In his new book "The Difference",  Professor Scott Page explores the notion that progress and innovation may depend less on individual excellence than on diverse groups of people, with distinct tools and abilities, working together to come up with the most effective decisions and solutions.

Scott Page seeks to prove how groups that display a range of perspectives outperform groups of like–minded experts.  He sets out to explain why difference beats homogeneity, whether you are talking about citizens in a democracy or scientists in a laboratory. Diverse groups of problem solvers consistently outperform groups of the best and the brightest. Diversity trumps ability.

"The Difference" offers a fascinating insight into how we think in groups - and how our collective wisdom exceeds the sum of its parts.

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(Apr 30, 2007 at the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA))