Built to Last
Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies
by James C. Collins and Jerry I. Porras
Magis Rating: ***
Available at Amazon for $12.21
Unfortunately, this is another work where quoting a passage here and there can do more damage than good. It is the sum of the message that holds value. A result of six years studying 18 remarkable and long-lasting companies in relation to their top competitor. Visionary companies included organizations such as Wal-Mart, American Express, IBM, and Walt Disney, just to name a few. Essential in any visionary company is a statement of what the company stands for and why it exists – its core ideology consisting of its core values and core purpose. A company must exist for a number of reasons beyond just making money. In a visionary company, good enough never is, there is never an end to the movement for continual progress, and every member in the organization is a key player encouraged to take personal initiative. Although information at times was repetitive, it hammers home key concepts crucial to understanding what makes a company truly visionary. The authors were quick to point out that this book is not the “ultimate truth” when it comes to understanding organizations.