“An engaging collection of often novel and excellent advice for business leaders, which draws on the wisdom of long experience and on many memorable examples of decisions and their consequences. Imperfectionism is a powerful idea.”
– Professor Daniel Kahneman, Nobel Laureate

“Under today’s conditions, the authors argue that real-time problem solving should be the heart of strategy development rather than theoretical frameworks, and they present a framework for this approach.” 
In Uncertain Times, Embrace Imperfectionism

The world is changing faster and faster, with increasing uncertainty and threat of disruption in every business and nonprofit segment. Conventional approaches to strategy development no longer work.

In this prequel to their Amazon-bestseller, Bulletproof Problem Solving, Conn and McLean introduce a novel approach to strategic problem solving in times of high uncertainty. Based on a decade of research and 45 new case studies, The Imperfectionists posits a dynamic approach to developing organizational direction under uncertainty based on harnessing six reinforcing strategic mindsets.

Imperfectionists are curious, they look at problems from several perspectives, and gather new data and approaches, including from outside their current industry. They deliberately step into risk, proceeding through trial and error, utilizing nimble low consequence and reversible moves to deepen their understanding of the unfolding game being played, and to build capabilities. Imperfectionists succeed with dynamic, real time strategic problem solving, confidently moving forward while others wait for certainty or make impetuous and foolish bets.

McLean and Conn’s The Imperfectionists is a breath of fresh air among books on business strategy. They correctly take problem-solving as the most crucial skill in the strategist’s toolkit and explore six different ways of thinking about difficult uncertain situations.

If your company is struggling with “strategies” that are just three-year budgets, get this book as quickly as you can. It will open your mind to powerful ways of dealing with uncertainty and complexity.

– Professor Richard Rumelt, author Good Strategy, Bad Strategy and The Crux

Media

Listen to Unveiling the Power of Imperfectionism: A Strategy for the Modern Business Landscape on The Business of Giving podcast.

Listen to STRIVING FOR IMPERFECTION on the Harvard Business Review Skydeck podcast.