The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid
With so many businesses focusing on the middle to upper income markets under the belief that they are the ones with the disposable income to purchase their products, C. K. Prahalad argues that there is tremendous profit potential at the bottom of the pyramid among the poor nations. In a compelling argument he presents his position with clarity, convincing narrative, and multiple examples. But this is not just about corporate profits from the poorest nations but also about how it can be used to significantly reduce or eradicate poverty. While as an individual those at the bottom of the pyramid don't have a lot of purchasing power, as a group they are the largest group in the world. More than that they often have a entrepreneurial spirit that can be tapped to further corporate profits while raising them out of poverty.
The author divides the book into three parts. The first part examines how the private sector can engage in win-win arrangements with the poor (or under-served customers). Part two looks at twelve case studies and what made them work. And the third part is a collection of video stories on CD. These are the collected works of several MBA research teams who actually interviewed those at the bottom of the pyramid to see their perspective and viewpoints. Enlightening and very interesting, this section points out that these are real people with real needs and dreams. The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid is recommended reading for anyone looking to penetrate this market, concerned about the social plight of the poor, or generally interested in effective measures of reducing poverty.
Authors: C. K. Prahalad
Publisher: Wharton School Publishing
Pearson Education, Inc.
One Lake Street
Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
Copyright: 2005
ISBN: 0131467506
Pages: 379 plus biographies and index