Conclusions

Any final chapter impels considerations of what to do next, particularly future directions and actions for change. To this end, external reviewers provided advice and feedback. While several supported our advocacy for empowered communities, others sought more clarification and offered critical assessments. Some critics considered our initiative as too idealistic, euphemistically phrased as “ahead of the times.” Others found some chapters outside the scope of the mainstream business and management literature, even distracting. However, the more trenchant comment related to viability: Even if our arguments have merit, they ask, what is a workable alternative to the current free-market system? These critics asked for scalable extensions for empowered communities. This chapter reviews specific criticisms and offers alternative pathways to addressing them.