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Summary: Clock building, not time telling......
Review: A very good book. Guides you down the right path of running a lasting business. In one sentence, when you think of your business as a space mission, you'll have different perspectives on how to run it.
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Summary: The Keys to Success Are Different Than You Think
Review: This is one of the most important business books written in the last decade. The characteristics defined to select the most successful companies are excellent measures of quantity and quality. The key idea, that success does not depend on having an early vision and charismatic leaders but on identity, culture and commitment to the company steer us into different paths for future success. It places the focus, not only on the executive team to set the tone, but on the hiring process and the freedom people are given to create. Executives who want their companies to stand the test of time cannot hire people who are "stalled" or foster a "stalled" culture. I am acutely aware of this since I just finished reading The 2,000 Percent Solution by Mitchell, Coles and Metz, which describes these stalls. The Bureaucracy Stall, for example describes a company that held a meeting to discuss the fact that they hold too many meetings! The Unattractiveness Stall describes a company that had huge excess waste and no one worked on the problem because the waste had a bad odor! Many companies today are not learning how to take advantage of the Internet, because they don't think it will effect their business much!. This is The Disbelief Stall Breaking down these stalls and developing a culture and identity to solve problems and make progress will result in success at many times what the historical trend has been. These companies do not make continuous but slow improvements. These companies will know how to jump to a new level. They will define how business is done, who will lead and how much progress can be achieved. Read Built To Last to understand the lessons of the past and the direction for the future. Read The 2,000 Percent Solution to learn how to incorporate these directions with a practical process to recreate or approach the ideal way to do what you do, freeing up time and resources to do so much more.
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Summary: A book that is built to last.
Review: Like its title, this book is a timeless work. The authors have done an excellent job of researching and substantiating their theories. Taken on face value, the key concepts of this book would fit on a small pamphlet they are so simple once understood. The practices in this book are not for everyone, but then not everyone can sustain a lasting visionary company.
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Summary: A Must Read
Review: If you want to increase the performance of any organization, use this book. In my work it has helped with companies, non-profits, and schools. It will give you new insights and most importantly ways to implement them
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Summary: Excellent reference book!
Review: Keep this one on your desk.What makes it so compelling is that the research not only finds common denominators among the 18 visionary companies, but also differentiates between those companies and their successful (but not *AS* successful) competitor firms. Well-researched, lucidly written, easy to read. It's easy to recall the examples cited, present their points, and apply them to make changes in your own organiztion.
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Summary: A GOOD EVERYDAY BOOK
Review: THIS IS A BOOK THAT YOU WILL REFER TO EVERYDAY. AS A MANAGER OF A MIDSIZED DISTRIBUTION COMPANY WE FOUND IT QUITE HELPFUL. WE LEARNED SOME USEFUL METHODS WHICH WE CAN APPLY EVERYDAY. ANOTHER BOOK THAT CAN TAKE YOU TO THE NEXT LEVEL IS THE 2000 PERCENT SOLUTION. WHICH WE FOUND IS ALSO ON OUR DESK FOR EVERYDAY USE.
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Summary: must reading for all business persons!
Review: best business book of all time! buy 3,one for yourself & at least 2 for other business persons you care about enough to succeed. urge them to do also-you'll be glad you did!
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Summary: This book should be on your desk to refer to often.
Review: One of the most important ideas in this book is the No "Tyranny of the OR". James Collins and Jerry Porras tell us that decisions need not be mutually exclusive (costs can be reduced while increasing quality), that all audiences can benefit, and that success expands opportunities. In their words: "Embrace both extremes at the same time. That is what visionary companies are able to do." Setting priorities means focusing on areas where more can be done AND everyone is better off. Everyone should read this chapter weekly to keep their focus on the "and".
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Summary: Outstanding view of how to create the most lasting success
Review: The concept behind this book is brilliant: What makes companies that outperform their peers for decades enjoy that success. The most important lesson of this book is to create lasting ways of managing your business successfully, that will outlive the skills and perspective of any one person, no matter how talented. The book is fun to read. I liked the way the ideas were described: Big, hairy, audacious goals is a fun concept just from the title. One of the most useful ideas is that we need to hold conflicting ideas in our minds, such as "do more" and "spend less". English often suggests that conflicts exist in what can be done that do not really exist in practice. This book is outstanding for "telling it like it is". Of particular interest to investors will be the stock-price charts showing how valuable these lessons are for public companies and their shareholders.
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Summary: Repetition makes this a short book
Review: This book states a premise at the beginning of each chapter and then overdoses the reader with multitudes of examples. These get too be quite long and are very selective in how they praise companies. The authors don't take any position on the morality of how companies got into their group. For example, Phillip Morris makes their list as a great visionary company. If this is the case, the Columbian drug dealers should have made the list as well. Also, Wal-Mart makes the list. How they treat their suppliers is absolutely deplorable and their effect on the communities they put their stores in is catastrophic. Nice club to belong to. Overall the book is sort of disjointed and too long. Does have some good points, however and should be skimmed (skipping the plethora of examples) and some of its core ideas should be used in running companies.
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