Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 74
 Good To Great Monograph for the Social Sector November 18, 2009
C. Hartle (Little Falls MN USA)
Excellent, succinct publication for nonprofits and social service organizations. Easy to read; makes sense, and inspiring!
Understandable even if you haven't read Good To Great... and it will probably encourage you to read the original book! August 16, 2009
Robert Schmidt (Honolulu, HI & Logan, UT USA)
Good To Great And The Social Sectors is not a repeat or condensation of author Jim Collins' original book, Good To Great. As he states in the introductory author's notes, "I originally intended this text to be a new chapter in future editions of Good To Great. But upon reflection, I concluded that it would be inappropriate to force my readers to buy a second copy of the book just to get access to this piece - and so we decided to create this independent monograph. That said, while this monograph can certainly be read as a stand-alone piece, I've written it to go hand-in-hand with the book, and the greatest value will accrue to those who read the two together."
Well, I don't don't know about the "greatest value" issue, since this is the first book (or monograph) I've read by Jim Collins. But I will say that it is eminently readable, well-organized and written, concise, and focused on being of use to the social sectors.
The social sectors of our community have different needs, resources, staffing alternatives, and even passions than the business sectors. Although financial criteria may be a critical metric for determining whether a business is good versus great (but not always; see Passion and Purpose, for notes by John MacKey, CEO of Whole Foods), the social sector may have different critical metrics. Jim Collins gives some hints for determining what those metrics might be, and he discounts the dollar as the ultimate metric. Qualitative, not quantitative, metrics are important here, but he insists that metrics be developed.
Collins also discusses leadership styles and functions, filling an agency or business with high-functioning believers and achievers, doing whatever it is that you do well (and then building upon that, ad infinitum), and more.
I have a meeting tomorrow that required the reading of this book as "homework". So tomorrow I get to see whether others find it logical and inspiring as well. In the meantime, I look forward to thinking about how these principles and observations apply to the various social sector agencies and organizations I am involved with.
 Collins' Answer for Nonprofits June 16, 2009
Wendy R. (North Jersey)
Jim Collins didn't need to write this little book-I almost felt like he was doing us a favor for writing it. Still, if you liked Good to Great, then this is a valuable accompaniment for nonprofit leaders.
Important research Info April 28, 2009
Thomas M. Ceccarelli
I'm retired from the USG and working for a Management Consulting Company, that has recently developed a Public Leadership Institute. I ordered and read Good to Great and the 35 page supplement for the Public Sector (selection above) which I found very helpful in our efforts to develope concepts for our leadership training curriculum. Collins and his staff did an admirable job of research to support the identification of excellent leadership qualities that can elevate an organization from mediocre to great.
For Profit sector Execs should read this too April 14, 2009
Thomas J. Gunderson (Chicago, IL USA)
For profit execs should read this book too if they found Collins Good to great helpful and even if they didn't find his original Good to Great book helpful.
Great takeaway and cross over about new leadership style of less control and more influence style of management/leadership as well as other gems and grids make this a real find!
Also, for profit execs on boards will find this helpful GB.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 74
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