Good to Great

Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't

By: Jim Collins

Narrated by: Jim Collins

Length: 10 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

Built to Last, the defining management study of the '90s, showed how great companies triumph over time and how long-term sustained performance can be engineered into the DNA of an enterprise from the very beginning.

But what about companies that are not born with great DNA? How can good companies, mediocre companies, even bad companies achieve enduring greatness? Are there those that convert long-term mediocrity or worse into long-term superiority? If so, what are the distinguishing characteristics that cause a company to go from good to great?

Over five years, Jim Collins and his research team have analyzed the histories of 28 companies, discovering why some companies make the leap and others don't. The findings include:

• Level 5 Leadership: A surprising style, required for greatness
• The Hedgehog Concept: Finding your three circles, to transcend the curse of competence
• A Culture of Discipline: The alchemy of great results
• Technology Accelerators: How good-to-great companies think differently about technology
• The Flywheel and the Doom Loop: Why those who do frequent restructuring fail to make the leap

©2001 Jim Collins (P)2005 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Like Built to Last, Good to Great is one of those books that managers and CEOs will be reading and rereading for years to come." (Amazon.com review)

"If you believe that a visionary leader with a strong ego is an essential component of sustained business success, then Jim Collins has a few thousand words for you. His carefully researched audiobook explains that the success of companies that outperform the market for 15 years in a row comes from selfless leadership, rigorous focus, and a culture of discipline....[T]here's another reason this book has burst through as a bestseller, which you can feel in Collins's narration: He is honestly excited about his research and unconventional findings. ( AudioFile)

Fantastic

Motivational, inspirational and well presented. It truly helps us focus on what sustainably drives business.

Great book. Horrible narration.

What didn’t you like about Jim Collins’s performance?

Might be the worst narration I've ever heard. Great book but I couldn't wait to be done so I didn't have to listen to him anymore. It's a shame, I would like to get his other books but I'm never listening to him again.

Reiteration

I have read this book in its entirety 7 times. Not that there's anything magic about seven times that just happens to be the number at this point. The first time thru I found that it was reiterating what I already New to be true but you were putting it into words and supporting it with data. My current job as director of operations for a start up oil service company has been a journey. As I came from a small business back ground with 40 employees tops and 3 million in sales. To growth in this start up from 2 employees up to 200 employees a corporate office to deal with and as high as 80 million in annual sales. I could identify with every single chapter.
I believed in the research to the point that we have developed what we are calling a study group. I challenged all the department heads in our weekly supervisor meeting to read the book and be ready for discussion by a certain date there were 8 out of the 16 that took the challenge unequivocally. I believe like me they were hungry like little birds mouths open wide for nutrition and growth. In doing the group we have decided to take it up the ladder to our CEO. The challenge was thrown out to him, excepted and we are meeting off site for three days to cover each chapter in detail. ( we are doing this in CO. If you would like to join us.) hint, hint. We have been applying this to our local circle of influence however we know, know we need his buy in if we can ever expect to see this company move from good to great. Nothing less could ever be excepted. Thank you for the dedication and the heart I feel when reading each word. Great job!

Excellent Book

Want to be a level 5 leader! 15 unique words this review wants. Excellent Book. Must read if you want to be good.

Wonderful !!!

This book is wonderful for anyone looking to improve their personal or professional manangement skills. The title makes this sound like a "buisness" book but spends alot of time on the people and culture of the companies and how that can be duplicated in everyday life.

A great book with real life applicability

This book highlighted how a good company can become great and the inherent principles observed by great companies. Furthermore, Jim Collins and his research team break the book down to an understandable but more importantly applicable set of principles that a man or woman can apply to their daily lives. I would recommend this book to anyone wishing to change their companies or their lives from good to great.

Good book, poorly narrated

I've listened many audiobooks over the years. this one is the hardest one I should say. I think Jim Collins is a good researcher but not cut out to be a professional narrator. First of all his needless emphasize on each and every word is very tiresome for the listener. And he reads like he is reading an action novel. So when you are driving and listening, trying to learn something on the way, his aggresive style of reading didn't work for me. I almost quit the book but I decided not to because there were lots of good insights coming from his research.

Maybe it's just me but, with a much professional narrator, I could've enjoyed this book better. On the other hand the data from his research is very valuable and should be studied by every mid and high level manager.

For anyone who cares to be great

Great insight in great companies' mechanics: what makes the company, institution, team or individual outperform. I love the ideas and how they correlate with other principles I learned about like Lean Startup.

Excellent study

The book reports the findings of an excellent and labor intensive study of the building blocks of good to great companies. The points presented are helpful to anyone in private and public life. Highly recommended.

A relevant classic

This book has the fundamentals that go into any successful venture. A sound foundation to while thoughtfully developing healthy business growth & culture.