Built to Last
Built To Last - Summary of Key Points
Written by James Collins & Jerry Porras both are associated with Stanford
About this book:
This summary of Built to Last is included because if one is going to change an organization, one needs to know what to change towards. This book is one of the best we know of that answers that question. It is one of the best pieces of research done on why certain organizations are more successful over time than others. Because its time horizon is a minimum of 50 years, its lessons are enduring. We highly recommend either the book or the audio taped version. We originally wrote this summary to accompany the audio taped version, which is required listening in our Leading Change Program, the students love this book.
Introduction:
The book makes a comparison of Visionary Companies to a comparison group of good companies. The Visionary Companies engaged in management practices that we would consider cutting edge long ago. The lessons of the Visionary Companies can be learned and practiced at all levels of the organization. The authors found that charismatic leadership was not a differentiating variable. The Visionary Companies survive, visionary leaders come and go and so do visionary products.
What is a Visionary Company?
For the purpose of this study they:
a. were the premier leader in their industry, widely admired
b. made an indelible mark on the world
c. have multiple products and have had multiple CEO's
d. are at least 50 years old
The authors compared 18 Visionary Companies to 18 comparison companies. The comparison companies have done more than twice as well as the stock market since 1926, while the Visionary Companies have done 15 times as well as the stock market. The comparison is through the end of 1990. Think of the comparison companies as the bronze medalists. Most of the Visionary Companies have had problems, but have displayed a remarkable resiliency in coping with their problems.
A dozen common myths were
Written by James Collins & Jerry Porras both are associated with Stanford
About this book:
This summary of Built to Last is included because if one is going to change an organization, one needs to know what to change towards. This book is one of the best we know of that answers that question. It is one of the best pieces of research done on why certain organizations are more successful over time than others. Because its time horizon is a minimum of 50 years, its lessons are enduring. We highly recommend either the book or the audio taped version. We originally wrote this summary to accompany the audio taped version, which is required listening in our Leading Change Program, the students love this book.
Introduction:
The book makes a comparison of Visionary Companies to a comparison group of good companies. The Visionary Companies engaged in management practices that we would consider cutting edge long ago. The lessons of the Visionary Companies can be learned and practiced at all levels of the organization. The authors found that charismatic leadership was not a differentiating variable. The Visionary Companies survive, visionary leaders come and go and so do visionary products.
What is a Visionary Company?
For the purpose of this study they:
a. were the premier leader in their industry, widely admired
b. made an indelible mark on the world
c. have multiple products and have had multiple CEO's
d. are at least 50 years old
The authors compared 18 Visionary Companies to 18 comparison companies. The comparison companies have done more than twice as well as the stock market since 1926, while the Visionary Companies have done 15 times as well as the stock market. The comparison is through the end of 1990. Think of the comparison companies as the bronze medalists. Most of the Visionary Companies have had problems, but have displayed a remarkable resiliency in coping with their problems.
A dozen common myths were