...Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don’t ‘Good things take time, but great things happen all at once.’ – Rat Race. Jim Collins counters criticisms on Built to Last with Good to Great, by unfolding sought-after information on how to turn a company into a great one. ‘Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…and Others Don’t’ written by Jim Collins in 2001 is the outcome of a rather ambitious research project. Collins and his team studied 11 companies, chosen out of 1,435 companies, which were able to transform themselves from ‘good’ companies to ‘great’ companies. These 11 companies were included based on at least 15 years of advanced performance. The research demonstrates the course of action that ‘good’ companies take on their journey to becoming ‘great’. Jim Collins began his research as a Stanford Graduate School of Business faculty member. At Stanford University, Collins has degrees in mathematics and business administration, as well as degrees from the University of Colorado and the Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management at Claremont Graduate University. In 1995, he founded a management laboratory in Boulder, Colorado where he continues to perform research and discuss his findings with executives from social and corporate areas. Collins has worked with CEOs in several companies and social sector organizations. He is the author and co-author of five books that revolve around his research including Built to Last, with Jerry I. Porras...
Words: 1737 - Pages: 7
...《Good to Great》—Book Review “Good to Great”, written by Jim Collins, is not only a guide book for company development but also can apply in self-development of every single person. It is mainly about the seven steps to constructing a system to turn a good or even bad company to a great company. I would like to share some feelings about this book with you in the following paragraphs. To start with, when talking about becoming great, there are seven pivotal steps that we must do. Firstly, we need to find the 5 level leadership. Secondly, finding the proper staff is more important than doing the proper things. Thirdly, confronting the brutal reality is also a necessity for being great. Fourthly, we should insisting on hedgehog concept throughout the process. Fifthly, we need to share a culture of discipline in the whole company. Sixthly, using technology as an accelerator when necessary. Seventhly, putting all these disciplines into practical management cyclically then we will make a difference and become great. As to the first step, finding the 5 level leadership, I think this is the key to the whole process. The core of 5 level leadership is to lead the company to gain sustaining development. A 5 level leadership can gain brilliant achievements in his or her duration and also can help construct a system to gain consisting achievements after his or her duration, this is the difference between a 4 level leadership and a 5 level leadership. Therefore, I think putting...
Words: 2355 - Pages: 10
...Books transform lives. Filled with journeys of sad, happy, dangerous, non-hazardous. The authors write by hands, typed from their experienced life or just fictions. Leads to questions to why is their most 83% are filled with hurt, broken, hate, weapons or violence? What does it teach mostly kids about good or bad stories that we read? As a young adult, most kids read fairy tale books or Disney; filled with happy endings. Every December, around the world knows book/song a Christmas story, “He knows when you've been bad or good, So be good for goodness sake!” from Santa Claus is coming to town by Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie. It lies the way to have kids be good? Or happy stories are lies? Parents don’t let kids read dangerous because it is...
Words: 405 - Pages: 2
...meaning in the author’s words, because the books didn’t make sense to me. It always felt as if it was fight that I’d never win. I felt this way for some time till I read, ‘The Not So Lonely Good Company of Books’ by Bryce Shoemaker. Instead of searching for a meaning Shoemaker’s essay confirms how books are a learning experience and how the reader chooses to apply that knowledge to their everyday life. This furthered my idea that not everyone is able to be successful at reading, but can still have learned something that will impact their life. Inside the student essay Bryce Shoemaker shares his opinions on literature as well as his thoughts on an essay,...
Words: 937 - Pages: 4
...Book Report Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t (Jim Collins, 1996) In his book “Good to Great” Jim Collins asked the question, "Can a good company become a great company and if so, how?" Collins and a devoted team of 22 researchers embarked to discover what transforms good companies into truly great companies. To begin the research for the Good-to-Great study, they searched for companies that: performed at or below the general stock market for at least fifteen years; then at a transition point began to pull away from the competition, and sustained returns of at least 3 times the general market for the next fifteen years. They started with a list of 1,435 companies that appeared on the Fortune 500 list from 1965 to 1995 and ended up with only 11 that made the cut. These eleven companies produced, on average, a return of 6.9 times the general stock market during the 15 years following the transition points. Collins chose a 15-year span to avoid "one-hit wonders" and lucky breaks. The companies that were selected were Abbott Laboratories, Circuit City, Federal Home Loan Mortgage, Gillette, Kimberly-Clark, Kroger, Nucor, Philip Morris, Pitney Bowes, Walgreens, and Wells Fargo. In the book, Collins highlights some important factors which are the result of the research. Although there are several factors involved for taking a company from good to great', what these great companies turned out to have in common was a particular kind of leader...
Words: 1777 - Pages: 8
...What Makes This A Good Book? According to Nancy Anderson, there are four things that make a book a good book. One of them is that the book or the author should be superior enough to win an award. Growing up, I read Split Pea Soup by James Marshall. Recently, I was asked to read this book again. I have read several of the George and Martha stories written by Marshall, but only recently discovered that Marshall was the recipient of the Wilder award in 2007. In addition to being a superior author, we must look at the story itself. One of the things that must be looked at is what Anderson calls the “literary elements” which includes, “characters, point of view, setting, plot, theme, style and tone.” (Anderson, 2010) In Split Pea Soup, George and Martha are relatable and friendly. The story is also something most kids can relate to, as many do not like certain foods. If a child can relate to a story, they will instantly like it more. Split Pea Soup would be considered a good book. The pictures in the book help the children become interested in the story. The story is something children will understand. In addition, the reader can ask questions through the story to help the children become involved. Lastly, the story has a message the children can take away from it. All these things make this a good book. Bibliography Anderson, N. (2010). Elementary children's literature. (3rd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education. Saltman, J. (1985). The riverside anthology of children's...
Words: 270 - Pages: 2
...have to admit, going shopping for books can definitely be entertaining, but I must also confess that when it comes to buying books, I am a little bias toward novels with pretty pictures on the cover. Maybe it is because in today’s society we are taught to judge everything by appearance, but maybe it is really because growing up my dad read me books with lots of colorful images before bedtime and usually the prettier the pictures in the story the better it was. In books for younger kids most books contain extravagant images accompanied by a few simple words. The artist’s job for children’s books is, in my opinion, is more important than the author’s. I relied on the artist to tell the story, like Mozart relied solely on music to get across his story. When I started to move on to chapter books such as the Cam Jansen series, I would flip through the book, letting the pages fly underneath my thumb, and be disappointed at the lack of color. Not a single picture appeared. I thought that it was the worst thing in the world because it meant from then on I would be forced to read dull pages. Contrary to my initial thoughts, when I cracked open that first book I was unable to put it down until I finished. I was amazed at how I had just seen into another person’s mind and lived with a different identity for that hour. I was no longer Sam Maxwell, I was Cam Jansen the crime solver. I had my own private movie showing in my head. I read lots of Cam Jansen books following the first one and really...
Words: 1579 - Pages: 7
...Land. "They look gorgeous." The olive wood scenes are one of many nativity choices available at Blessings, which has locations in Edmonton and Calgary. Other stores, such as Wisemen's Way Bookstore in Camrose and Scott's Parable in Red Deer, also stock a good selection of nativity scenes. Jim Pearson, president of Scott's Parable, said the Fisher Price Little People nativity scenes are popular. These scenes feature figurines that children can pick up and move around. Wisemen's Way Bookstore in Camrose stocks a good selection of nativity scenes.View Larger Image View Larger Image Wisemen's Way Bookstore in Camrose stocks a good selection of nativity scenes. Dave Halliday Email to a friendEmail to a friendPrinter friendlyPrinter friendly Font: AddThis Social Bookmark Button "Nativities continue to be a big seller every year," he said, adding that high-end decorative versions can cost up to $1,000. Books are a mainstay at the Alberta stores. "Books make great gifts," said Pam Reber, owner of Wisemen's Way. "Bibles are our No. 1 seller." When a bible is chosen as gift, a natural accompaniment would be a bible case, something that's available in a variety of designs. In addition to books, all the stores sell Christian music and videos. However, not all take the same approach with Scott's Parable and Wisemen's Way reducing their stock. A reason for carrying fewer music CDs is that listeners can now download their favourite tunes rather...
Words: 363 - Pages: 2
...In Ray Bradbury’s novel, Fahrenheit 451, firefighters aren’t putting out the fires they are starting them. In this novel, books are considered to be a sin and no one is allowed to have them. Throughout the novel, there are many things to pick out to be a life lesson. Many people have self-censorship in the time because they didn’t want to stick out being a person with a book. Characters are being distracted from being happy and forced to not feel emotion. Mass culture took a huge part in this by controlling everyone's day to day lives. People didn’t stop reading books because the government forced them to stop. They stopped reading books after a while because their culture. Books became less interesting and technology continued to grow....
Words: 416 - Pages: 2
...Good Day ! We, third year BS Computer Engineering students of FEU-East Asia College, are currently taking up the subject ENGE503 – Technical Writing for Engineering. A requirement of this subject is to study an existing design and later propose changes to the design’s weaknesses and irregularities. Our group decided to study the existing Returning and Borrowing System of Books in the Library. The group’s aim is to evaluate the effectivity of the system to its users, like students and faculty. And so, a survey is formulated to assist the group’s objective. We would like you to answer the following questions whole-heartedly to help us evaluate the system effectively and later propose changes based on the answers provided. Thank you and God Bless! -The Angry Birds Group 1. How often do you borrow books in the Library? __ everyday __ twice a month __ once a week __ once a month __ twice a week __ once a year 2. How long does it take you to borrow a book or a reading material? __ 3-5 mins. __ 5-10 mins. __ 10-15 mins. 3. Have you experienced difficulty finding books provided by OPAC? __ Yes __ No 4. Do you think the database system of OPAC is updated? __ Yes __ No 5. The Library still uses the manual process of getting the borrower’s name by writing on the borrower’s slip at the back of every book, and then provides the book’s due date. Do you think this process needs to be improved? __ Yes __ No 6. Are your expectations...
Words: 308 - Pages: 2
...Censorship is a prominent feature in United States’ society today. Parents are constantly trying to protect their children from explicit material. Reading is an essential element of any education. Hindering a reader from specific books because they’re “too graphic” is absurd. Everyone should be able to experience what various genres of books have to offer. Children will eventually be exposed to the real world and there are minimal barriers that obstruct media and current events. Schools should not ban specific books that are age appropriate for students. A series that will help children develop a sense of independence, a vivid imagination, and greatly improve their comprehension abilities is the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. In a total...
Words: 454 - Pages: 2
...Technology of Magic, Teare indites about the commercialization, and thus, consumerism of children’s literature and how technology has transmuted the way that younger readers interact with the literature. She withal argues that the Harry Potter novels “attempt to make their own ingenious appropriation of the quandary of consumer goods and media” (inquiry. 548). Teare also explicates how children would rather watch movies or play video games than read books in which these mediums derived from. Teare indites, “Books have lost children’s attention … to other media that present narrative fantasies” (inquiry. 548).Teare utilizes the Harry Potter novels to illustrate how the characters face the same challenges we do when it comes to consumerism. A great example is when she mentioned the scene of the Quidditch cup where the children would spend their mazuma on “schlocky souvenirs” (inquiry. 548), then...
Words: 382 - Pages: 2
...who desire to purchase books/music at discount prices because they are seen either as near commodity items or, in the case of books, are not considered to be a long-term investment (i.e. they will trade them back). Because of this relatively low value placed upon our merchandise by potential customers, dymocks can still flourish in an upscale environment. This is especially true with people seeking to cut costs with the bad economy. Even though we service the entire book reading population in the surrounding area, we can divide our customers based on purchasing habits. • Casual Shoppers: These are customers who go to the bookstore with no set idea of what they want to purchase. They seek to spend a fair amount of time browsing the store and often are considered impulse buyers. Often they leave the store with small purchases or without buying anything. These customers are attracted to bookstores with low prices and large inventory. • "Hard to Find" Shoppers: These are customers with very specific needs. They are looking for a difficult to obtain item, usually a book that is out of print. If we can satisfy this customer, then we are able to build significant customer loyalty. These clients are generally price insensitive and are also drawn to stores that have large inventory. • Specific Category Shoppers: These customers are those types that generally buy books or music of one category, such as fiction or romance. These customers generally have a good idea of what they want to...
Words: 1365 - Pages: 6
...sheet that helped me molds the person that I am now and a thin sheet that gave me the knowledge that I have now. Through the years, paper is used as a medium to convey printed or written information such as books, magazines, newspaper, and etc. Today, the digitalization in the print industry leads to an assumption that the Age of paperless paper is coming. Yes, paperless, based on the pessimistic people. No more printed outputs, no more newspapers and magazines or even books that are held and read by human. Of course, electronic books (ebooks) are available now. You can have a book on your gadget for free or pay just a little amount rather than buying a real book. Online newspaper and magazines too are converging to online world. They already have applications that let you read the same newspaper using just your gadget with the help of the internet. Cool right? Life becomes easier with the advent of technology. But it gives a hard time to the print industry. It is happening. Papers are turning paperless, but not all. Some documents are best kept in a written or printed output rather that to put it online such as confidential ones because hackers - or the so called thieves - are also available in the digital world. I cannot imagine having a life without paper. No paperback books that I can sniff while reading, no newspaper that I can...
Words: 798 - Pages: 4
...submit a written paragraph describing your research strategy (e.g., what sort of sources you intend to search for, how you think you might end up organizing the topic) – basically the steps you’ll be going through as you work on the paper. If I see a problem looming ahead of you, I’ll intervene and we’ll work it out! The paper is to be submitted to Blackboard by Tuesday, May 6 at 5:00 p.m. -- note the earlier hour. Your work should be double-spaced; use a standard font and margins. You may use any major system (e.g., MLA, APA) for bibliography and endnotes, as long as you are consistent. I will expect an adequate standard of grammar, syntax, and form. This project is worth forty percent of your course grade, so you need to plan to put good effort into it. You need to use at least four “printed” information sources in addition to websites. A...
Words: 476 - Pages: 2
