Creating agile and anticipatory companies

Each week, we delve into the reading lists of finance professionals around the world. This week, we hear from Anoop Natwar Mehta, CPA, CGMA, the president of Science Systems and Applications Inc. (SSAI), in Lanham, Maryland. SSAI competes for government science, engineering, and information-analytics contracts. Here is a sampling of content that has resonated with him:

• “How to Create An Agile Organization”: Mehta appreciated this McKinsey article for highlighting the reasons companies must be able to quickly reconfigure strategy, structure, processes, people, and technology with an eye on value protection and value creation.


• “The Book of Five Rings”: The martial arts book, by 17th century swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, is one that Mehta recently came across on his bookshelf and decided to read for a second time. “This may be an unusual read for most, but I have been in the martial arts for over 38 years, and this book is a classic for all leaders,” he said.


• “The Anticipatory Organization: Turn Disruption and Change Into Opportunity and Advantage”: Mehta considers himself a big fan of this book’s author, business adviser Daniel Burrus, who writes about the importance of recognising and planning for hard trends. Burrus has said that being more anticipatory can start with just one hour a week of thinking about the future.

For more reading recommendations and business insights, sign up for the free CGMA Advantage newsletter.