Jim Collins and Jerry Porras are two of the most influential business authors of our time. They are known for their groundbreaking work, "Built to Last," which has had a significant impact on the way businesses approach strategy and leadership. In this article, we will explore the backgrounds of Collins and Porras and the impact of their work on the business world.
Introduction to Jim Collins and Jerry Porras
Jim Collins is an American author, consultant, and lecturer on the subject of business management. He is best known for his books "Good to Great" and "Built to Last," which have sold millions of copies worldwide. Collins has worked with some of the biggest companies in the world, including Coca-Cola, General Electric, and Amazon.
Jerry Porras is an American author and professor of organizational behavior at Stanford University. He is best known for his work on organizational change and leadership, and his research has been published in numerous academic journals. Porras has also worked with some of the world’s largest companies, including Hewlett-Packard, IBM, and General Electric.
Collins and Porras first met in the 1980s while both were teaching at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. They shared a passion for studying successful companies and began working together on research projects. This collaboration eventually led to the publication of their seminal work, "Built to Last."
The Impact of "Built to Last" on Business Strategy
"Built to Last" was first published in 1994 and quickly became a bestseller. The book is based on a six-year research project in which Collins and Porras studied 18 companies that had outperformed their peers for at least 50 years. These companies, which included 3M, Johnson & Johnson, and Walt Disney, were dubbed "visionary" companies.
One of the key findings of "Built to Last" was that visionary companies are not built around charismatic leaders or specific products or services. Instead, they are built around a set of core values and a strong culture that is deeply ingrained in the organization. These values and culture guide the company’s decisions and actions, and they remain constant even as the company evolves and grows.
"Built to Last" also introduced the concept of the "BHAG," or "Big Hairy Audacious Goal." BHAGs are ambitious, long-term goals that inspire and motivate employees to achieve great things. They are meant to be challenging but achievable, and they give employees a sense of purpose and direction.
The impact of "Built to Last" on business strategy has been significant. The book has influenced countless companies and leaders, and its ideas have become part of the mainstream business lexicon. The concept of core values and a strong culture is now widely recognized as essential to building a successful organization, and the BHAG has become a popular tool for setting long-term goals.
Jim Collins and Jerry Porras have left an indelible mark on the business world with their work on visionary companies and core values. "Built to Last" continues to be a must-read for anyone interested in business strategy and leadership, and its ideas will undoubtedly continue to shape the way we think about these topics for years to come.
