Book Review – “Good to Great” by Jim Collins - 1st Installment
This is a reprint of an article I wrote for my newsletter. I read it again and feel the same. Even in light of our current economic challenges…
Enjoy…
Jim Collins is one of the most respected teachers and authors in modern business management press. He has written two books that have the business world literally abuzz with excitement. The first book, “Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies” was originally written in 1997. Followed by “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…While Other Don’t”, written in 2001 interestingly as a “prequel” to “Built to Last”.
Having read both (and they are excellent) I feel it important to understand just what Collins means by the assertion that “Good to Great” is a prequel to “Built to Last”. Hang in there for a little history. It will be worth it!
By Collins’ own admission, “Good to Great” was written as a result of a comment by a reader, with whom Collins associated professionally, that “Built to Last” did not explain what differentiated visionary and comparison companies discussed in the book. In other words, Collins wrote “Good to Great” to explain the factors that enabled these companies to make the “leap”, hence the subtitle.
In “Good to Great”, Collins provides a meticulously researched analysis of elements that propelled businesses from their status of merely being “good” performers to being “sustained, market-beating” companies. Additionally, Collins provides discussion of comparison, “like-industry”, companies, that were not able to sustain the performance of the “great” companies.
My advice until the next book review installment…get “Good to Great” and start reading. My analysis will add to the book’s value as I evaluate possible implementation steps in your organization.
