Built to last

Drawing upon a s¡x-year research project at the Stanford University Gradúate School of Business, Jim Collins and Jerry I. Porras took eighteen truly exceptional and long-lasting companies and studied each in direct comparison to one of its top competitors. They examined the companies from their very beginnings to the present day—as start-ups, as midsize companies, and as large corporations. Throughout, the authors asked: “What malees the truly exceptional companies different from the comparison companies and what were the common practices these enduringly great companies followed throughout their history?” Filled with hundreds of specific examples and organized into a coherent framework of practical concepts that can be applied by managers and entrepreneurs at all levels, Built to Last provides a master blueprint for building organizations that will prosper long into the 2ist century and beyond. “If what you’re looking for is a fascinating historical study of the factors that made high-octane companies what they are today, you won’t be disappointed by this work.” —Brian Dumaine, Fortune “Built to Lastis an unusual business book—seriously researched, unconventional in its conclusions . . . [It] is well worth reading, particularly by those engaged in trying to reinvigorate our nation’s largest enterprises.”—Richard J. Tofel, Wall Street Journal Jim Collins is a student and teacher ofenduring great companies—how they grow, how they attain superior performance, and how good companies can become great companies. The author of the national bestseller Good to Great, his work has been featured in Fortune, the Economist, USA Today, and Harvard Business Review. Jerry I. Porras is the Lañe Professorof Organizational Behaviorand Change, Emeritus, at the Stanford University Gradúate School of Business where he has served as associate deán for academic affairs and frequent executive education teacher. He studies ways of aligning companies around their purpose and core valúes to produce lasting high performance.