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Built to Last

The Big Idea

Built to Last is about enduringly, great organizations known as visionary companies that have prospered over long periods of time through multiple product life cycles and several generations of leadership. The authors present the results of six years of intensive, qualitative research on what makes winning companies exceptional and different including their practices and habits. The seven timeless principles of visionary companies include: Be clock-builders, not time-tellers; embrace the “and”, reject the “or”; more than profits; walk the talk; preserve the core ideology while stimulating progress; never-ending process; and build the vision.

Background

Collins and Porras present the results of a six-year research project at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business using a comparative research model that traces the performance of eighteen visionary companies and their comparison companies. The authors present the master blueprint for building organizations that will prosper long beyond the 21st century.

The visionary companies including their comparison companies are as follows:

The Seven Timeless Principles of Visionary Companies
The First Principle: Be Clock Builders, Not Time-Tellers.

Visionary companies are not borne out of great ideas or charismatic leaders — myths surrounding traditional business school education, popular thinking and time-telling companies. Instead, clock builders concentrate on strengthening the organization — one, resolute step at a time like a ticking clock while their leaders are focused on designing an enduring institution rather than on building themselves into larger than life individual, high-profile, charismatic leaders. . . . . .