5.0 out of 5 based on 10 reviews. – Customer review on 02/07/2007

i thought that this was a great book to help you on your journey to personal and business success, and how to get along with co-workers properly, and function a healthy business life etc. really very interesting, i know it doesnt sound all that fantastic, but if you ever get the chance to, definitely give it a read.

5.0 out of 5 based on 10 reviews. – Customer review on 14/07/2008

One of the best books I have ever read to do with Leadership, and how to make the transition from where you are to where you want to be. Very affirming of the things you do, knowing that they work, and gives you the confidence to never let go of those things. Also provides a common language to talk with those around you about what you are doing and where you want to go.

5.0 out of 5 based on 10 reviews. – Customer review on 08/07/2007

Jim Collins, co-author of Built To Last, has done it again! This time he spent 5 years trying to find out what differentiates good companies from great companies. This study can be applied to entrepreneurial ventures and to current corporate America. After reading this book you may see your company from a much different perspective than in the past and it may have you thinking about the effectiveness of senior managers within your company. I believe it is a book that business executives will read and keep handy for reference.
This book is a study of companies that exceed their industry, the overall stock market and produce PHENOMENAL returns over a 15-year period (15 of them are very "normal" years and the next 15 years are full of explosive growth). Some key points you will take away from this book include:

1) Growth in most companies came after years and years of trying to adapt / mold a concept into something the company truly believed in. Once this happened the growth engine got going.
2) Great managers worry more about getting the right people on board and the wrong people off board BEFORE they establish a corporate stategy.
3) Most great CEOs came from within their own ranks and weren't recruited from the outside.
4) Executive compensation didn't appear to be a key driver of corporate performance
5) The respective great companies exceeded the overall stock market in creating shareholder value by at least 3x during their 15 year run measured (some for many more years). While some may say this is not much think about the steel industry and how many are filing for bankruptcy. Nucor Steel still managed to beat the S&P by more than 3x.
6) The great companies in this book blew away their comparable peer group. Wells Fargo vs. Bank of America, Kroger vs. other grocery chains, Walgreens vs. Eckerd, etc.
7) Collins describes a Level 5 leader. After reading this section I was amazed at how many CEOs I recognized as not being Level 5 leaders. This may, in the near future, shake up executive compensation plans, CEO searches and potentially affect corporate governance.
8) Technology accelerated a transformation but was regarded as a tool. It didn't define the company.
9) M&A activity played virtually no role in going from good to great.

5.0 out of 5 based on 10 reviews. – Customer review on 11/06/2011

Excellent, highly recommend it. Good is the enemy of great is something we all need to remember

5.0 out of 5 based on 10 reviews. – Customer review on 08/08/2010

Jim Collins shares some intriguing insights into what makes a great organisation. From the opening thought that good is the enemy of great he develops his argument exploring the factors that move organisations to achieve greatness. The book is well structures, clearly and concisely written, and provides much food for thought. Collins' insights apply across all kinds of organisations and are well supported by his extensive research.

5.0 out of 5 based on 10 reviews. – Customer review on 15/10/2009

This book is essential reading and study for anyone in business seeking the way to really improve your business and to plot the way forward.It applies equally for very small to very large businesses in NZ. As there is a lot of work involved in going from Good to Great the lessons learned in this book will inspire you to get a grip and get underway. Read it now.

4.0 out of 5 based on 10 reviews. – Customer review on 03/08/2009

This is a really fantastic business book. It is a well researched peice of work and contains citations or appendicies to back up results but more than anything it is so easy to read and the message is delivered really well. Although this is now slightly out of date after a certain financial crisis, it doesn't take away from the principals that are taught. I will be buying more Jim Collins.

5.0 out of 5 based on 10 reviews. – Customer review on 23/11/2008

thoroughly enjoying the challenges it is putting before me for my company to succeed.

2.0 out of 5 based on 10 reviews. – Customer review on 01/09/2008

Ho hum. Interesting read, but not exactly riviting with nuggets of information. It's pretty much the summary results of an indepth survey covering large American companies, and what differed in them compared to competitors. There is some good 'take home' thoughts, but I think if you were actually looking for ways to take your company from Good to Great, you'd need to read a few more books after this one to get the information.

5.0 out of 5 based on 10 reviews. – Customer review on 23/06/2008

I first purchase this Good to Great book for myself as it has been well spoken about as a business book with direction I have since purchase an additional three books for my managers so that we can read with a view to implement some of these idea. RG Torpedo7. As a passing comment Fishpond are much easier, quicker and cheaper to deal with than Amazon.