“Success is measured not by what we gain, but by what we build together.”
Claudia Siregar
The philosophy of gotong-royong isn’t just a cultural value—it’s a proven business strategy. Claudia Siregar shares real-life examples of how businesses use this approach to drive innovation and long-term growth.
1. The Indonesian Startup Scene and Gotong-Royong
- Indonesian tech startups embrace community-driven growth models.
- Action Tip: Encourage collaboration between businesses to foster industry-wide growth.
2. Case Study: Netra and the Decentralization of Music
- The Indonesian music startup Netra uses gotong-royong by fractionalizing music ownership.
- Action Tip: Apply the principle of collective ownership to share business success with customers and stakeholders.
3. Pandemic Response and Community Collaboration
- During COVID-19, Indonesia’s businesses worked together to provide digital learning solutions and aid distribution.
- Action Tip: Develop a corporate social responsibility (CSR) plan that directly supports communities.
4. Applying Gotong-Royong in Western Business Models
- Many Western businesses operate in silos rather than in collaboration.
- Action Tip: Shift from a competitor mindset to a community-building mindset.
Gotong-royong proves that businesses don’t have to compete to succeed—cooperation leads to greater impact and long-term sustainability.
Discover how businesses are applying collaboration strategies at Succeeding in Business Encyclopedia.
