Richard Pascale

Richard Pascale (1939-2020) was a prominent American author, professor, and consultant. He is best known for his work on strategic and cultural change and for helping business executives successfully implement innovative ideas.

A graduate of Princeton University and the Harvard Business School, Richard Pascale's career saw him as a professor at Stanford Graduate School of Business as well as an advisor to companies such as Apple and Microsoft. He also wrote several books on the subject of change management and organizational culture.

His best-known book, 'Managing on the Edge: How successful companies use conflict to stay ahead', is the definitive text on how businesses can harness the power of conflict to maintain a competitive edge. In it, Pascale provides detailed and practical guidelines on how to navigate different aspects of change. From navigating internal dissent among employees to negotiating with outside stakeholders, Pascale's work provides invaluable advice for all business leaders.

Pascale's second best-known book, 'The Art of the Long View: Planning for the Future in an Uncertain World', is another important text in the Pascale canon. In it, he lays out a 12-step process to future-proof organizations. He explains how companies can, and should, assess the future market environment, incorporate all stakeholders' viewpoints into the decision-making process, and develop strategies that will enable them to stay ahead of the competition.

In 'Surfing the Edge of Chaos: The laws of nature and the new laws of business', Pascale draws on his experience in helping businesses to weather organizational crises. He explores how organizations can identify tipping points of chaos, where the presence of chaos is necessary for the organization to survive and grow. In doing so, he creates a powerful metaphor for how progress can be achieved, even in the face of uncertainty.

The 1993 book 'The Creative Priority: harnessing the power of innovation in your organization' explores the concept of creativity as a key business tool. Pascale offers an insightful account of how to build a workplace culture that cultivates innovation and creativity, citing examples from world-renowned companies.

In 2000, Pascale released a book co-written with Jerry Sternin, 'Positive deviance: finding breakthrough solutions to seemingly impossible problems'. This book firmly established Pascale as an innovator and thinker in the area of business management. Positive deviance looks at how deviations from the norm can lead to solving the most complex of business problems.

Overall, throughout his career, Richard Pascale consistently taught managers that the secret of successful change lay in the ability to face complex and turbulent environments in creative and imaginative ways. His books and teachings have left an indelible mark on the management consulting world, with many of his ideas and philosophies still being applied today.