HomeElectronicsPC/LaptopsGood to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't |
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 Charismatic CEO's led the good to great companies - Totally wrong perception! Jul 20, 2010
I read this book with great interest as it's selection criteria for the finally selected 11 companies was strict and the author does not withold any information on the selection process either. The end of the book lists its selection criteria, complete with a comprehensive FAQ section.
The final selection consists of 11 good to great companies (Selected from 1435 Fortune 500 companies) and 17 comparison companies that could not qualify. The primary selection process consisted of baselining the 'good to great' companies at three times the market for fifteen years including 15 years of good performance (1.25 time the general stock market) preceding the transition while the company had to be an established, on going company, not a startup.
Pretty strict criteria that has led to some eye opening findings. Most of the findings can be browsed by reading the reviews on the Amazon .co.uk and .com sites.
A MUST READ BOOK for all aspiring and current leaders of companies.
even better Jul 20, 2010
This was even better than built to last because you can apply the changes you need to become or try to become a great company
Collins Lingo Redux Jun 26, 2010
At a CEO Dialogues roundtable recently, leaders recommended their favorite books--or recently read books. The list and variety is always intriguing. Usually, it's the recommender, not the title, that causes me to succumb to Amazonitis. I've noticed that smart people remain smart by reading smart books.
But...what really got my attention that day was the recommendation from a CEO. She had just re-read Jim Collins' masterpiece, Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...and Others Don't (2001). Someone permanently borrowed my original, underlined copy, so I noticed that my new copy's header proclaims, "#1 Bestseller - 2 Million Copies Sold." It's still relevant.
So this CEO's insight got me thinking: How many of your younger team members have joined your organization--but have never read Built to Last, Good to Great, or How the Mighty Fall? If you're in the nonprofit or church arena, at the very least, have your direct reports (and boss or board chair) read the 36-page monograph, Good to Great and the Social Sectors.
Is it possible that you often throw around Collins lingo--and some team members nod knowingly, while others feign understanding? Can they finish the paragraph when you talk about a Good to Great or Built to Last concept?
--The Hedgehog Concept
--Clock Building, Not Time Telling
--Level 5 Leadership
--BHAG
--The Bus
--The Stockdale Paradox
--Greatness at the Cleveland Orchestra
--The Flywheel
--The 3 Circles: Passion, Competence and Your Economic Engine (and what is different in the social sector)
Collins says, "The moment you think of yourself as great, your slide toward mediocrity will have already begun." Do your vision and mission statements trumpet arrogance or humility? "Greatness is not a function of circumstance," adds Collins. "Greatness, it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice, and discipline."
Conduct an informal Collins poll in the hallway or break room. Perhaps it's time to heed my CEO friend's wisdom to read it again and inspire others to read Collins for the first time.
Revolutionary Business Book Jun 25, 2010
I'll start by saying that I did NOT like some of Jim Collins' other books (Build to Last and How the Mighty Fall). These other books either went to popular companies and asked them why they were great (they weren't that great and they didn't know anyway) or they looked at failed companies and tried to apply preconceived notions on why they failed (they failed to get to the root problems). Having said all of that...
Good to Great is the best business book of the decade.
The concepts are so profound and simple... and represent a paradigm shift in business theory. Great leaders are humble, common, and you've never heard of most of them. Start with getting the right people on the bus and in the right seats. Great companies know their "Hedgehog" including what they are best at, passionate about, and what drives resources to them. As for technology, it is a tactic that can support the great purpose (but not BE the purpose). Incredibly powerful!
A peek into the workings of a compelling transformation Jun 05, 2010
The book "Good to Great" can be summarized as a research project conducted by a team of 21 individuals over five years with the motivation of uncovering a transformation that takes a company from the scale of mediocrity, to that of greatness. While the main objective of their findings applies towards a fortune 500 company, many of the concepts described can be applied to almost every aspect of daily life and to almost any individual.
Some of the concepts that really stand out in the text pertain to leadership qualities, discipline, company culture, and choosing the right people for the company. The book coins several terms such as "Level 5 leadership" and "The Hedgehog Concept." In an effort to describe the basics of these concepts without diluting their meaning, a "Level 5 Leader" is a person that is characterized by having a paradoxical mix of rigor and determination to lead an organization without letting the temptation of arrogance creep into their portfolio. The "Hedgehog Concept" can be thought of as one of the central engines that each of the Good to Great companies constantly referred to when making the crucial decisions needed to make the transformation to greatness. In a sense, the Hedgehog concept was an understanding by the company of what they could be the best at.
The most fascinating aspect of this book really lies in the fact that all of these concepts and ideas formulated by the author and his team were developed not out of opinion, but from empirical data and endless interviews and structured research methods. Any individual from a college student to a CEO of a large organization will no doubt find value in the findings of this book whether it be to improve ones own life, or take a sneek peek into the workings of what it takes to bring a company to the stature of greatness.
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The
Importance Of Lighting In Interior Design
by Jessica Ackerman
Everyone knows how important
paint color, furniture choices and artwork are to
interior design. One aspect of design that is often
overlooked, however, is lighting. Lighting not only
affects the brightness of the room, but it can also
change the way a paint color looks, cast shadows in ways
that make the room seem smaller and have an impact on
the presentation of art work.
There is no light like
natural light. If you are buying, building or
remodeling, opt for as much natural light as possible.
Oversized windows and skylights are two ways to get the
most natural light. Of course, not everyone is in the
position to be able to do that, so you'll have to work
with what you have.
How much natural light do
you get in your room? If the room in question faces
north, you won't get as much natural sunlight as you
would in a southern facing room. Rooms that face south
get bright, natural light throughout the day. Rooms that
face east will only have good natural light in the
morning hours and western facing rooms will have the
most light during the afternoon.
Once you are familiar
with how much natural light is in each room, you'll be
able to make informed choices about what additional
lighting may be necessary. Keep in mind that rooms with
little or no natural light will need artificial lighting
- even during the day - in order to look their best.
Here are some types of lighting to consider.
1. Accent Lighting
Accent lighting is
perfect when you want to showcase a piece of art or a
special piece of furniture or other item. Since light
draws the eye, it will bring attention to the features
in your room that you wish to highlight.
2. Hanging Light Features
Chandeliers and smaller
hanging lamps can be beautiful as well as functional. A
trip to the local home improvement store will quickly
show you how overwhelming the choices can be. You'll
want to select lighting that blends in with your
existing dÃÂécor. For example, a crystal chandelier in a
country themed dining room probably isn't the best
option. If you don't choose carefully, your lighting may
stick out like a sore thumb and become more of an
eyesore than a lovely accent.
3. Recessed Lighting
Recessed lighting is a
good choice for a room that needs extra light throughout
the day. Because the lighting won't interfere with the
existing decor, it can work in almost any room. It
provides abundant light without taking up a lot of space
or interfering with other aspects of the room.
4. Lamps
Using lamps are a way to
add not only additional lighting, but also punches of
color. If possible, see how much light the lamp gives
off before leaving the store. Many lamps serve as
decoration more than as a light source and give off very
little light. If you love the lamp, but it doesn't give
off quite enough light, consider changing the shade
which will usually solve the problem.
When decorating your
home, remember how important lighting is, and give it
the same thought and attention you give to the other
details of decorating your home.
About the Author
Jessica Ackerman is the
featured author at Wall DÃÂécor and Home Accents. Shop today
for great deals on
metal wall sculpture ,
home
accents and more unique wall dÃÂécor products.
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