Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t by Jim CollinsMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
The book Good to Great offers a fresh perspective on why many businesses hit a ceiling, falling into the trap of believing they are “good enough” to fulfill their functions. It focuses on analyzing companies that successfully transitioned from good to great, while also warning about the risks faced by those that fail to break through this threshold. The book presents several valuable concepts, such as the Hedgehog Concept, Level 5 Leadership, and establishing a culture of discipline. Managers are encouraged to adopt these principles within their own organizations to overcome the complacency of being merely good and strive for greatness. Many businesses settle for being good, which prevents them from ever achieving true excellence.
However, Jim Collins’ book shows its age in certain aspects, such as citing Circuit City as an example of a company that went from good to great. While the company may have once thrived, its ultimate failure may lead future readers to question the validity of Collins’ concepts. Additionally, Collins warns against over-reliance on technology in running a business. While this advice stemmed from the collapse of Dotcom companies in the early 2000s, today, technology is much more reliable and is now widely seen as a crucial factor in driving improvement and efficiency.
Despite its age, it would be unfair to dismiss the book. The ideas presented remain highly valuable, especially for those new to management and continuous improvement. The book is easy to read and offers clear steps for recognizing when a company has not reached its full potential and how to address those shortcomings.
View all my reviews on Goodreads