Book Review

Good to Great
Author: Jim Collins

What I appreciate about this book is the author and his research team went into the project with no theories or assumptions on how a company could make the leap from good to great.  The book serves as a report of what they discovered during their five year investigation.  The research team investigated companies that went from good to great (based on actual market performance) in comparison to companies that did not make the same leap to determine what the differences were.  The results were that all eleven of the good to great companies (regardless of industry) had all made the exact same decisions with regards to their people, their thoughts, and their actions.  

The key concept I learned was first who, then what; meaning that it is essential to first surround our association with the right people (at both the Board and staff levels) and allow them to determine the what and the how rather than setting the vision first and then bringing in people.  The book also helps to dispel other assumptions that people may have about being successful, such as the need for a charismatic CEO, or that you need to be in a cutting edge market, or that technology is capable of providing solutions.  The book provides so many examples based on actual data that help the reader understand concepts like 'people are not your most valuable resource, the right people are your most valuable resource'.

This was the first book and most relevant book I have read in regards to serving in my role.

Recommendation made by ISAE member: Robert Riggs, Executive Vice President, Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity

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