Jason Evans points me to a fascinating article in Fast Company about the future of companies and organizations in the postmodern world."
"People," they argue, "have changed more than the commercial organizations upon which they depend. And here is the new opportunity: In that chasm that now separates individuals and organizations lies the key to a new economic order with vast opportunities for wealth creation and individual fulfillment." We have arrived, Zuboff and Maxmin believe, at a "transaction crisis." Managerial capitalism succeeded spectacularly in turning us into a nation of individuals. "It has created a new world," Zuboff says. "We have more stuff and more access to experiences. But it's having all of those things that has turned us into people who think of ourselves as individuals and who want more control."

This issue of Fast Company also has an article on BMW and their willingness to mess with success to stay ahead of the curve.
At a time when many global companies are hunkering down and retrenching, BMW is moving forward, placing a big bet that it has a winning design for future growth. Companies typically take risks because there is no other option: Their backs are against the wall and there's no choice but to change. BMW is making bold moves at the very peak of its success. "Carmakers are running up against a very tough choice," observes brand analyst Will Rodgers, cofounder of SHR Perceptual Management. "Either they protect their market share and play not to lose, like GM and Toyota, or they go all out, place some big bets, and play to win. BMW is playing to win."

Bangle fills notebooks with cartoon-like sketches of his travels and observations, with quick captions written in German and English. There's a star chart for locating the Southern Cross; there are notes from last year's World Economic Forum, including a whimsical sketch of Hillary Clinton's begrimed high heels and a free-flowing illustration of the gateway to the Alamo, in San Antonio, Texas. Tellingly, there's not a single sketch of a car. Bangle won't comment on his jottings ( too personal ), but as he closes the journal, he offers a cryptic bit of advice: "Take notes on the world. There will be a test."