Teams vs. Plunderers

Most people know the business world is riddled with criminal and unethical behavior. The tech industry is particularly corrupt because the legal system can't keep up with technology advancement, barriers to entry are low, and investors can way overvalue companies that appear promising. These factors allow plunderers, or people who enrich themselves at the expense of other people and the environment, to make a lot of money in a hurry.

Thankfully, there is a better way. Teams that are both ethical and effective create value for all impacted parties. These teams take on audacious goals and search until innovative solutions are found that satisfy everyone's needs. They don't sacrifice morality for the short-term benefit of those in power. Best of all: the results are superior, long-lasting, and a lot faster than one would think.

This book draws upon the author's experience at six tech companies, including a disk drive company that was caught shipping bricks, a couple of startups that knowingly shipped defective products, and two team-driven business turnarounds that far exceeded all their goals. Each chapter includes a story with an ethical insight. The first six chapters describe how plunderers operate: how they reach the highest levels in corporate America, how they use group lies to hide their transgressions, how they shun diversity, and how they lure bad followers. The latter chapters describe how to build ethical and effective teams that use superior teamwork to find innovative solutions that satisfy everyone's needs.