Business Development Notes
September 14, 2010
BUA 380 - 86161
Built to Last - Reflection Paper
(Please briefly summarize what you consider to be the major findings in Built to Last in no more than one page.) - Certain companies possess certain qualities that has permitted them to excel above their peer group competitors, these qualities are fundamental differences that have stood the test of time:
Building clocks vs. telling time - build clocks, don 't tell time: focus on the company and not the product.
You must have a core ideology, and preserve that core ideology while simultaneously stimulating progress: Ideology needs to be independent of external forces like market price or fads.
Refusing the idea that a great company must first be built upon a “great idea” in order to excell
The BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goals) concept
Create and own a cult-like culture
Trying new things: Try lots and keep what works - experiment!
Home grown management!
Good enough never is.
Building the vision. Consistent innovation: taking risks and continually striving for improvement.
(How did you feel about the research? Did it reflect your expectations?)
The book presented the concept of what factors contribute to a company being considered visionary in an enlightening and easy to follow manner.
(Do you agree with the principles presented? Why or why not?)
I agree with the principles presented, some companies definitely have that “something special” and it was very interesting to learn some insight into what that is. One thing that would have been helpful would have been the inclusion of smaller companies that also qualify as visionary. It is possible that such companies do not have sufficient researchable history to enable such comparisons.
(How do you think the text fits in with this course?)
Visionary companies would not exist without visionary leaders and visionary leadership. Each of the Companies described required leaders that shared the founding values of
BUA 380 - 86161
Built to Last - Reflection Paper
(Please briefly summarize what you consider to be the major findings in Built to Last in no more than one page.) - Certain companies possess certain qualities that has permitted them to excel above their peer group competitors, these qualities are fundamental differences that have stood the test of time:
Building clocks vs. telling time - build clocks, don 't tell time: focus on the company and not the product.
You must have a core ideology, and preserve that core ideology while simultaneously stimulating progress: Ideology needs to be independent of external forces like market price or fads.
Refusing the idea that a great company must first be built upon a “great idea” in order to excell
The BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goals) concept
Create and own a cult-like culture
Trying new things: Try lots and keep what works - experiment!
Home grown management!
Good enough never is.
Building the vision. Consistent innovation: taking risks and continually striving for improvement.
(How did you feel about the research? Did it reflect your expectations?)
The book presented the concept of what factors contribute to a company being considered visionary in an enlightening and easy to follow manner.
(Do you agree with the principles presented? Why or why not?)
I agree with the principles presented, some companies definitely have that “something special” and it was very interesting to learn some insight into what that is. One thing that would have been helpful would have been the inclusion of smaller companies that also qualify as visionary. It is possible that such companies do not have sufficient researchable history to enable such comparisons.
(How do you think the text fits in with this course?)
Visionary companies would not exist without visionary leaders and visionary leadership. Each of the Companies described required leaders that shared the founding values of
Citations: IN THE BODY!