Unlock Lasting Success: Habits of Visionary Companies That Stand the Test of Time

D.P. M.: Super practical and informative case studies.

United States on Dec 05, 2023

Maui tank: great book

United States on Nov 30, 2023

Marco: Lettura piacevole e veloce con diversi spunti di riflessione sicuramente molto interessanti ed utile a tutti indipendentemente dall’inquadramento aziendale che hanno.

Italy on Nov 01, 2022

amit t.: Go if you really interested in research based managment

India on Oct 25, 2022

Kelley Ridings: Built to Last is a book of luminescent importance among books about successful companies/organizations. Based on the thorough research of Jim Collins (of Good to Great fame) and Jerry Porras, this book examines the qualities of visionary companies who had great success and staying power in their fields. They identified 18 such companies and had a comparison group of comparable companies in the same industry. The results are conclusive. Visionary companies thrive on being clock makers who build their organization to improve each year and withstand the test of time. They fervently focus on their core competencies. They consistently stay true to their core values. Yet they will change and innovate. They adopt the “genius of and” realizing they can be equally committed to seemingly contradictory purposes, yet those purposes are actually equally important. For example these companies can be committed to serving people, AND they can seek to dominate their market. They embody the yin and yang concept, complementary forces that co-exist and support one another. Visionary organizations are also committed to serving people and the greater common good, however they define it. They...

United States on Aug 11, 2022

Lucas Antony: Livro consagrado desde seu lançamento, apresenta a trajetória de 16 empresas "visionárias" (no conceito dos autores) e as caraterísticas que fizeram delas terem tal desempenho excepcional ao longo de muitas décadas de existência. Possui pesquisa histórica primorosa, e muitas boas ideias a serem aplicadas na administração de empresas e outras organizações, lucrativas ou não.

Mas é interessante notar que algumas das empresas citadas pelo autor como visionárias que sobreviveram a períodos de turbulência estão no momento quase fora de combate devido à Revolução Digital e novo ciclo industrial. É o caso da Motorola, HP e IBM.

Como diz Flávio Augusto: estabilidade não existe!

Brazil on Aug 03, 2020

Rach Team&Kommunikation: Eine Pflichtlektüre: Collins untersucht mit wissenschaftlichen Methoden, was Unternehmen, die extrem erfolgreich über mehrere Dekaden sind, so sehr, dass sie sich den Status als Legenden erarbeitet haben, also was diese anders machen, als Unternehmen, die ebenfalls groß und bekannt sind, aber nur Phasenweise erfolgreich sind. Um noch genauer zu sein, er stellt Unternehmen gegenüber, die zur gleichen Zeit, in der gleichen Branche unter den selben Bedingungen gegründet wurden, und somit absolut die selben Chancen hatten. Aber jeweils nur eines von den Vergleichspaaren hat den nachhaltigen Erfolg geschafft und ist zu einer Ikone geworden, das Andere eben nicht.
Die wissenschaftliche Analyse wird von Colins spannend vorgetragen, mit anschaulichen Metaphern und lebendig geschilderten Beispielen. Die meisten Analysen kann ich gut nachvollziehen und finde sie voll überzeugend. Nur selten denke ich mir, das kann man auch anders sehen.
Bei diesem Produkt habe ich stundenlang nach einer Angabe zum Umfang gesucht. Es sind insgesamt 5 CDs. Daher vermute ich, es ist zum Original etwas gekürzt. Aber ich vermisse aber nichts. Collins packt die Botschaft in wenige, einfache...

Germany on Jun 19, 2014

VD: Nearly 20 years ago this book has been written, and it is still so applicable !

Based on scientific research on “visionary” companies, a lot of interesting findings are formulated. I several times felt like reading thoughts which I have been (subconsciously) thinking for years, and applied professionally. What a relief the see them so nicely formulated ! Why haven’t I read this book before?

Ideas I liked most:
- Preserve the Core and Stimulate Progress: you should separate the Core Ideology (which shouldn’t change) from the drive for Progress (which can change and should never be satisfied)
- No tyranny of the OR: instead of having to choose between Continuity OR Change (for example), you should choose Continuity AND Change. The authors put it like this: “The ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain ability to function”
- Good enough never is: visionary companies always go for better, good enough (or the 80/20 rule) is not enough.

United Kingdom on Jul 01, 2013

Amir: We sometimes wonder what makes a company great. We often look at its real and perceived competitive advantages, ideas like a strong brand, an extremely talented and visionary leader, cult followers, great idea or innovative product. We often tend to believe a company should posses these characteristics in order to be successful. I have even witnessed many people refusing to start a company before having the "aha" moment or the brilliant idea which will change the world.

Mr. Collins and Mr. Porras researched many companies and identified several characteristics which identify companies which are built to last a long time. The book is written in a way of discussion on concepts and characteristics which distinguish these visionary companies from the rest of the companies. By highlighting these concepts the authors provide surprising facts and insights and breaking several myths about the reasons for a company long term success.

The authors took a very interesting approach of comparing a visionary (build to last) company to a comparison company. As you read the book it seems as if the "comparison" company should be the one to last. However, after the authors provide the...

United States on Jan 23, 2013

Benjamin Rossen: This is an inspiring book, and informative. It answers the "what" question convincingly. I missed answers to the "why" questions. Why, for example, are successful visionary companies characterized by their emphasis on ethical standards? There are many possible explanations: the staff of the company are inspired by the ideals and give more to their employer; the companies reap payoffs in the long term from grateful recipients of their honorable deeds; the companies acquire a good reputation which increases sales and hence profits. More interesting, is the question of the logic of ethics in the business game - not even touched by these authors.

According to Jim Collins and Jerry Porras, it does not matter what the company ideology is, as long as it is passionately believed by the management and employees. I find this a dubious claim, and not supported by the data. The ideological frameworks of the companies that were studied are not interchangeable, not for the trivial reason that the ideology of another company happens not to be the one believed by each of them. Boeing is unlikely to spend money on a program to cure river blindness in Africa. Why does Merck do this? Clearly,...

United States on Dec 08, 2005