the best article four times. He has received several honorary doctorates, including one from the University of London and the Stevens School of Technology. He has worked with CEOs and senior management at many of the world’s top companies. He is also a member of the Board of NCR Corporation, Pearson PLC., Hindustan Unilever Ltd., The World Resources Institute, and The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE).