Libros similares a Materia oscura

This analysis of what makes great companies great has been hailed everywhere as an instant classic and one of the best business titles since In Search of Excellence. The authors, James C. Collins and Jerry I. Porras, spent six years in research, and they freely admit that their own preconceptions about business success were devastated by their actual findings--along with the preconceptions of virtually everyone else. Built to Last identifies 18 "visionary" companies and sets out to determine what's special about them. To get on the list, a company had to be world famous, have a stellar brand image, and be at least 50 years old. We're talking about companies that even a layperson knows to be, well, different: the Disneys, the Wal-Marts, the Mercks. Whatever the key to the success of these companies, the key to the success of this book is that the authors don't waste time comparing them to business failures. Instead, they use a control group of "successful-but-second-rank" companies to highlight what's special about their 18 "visionary" picks. Thus Disney is compared to Columbia Pictures, Ford to GM, Hewlett Packard to Texas Instruments, and so on. The core myth, according to the authors, is that visionary companies must start with a great product and be pushed into the future by charismatic leaders. There are examples of that pattern, they admit: Johnson & Johnson, for one. But there are also just too many counterexamples--in fact, the majority of the "visionary" companies, including giants like 3M, Sony, and TI, don't fit the model. They were characterized by total lack of an initial business plan or key idea and by remarkably self-effacing leaders. Collins and Porras are much more impressed with something else they shared: an almost cult-like devotion to a "core ideology" or identity, and active indoctrination of employees into "ideologically commitment" to the company. The comparison with the business "B"-team does tend to raise a significant methodological problem: which companies are to be counted as "visionary" in the first place? There's an air of circularity here, as if you achieve "visionary" status by ... achieving visionary status. So many roads lead to Rome that the book is less practical than it might appear. But that's exactly the point of an eloquent chapter on 3M. This wildly successful company had no master plan, little structure, and no prima donnas. Instead it had an atmosphere in which bright people were both keen to see the company succeed and unafraid to "try a lot of stuff and keep what works." --Richard Farr

"Re-imagine!" is a passionate call to arms for the modern business world. This book focuses on how the business climate has changed, and explores radical ways to overcome outdated company values. Discover an aggressive strategy that empowers talent and embraces brand-driven organizations that give everyone a voice.

Discover the keys to long-term business success with The Future of Management by Gary Hamel. This book argues that management innovation is crucial for companies to thrive in today's world, and reveals the steps businesses must take to become serial management innovators. Learn about the challenges that determine competitive success, the toxic effects of traditional management beliefs, and unconventional practices generating breakthrough results. Using examples from companies like Google, IBM, and Whole Foods, this book offers practical and profound insights on how to build your company's "management advantage."

Learn the latest industry insights and techniques for strategic brand management with this comprehensive guide. Packed with practical tips and real-life examples, discover how to make better long-term brand decisions, improve profitability, and analyze successful and unsuccessful brands. Ideal for professionals from brand managers to marketing officers, perfect your day-to-day and long-term brand strategies with this essential resource.

Create a powerful brand without breaking the bank. The Ad-Free Brand shows how to use low-cost digital tools and strategic practices to build a brand with passionate followers. Written by Chris Grams, who helped build Red Hat’s billion-dollar global brand, this book integrates traditional brand positioning concepts with modern digital strategies. Discover new and collaborative ways to uncover, communicate, and evolve your brand position while embedding it in organizational culture. This step-by-step guide will help you build a winning brand on a tight budget.

A man named Ed Flannigan moves to Oregon following an Alaskan machinery accident that lost him an arm. Beginning anew, he quickly clashes with New Age colonists, organic farmers, and a bad-tempered guardian angel who inhabits a peach tree. Follow Flannigan's journey in this captivating novel.

A thought-provoking book that delves into ten key trends shaping American society today. With a positive outlook, this book examines how our lives are being restructured and redirected, covering topics such as economics, politics, social issues, and spirituality.

This insightful national bestseller by William Strauss and Neil Howe delves into the cyclical nature of American history and how it can be used to predict our future. The authors outline four "turnings," each lasting around twenty years, that have occurred over the past five hundred years. They argue that our past can help us prepare for the coming perilous "Fourth Turning." A must-read for those interested in history and its impact on our collective future.

Revolutionize your marketing and increase profits with The One to One Future. This updated edition includes a User's Guide and step-by-step strategies for businesses to succeed in the Interactive Age. Learn to focus on the share of customer rather than the share of market, collaborate with individual customers, and create relationships through new media channels. Discover how leading-edge companies like MCI, Lexus, and Nissan Canada have already implemented these strategies, and see how they can work for businesses of all sizes.