Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't
by HarperBusiness
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (16 October, 2001)
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Editorial Review

Five years ago, Jim Collins asked the question, "Can a good company become a great company and if so, how?" In Good to Great Collins, the author of Built to Last, concludes that it is possible, but finds there are no silver bullets. Collins and his team of researchers began their quest by sorting through a list of 1,435 companies, looking for those that made substantial improvements in their performance over time. They finally settled on 11--including Fannie Mae, Gillette, Walgreens, and Wells Fargo--and discovered common traits that challenged many of the conventional notions of corporate success. Making the transition from good to great doesn't require a high-profile CEO, the latest technology, innovative change management, or even a fine-tuned business strategy. At the heart of those rare and truly great companies was a corporate culture that rigorously found and promoted disciplined people to think and act in a disciplined manner. Peppered with dozens of stories and examples from the great and not so great, the book offers a well-reasoned road map to excellence that any organization would do well to consider. Like Built to Last, Good to Great is one of those books that managers and CEOs will be reading and rereading for years to come. --Harry C. Edwards ... Read more

Reviews (351)

Real Business Book for Real Businesses
This book was recommended to me by a colleague I respect very much who has built a very successful large company.

Good to Great breaks away from 99% of the anecdotal business books out there which simply detail the past actions of successful businesses or people or worse authors with no business knowledge.Knowing what a successful business did is not nearly as useful as knowing whether what they did was the actual reason they were successful.Collins does this only through a painstaking process that took several years and 25 researchers.His team identified companies that had gone from being above average to stellar and then worked to identify the reasons and research it in depth.

The end result is a very readable and easy to understand and use guide that is packed with enough solidness and backbone to please even the toughest academic.Useable knowledge with solid reason and research backing - this is what a business book should be.

No Rocket Science
Its very simple why MOST companies don't become great.They dont want to !!Its alot cheaper to just edge out your competition (if you even have to), than to start a price war, or any other kind of war.Also, most companies are clueless, since they cant tell the difference between an investment, and a cost.They would rather not invest in their people because, they either might take the jobs of the one who taught them, or go somewhere else, and get paid a higher salary, from a company that didnt have to invest in them, so then that other company can then steal what they didnt have to invest in.Lets face it, the company with the lowest cost wins.That one statement explains everything else.There will never be greatness as long as this is true.The race to the botton, trumps the race to the top.

SO MUCH TO OFFER HERE
If you liked Jim Collins' book, "Built to Last," you will love his follow up called, "Good to Great." This is one of those rare cases, where the sequel is actually better than the original. "Good to Great" is more than a business book. It is a book with principles applicable to many aspects of life. Collins challenges his readers to aspire to greatness rather than the mediocrity of being good. He says, "Few people attain great lives, in large part because it is just so easy to settle for a good life."

In Collins' study to be considered "great," a company's stock had to earn more than triple the general stock market for fifteen consecutive years. The research found seven keys common with the eleven companies, which were able to make the "Good to Great" transition:

1. LEVEL FIVE LEADERSHIP - They had leaders who were a paradoxical blend of personal humility and professional will.
2. FIRST WHO...THEN WHAT - People are not the most important asset. The right people are.
3. CONFRONT THE BRUTAL FACTS - They maintained unwavering faith that they would prevail in the end, and at the same time the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of the current reality.
4. THE HEDGEHOG CONCEPT - Their core business was that at which they believed they could be the best in the world.
5. THE CULTURE OF DISCIPLINE - When a company employs disciplined people hierarchy, bureaucracy, and excessive controls are not necessary.
6. TECHNOLOGY ACCELERATORS - Technology by itself is never a primary, root cause of either greatness or decline.
7. THE FLYWHEEL AND THE DOOM LOOP - Good-to-great transformation never happened in one fell swoop but as a relentless push to breakthrough and beyond.

A unique feature of Collins' work is that it is not from the perspective of a practitioner who models his "how I did it" formula. Such a formula is often based on an extraordinary person in a unique circumstance and, as such, it isn't easily transferable. Neither is it the postulation of an unproven theory by a philosopher. Rather it is the conclusions of a researcher, who found what has worked and is reporting it for our benefit.

I read the book when it was first released, then I purchased and listened to the audio book, next I heard Collins lecture on the subject and now I've gone back to re-read my highlights annually. I've found the principles to be effective in various avenues of life. Whether you are in the business world or a person wanting to experience higher levels of achievement and satisfaction, I highly recommend "Good to Great."
... Read more

Isbn: 0066620996
Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Corporate & Business History - Strategies    5. Leadership    6. Management    7. Management - General    8. Organizational change    9. Strategic Planning    10. Technological innovations    11. Business & Economics / Management    12. Reading Group Guide   

Built to Last : Successful Habits of Visionary Companies (Harper Business Essentials)
by HarperBusiness
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (20 August, 2002)
list price: $17.95 -- our price: $12.21
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Editorial Review

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 ... Read more

Reviews (107)

Great Writing with Sketchy Conclusions
I don't think a lot of people realize that Built to Last was published in 1994. It is only with the skyrocket popularity of Good to Great (published in 2001, but a bestseller in 2005) that Built to Last has re-graced bookshelves at all. The technical aspects of the writing are wonderful, weaving convincing arguments the way a high school lyricist weaves urban tales for his friends. And with the same result: the study doesn't hold up, especially not with the 11 years of hindsight we have on it. For starters, much of the research is on consistent growth and performance of specific companies against the general stock market, from 1926 to 1990. While the author correctly points out that this era covers a fantastic amount of change, he wrongfully dismisses that point, continuing to build his thesis on the shaky foundation that "what worked through the 1950's and 1960's is bound to work today". "Built to Last" is an interesting business history, but a terrible roadmap for success.

A Must-Read for Business Executive
I read this book 2 years ago with great excitement. Now having significantly progressed in my career I found this book even more meaningful. It was a great handbook for business executives worldwide to build great companies.I recommend it to anybody who is serious about not making quick money, but building sustainable businesses that last and last.

A Great Book with a Flaw
This book reminds me of the hero in the classic Greek tragedy.The hero is always magnificent, but has a tragic flaw.This is a magnificent book with a tragic flaw.

Porras and Collins set out to write a book about visionary companies, and they did just that.They chose the companies they would study based on specific, detailed criteria.

They wanted to study companies that had been premier institutions in their industries and widely admired while they made an imprint on the world around them.They wanted their companies to have multiple generations of chief executives and to have gone through multiple product or service lifecycles. And they wanted the companies to have been around for a long time - founded before 1950.

They compared each of their visionary companies with another company that was not a premier visionary company.Many of the comparison companies were solid performers.They were good companies, but not great companies.That's one of the great things about the book.You can see the distinction between good performance and great performance.

Another thing that makes the book great is the extensive research.The project took six years, and the authors and their research team dug into critical issues and came up with fascinating insights and comparisons.

Read this book and you will learn about the characteristics of great companies that have an impact on the world around them.The discussions will enrich your understanding of what makes a great company.This will be especially valuable to you if you're in the process of building a company that you want to be great.

That's the great part, the hero part.What about the flaws?

The first flaw is that essentially performance for each of these companies is equated with market performance.There are lots of things the authors could have used, such as return on assets, for example.But share price is easy to track over time and is used as a surrogate for greatness.I'm not sure that that's the best criterion.

What you are actually reading about is a selection of excellent, visionary companies that were perceived as good investments by the market.This "perception" issue is not addressed in the book.

The second flaw is more important.While this book tells you marvelous things about companies that are admittedly great and about some of the things that make for greatness in companies, and while it mixes statistical data with telling anecdotes, it falls short in one critical area.The book doesn't tell you anything about how to achieve greatness.

In other words, it describes what greatness might be and it gives you some examples of companies who have achieved it, but the book ultimately left me with the nagging desire that the authors would have given me some "how to."As far as you can tell from reading the book, these companies were always great.

That may not be a problem for you if you're just starting a company.You've got a clean slate to start from.But if you're guiding an already-established company, or a part of it, I think you'll wish for a few examples of companies that became great after performing at some lesser level.

That's the bottom line in my recommendation.If you're looking for a book that describes greatness and where you'll pick up a wealth of ideas and good historical knowledge about great companies, buy this book.If, on the other hand, what you want is a book that describes in some detail how to achieve that greatness, this may not be the book for you.
... Read more

Isbn: 0060516402
Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Corporate & Business History - General    5. Corporate & Business History - Strategies    6. Development - Sustainable Development    7. Entrepreneurship    8. Industrial management    9. Management - General    10. Success in business    11. United States    12. Business & Economics / Management   

Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done
by Crown Business
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (15 June, 2002)
list price: $27.50 -- our price: $16.99
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Editorial Review

Disciplines like strategy, leadership development, and innovation are the sexier aspects of being at the helm of a successful business; actually getting things done never seems quite as glamorous. But as Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan demonstrate in Execution, the ultimate difference between a company and its competitor is, in fact, the ability to execute.

Execution is "the missing link between aspirations and results," and as such, making it happen is the business leader's most important job. While failure in today's business environment is often attributed to other causes, Bossidy and Charan argue that the biggest obstacle to success is the absence of execution. They point out that without execution, breakthrough thinking on managing change breaks down, and they emphasize the fact that execution is a discipline to learn, not merely the tactical side of business. Supporting this with stories of the "execution difference" being won (EDS) and lost (Xerox and Lucent), the authors describe the building blocks--leaders with the right behaviors, a culture that rewards execution, and a reliable system for having the right people in the right jobs--that need to be in place to manage the three core business processes of people, strategy, and operations. Both Bossidy, CEO of Honeywell International, Inc., and Charan, advisor to corporate executives and author of such books as What the CEO Wants You to Know and Boards That Work, present experience-tested insight into how the smooth linking of these three processes can differentiate one company from the rest. Developing the discipline of execution isn't made out to be simple, nor is this book a quick, easy read. Bossidy and Charan do, however, offer good advice on a neglected topic, making Execution a smart business leader's guide to enacting success rather than permitting demise. --S. Ketchum ... Read more

Reviews (155)

Look for other options.....
This is a medicore book with some bright points.It seems to be written more toward a high level executive and is at times repeatitive.The book does not move well from topic to topic and tends to drone on about the importance of several items.

The highlight of the book is how it addresses the importance of find the right people - but this is covered equally as well in other books.

Basic Knowledge...
A lot of materials in this book can be found in my 1st year management course in University of Toronto textbook... This book doesn't have much to offer in my opinion; but it's a bit bias for me to critize this book hence my background.

What I learn from this book...
What I learn from this book: NEVER buy books based on the book title and bestselling list. ... Read more

Isbn: 0609610570
Subjects:  1. Achievement motivation    2. Business & Economics    3. Business / Economics / Finance    4. Business/Economics    5. Executive Management    6. Management    7. Management - General    8. Motivation (Psychology)    9. Operations Research    10. Organizational Behavior    11. Performance    12. Business & Economics / Management   

Business 2.0
by The Time Inc. Magazine Company
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Business 2.0 offers today's "visionaries" a refreshing blend of traditional and contemporary business strategies. Lighthearted perspectives give way to hard-hitting articles on industry trends, while historic references pay homage to some of the world's all-time-great business leaders. Regular features include "Startup" ("People, trends, wild conjecture"), "What Works" ("Tactics, tools, true-life adventures") and "Self Serve" ("Navigate your life, enhance your view"). Throw in some flashy graphics and unusual fonts, and a slant towards the Internet economy, and Business 2.0 is well-positioned for the next century of business.--Elizabeth Malker ... Read more

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Reviews (13)

Uneven
If you're going to publish a business magazine, then you should publish articles that are useful to people in business. Business 2.0 does this, but only with every second or so issue. In between, they publish a lot of vapid, unfocused material that is unworthy of publication anywhere.

The good articles are worth enough to me that I'll continue to subscribe, but I wish they'd get their act together.

Good for keeping on top of a lot of business topics
I have been a subscriber for some time. It's a business publication that does not focus solely on Wall Street financials - they are there to a lesser degree but this is not the publication if that is what you are looking for. Think entrepreneur or general business topics and that's Business 2.0. It does not focus on one topic or industry but covers all to some degree - think `oddball' as well. Monthly sections include `What's Next', `What Works', `What's Cool'. The articles are cutting edge in some cases, well researched and well written with an informal slant. They cover tech, marketing, product development, product design, ideas, new products and services, M&A's and a wide range of general business topics. You will find out about new things before most of your coworkers, giving you interesting conversation fodder for the water cooler, happy-hour settings. To go even further in figuring out their demographics and target market/s, the ads include autos like Camry, Land Rover LR3, Mini Cooper and even the Porsche Boxster, Laptops, Business Productivity Software like Office 2003, Business Products like copiers and printers, Mobile calling plans, HP, Credit Cards and even Lufthansa airline. So if you are not in this demographic, maybe they're not targeting your demographic. Why Buy: You are an up and coming business major or business professional in your `building your career foundation' of your career. You are entrepreneurial minded. You want to keep on top of a wide range of business topics and even some that are not yet making the news. As a gift for someone with these interests.

amazon is incredibly overpriced on this
amazon sells a one year subscription for $14 which includes a $5 amazon certificate that you get later.

in the actual magazine, the subscription card is 6.99 for one year or 2 years for $10.00

so use the card, save some money and also dont have to wait for your $5 back and then find something at amazon that you can use the $5 certificate on.
... Read more

Asin: B00005R8BQ
Subjects:  1. Computers & Internet    2. Business    3. Technology   

Fast Company
by Gruner + Jahr USA Publishing
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Magazine
list price: $59.40 -- our price: $12.00
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Since 1995, Fast Company has been an informative and vital voice of the changing business industry. The monthly magazine is a beacon to new industries, especially those tied to the Internet, but offers more. Inside are smart attitudes and information that give entrepreneurs and business professionals the particulars of leadership and organization, no matter what the trade. Find key ingredients of working in teams or read a candid interview with the leaders of today's leading-edge companies. The magazine also offers practical business tools and tactics, from must-have gadgets to how to handle voluminous amounts of e-mail. Ideas come from Wall Street, Silicon Valley, Harvard, and even Las Vegas. The magazine dubbed the entrepreneurship and consulting movement "Free-Agent Nation," and overnight became the bible for those working for themselves. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

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I Just Love This Magazine!
I only read two magazines cover to cover: Fast Company and The New Yorker. Why? I never read Fast Company in the '90s during the day. But I am constantly surprised by stuff I find in its pages. The stories are entertaining and surprising. Most of the stuff the magazine runs you won't get or see anywhere else. I just read the story on George Stalk in the newest issue. Wow! Couldn't imagine seeing this in any other magazine--except The New Yorker. Keep up the great work.

Who Needs Fortune or Forbes
I just picked up a recent issue, the one with New Yorker writer Malcolm Gladwell on the cover. Wow! This is a remarkably surprising and entertaining magazine--and one of the few to deliver useful advice and lessons that immediately help you at work. If you're in business, reading Fast Company doesn't feel like homework which is the sense I get from other business magazines. It's one of the few magazines I can read from cover to cover and greatly enjoy. I find myself re-reading some of these stories (the writing quality often approaches what you'd expect to find in an Esquire or New Yorker). It's my new favorite magazine!

Smart Moves
Truly one of the best print and neumedia that I've perchanced to read, and be part of online.

I would recommend FastCompany to every business entity or entrepreneur. FastCompany's articles have facets of a diamond that most businesses tend to overlook! Its a brilliant magazine and would make a great gift subscription for the budding Technopreneur. ... Read more

Asin: B00005N7Q4
Subjects:  1. Computers & Internet    2. Internet    3. Business   

Entrepreneur
by Entrepreneur Media Inc
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Magazine
list price: $59.88 -- our price: $11.97
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Reviews (11)

bah....
i used to read this, but there are way too many advertisements. The advertisement to information ratio is probably about 12 to 1 in my opinion. This is more of a magazine geared to people who have not started their own business. I would reccommend Forbes b/c it is much more informative and valuable.

I disagree with the negative ratings
Though the magazine does have the MLM and "You To Can Get Rich" articles, it has validity. You can do anything if you find the right thing, something your passionate about. I've found the articles may not always fit my exact situation, but I can extract what is meaningful or useful to fit my unique situation or business needs. Isn't that the main goal here? You have to find it, no one is going to hand it to you. Do the research and the work and ask for mentoring. Follow up on the leads and ideas they give you. I truly enjoy this magazine.Carpe Diem.

Entrepreneur? Franchisee!
I read this at Stop and Shop each month, hoping it'll get better. Each month I hope desperately for some pertinent, relevant, or just plain mildly useful business hints and tips... and they are just not forthcoming.

For someone who is interested in starting a franchise, (think vending machines) or one of those "dear friends, you too can be a millionaire! First send me all your money" businesses, also referred to as MLM (multi-level marketing) this magazine would be a gold mine.

For a business owner who is looking for some serious help? Don't bother! I am wishing for a subscription to American Venture... now there's the ideal entrepreneur's magazine! ... Read more

Asin: B00005NINU
Sales Rank: 99
Subjects:  1. Business & Investing    2. General    3. Commerce    4. Business   

Reason
by Reason Magazine
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Pretty Good
For this registered Libertarian, this is a pretty good magazine. Decent articles that are written well and easy to read, as well as being informative. It has been around quite a while and the experience shows (in a positive way).

Best Periodical Available
Mr. Hayek apparently despises free thought.Furthermore, his ignorance of libertarian philosophy is clear; discounting his opinion is appropriate.I'm guessing he is a Republicrat and finds the socialist ideas found in the corrupt two party system satisfying.Funny considering his namesake, Frederich Hayek, is one of the greatest libertarian thinkers of all time and one of my personal heros.

But, I digress:Reason magazine has been in my mailbox every month for well over 20 years and I would buy a lifetime subscription if I could.Not every issue is a five star issue, but on the whole Reason is the most interesting periodical on the market.That said, Reason has dropped a notch in quality ever since the brilliant Virginia Postrel left the editor's post several years ago.She is a true intellectual and kept Reason at a consistently high level.I still love to read my issue every month and while I don't always agree with the positions I am always stimulated.

A+
Reason is never afraid to show opposing views.It allows you to see things in a different light.It is also nice to be able to read a magazine with articles that are greater than 3 pages! ... Read more

Asin: B00005N7NQ
Sales Rank: 632
Subjects:  1. News & Politics    2. Business   

Wired
by Conde Nast Publications Inc.
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Lots of Flash, No Bang.
Wired purports to be a cutting edge high tech magazine. In fact, it is little more than a Nerd's version of People magazine, with a lot of short, unconnected articles purporting to offer inside information from the tech community. It is most likely to be of interest to Gamers (and has lots of ads addressed to that crowd).

The best thing about it is its (expensive) graphics, but that doesn't justify wasting your time or money on it.

BEWARE OF YOUR SUBSCRIPTION
I got a letter from a collecting agency stating WIRED hired them "to write you as to why payment has not been made as of this letter date." The letter ends in a bold, italicized threat:

"This is an attempt to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose."

I never subscribed to this magazine yet I got this letter. I called the handy number right at the top of the "bill" and I was forwarded to a recording with the following instructions:

press "1" to make payment
press "2" if already paid
press "3" never received subscription
press "4" never renewed subsciption
press "5" never ordered subscription


I pressed 5, and that was that. Talk about a low way to get subscribers. This is bottom feeding. Magazines used to offer you incentives. Now they threaten to louse up your credit rating.

Anyway, I am writing this to inform and warn existing and future subscribers about this magazine. Based on the options given above, not only "non-subscribers" like me get a letter from a collecting agency to subscribe to this magazine, but also existing subscribers who did not renew their subscriptions.

I think this is taking guerilla marketing a bit too far - not only are you being billed for something you didn't order, but they're skipping right over you and sending your name directly to a collection agency.

The Dark Side Of Wired
I was a Wired subscriber for 2 years but later on decided not to continue with the subscription. I wish it was that easy! They sent me a couple issues after the subscription ended (without any approval!) and then started to bomb with those endless mail reminders like "we still didn't get your payment, please don't forget" and "we want you not to miss any of our great issues". Sure thing, I ignored them but now they forwarded my info to some collecting agency which threatens me and asks to pay the subscriprion fee plus late fees plus collection fees.

The magazine itself is okay though. I quite understand this review is basically not what people write about things but anyway. I just wanted to address this information to whoever might be interested in it. ... Read more

Asin: B00005N7TL
Sales Rank: 8
Subjects:  1. Computers & Internet    2. Internet    3. Business    4. Technology   

The Economist
by The Economist Newspaper Group, Inc.
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No other weekly like it
This is, plainly put, the best news periodical out there.Sure, others can "report" what's happening in the world, but The Economist includes analysis and puts events in proper perspective to provide the much sought after "why?".Upon hearing of the magazine, the title seemed to suggest a dry, tough read about finance and economics.Not so at all.It's sort of like an international, intelligent version of Time or Newsweek, with a more objective and rational feel.It's a surprisingly easy read as well, with a great informal British style, infused with wit throughout yet always smart and informative.Well worth the price.

If you're going to read only one news periodical . . .
The Economist should be it.It is the most thorough single news periodical out there, period.Enjoy.

It Really Is That Good
Read one Economist article, and you'll know why it's considered in a league of its own, and why everyone from business leaders to Prime Ministers to regular people like you and me love it so much.

One of the best attributes the Economist possesses is its ability to present news and analysis on an unsurpassed intellectual level, while at the same time being very much down to earth, at times even getting comical commentary in. I have never once read an article where I sensed bias. I'm very good at detecting bias, and even when it perhaps is bias I'm inclined with, it ruins the legitimacy for me. You'll notice they do not attribute articles to specific authors. This is because the magazine wants each article to represent the Economist as a whole, and not a particular person. It's a refreshing formula, in an age where some writers feel the need to be long winded and rush to grab individual attention at every turn.

The Economist has been around for 150+ years for good reason. It holds incredible integrity, and it doesn't cater to anyone.

For international news and perspective in particular, I have yet to find a weekly publication on the Economist's level for the mere reason there are none. I'm a student in International Affairs, and the insight and rationality found in the pages devoted to the world, 1/3 of each issue in fact, is the crowning jewel of the magazine. That's in addition to its coverage on business, finance, technology, arts and books. It's truly a complete package.

You probably couldn't do anything better to improve your mind and worldview with a little over $100 than to buy an Economist subscription. ... Read more

Asin: B00005NIP1
Sales Rank: 39
Subjects:  1. News & Politics    2. Business    3. International    4. Business News   

BusinessWeek
by BusinessWeek
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An excellent periodical
I've been a BW subscriber for 8 years now, and if the magazine stays as good as it currently is, I see at least 60 more years of subscription.

BW is a very well balanced magazine focusing mainly on business trends and headline news.A majority of their articles are extremely informative, well written, and objective.If there is an opinion piece, it is clearly stated as "Commentary".I enjoy the "Economic Viewpoint" where it alternates between right and left wing economists (Hubbard for Rep., Tyson for Dems).BW is also forward thinking in writing about trend analysis and disecting what the future may bring.There is a good snippet of International business.

A couple weaknesses of the magazine:
-Tech & You column.The guy writes about the same category of gadgets over and over again (mainly PDA & what not).I would like to see more articles about HDTV, laptops, desktops, software, etc.Tech & You appears to be written for either a road-warrior or a technophobe.
-Personal lifestyles section.Seems like the magazine is catering towards a more upscale crowd, writing about exotic vacations and expensive wines that only either a very rich person or a very debt prone person could afford.

I also find the magazine to be weak in covering the retail sector.I'd like to read more full articles about companies average consumers deal with on a weekly basis.The Kmart/Sears deal was largely overshawdowed.

All in all, if I could only choose one magazine to receive, this would be the one.

Business Week does not have a liberal agenda
I have subscribed to Business week for two years now.I suggest that people accusing them of having a liberal agenda reread their past issues.Bush was receiving criticism for not being Republican enough! His deficit spending is the most clear example.Other fiscal conservatives, such as George Will, have criticized the President.Does that mean they are following a liberal agenda? I think not.

Has definitely changed it's business focus
I have been a reader of BusinessWeek for over 10 years.I have noticed that it has had a significant change in focus over the last year.While there are more articles on "Personal Business", the hard-core articles have gone the way of Newsweek, and U.S. News and World reports.The nature of the articles are lightweight and do not reflect issues important to decision makers today.

Like many others, I have noticed a political slant or agenda over the last year.Specifically, their commentaries and economic analysis trend to the left.Bob Kuttner is co-editor of the American Prospect and contributor to the Boston Globe.Every one of his articles begins with the premise that the President's policies are bad and then is followed by a tortuous rational for that thesis, to include discussion of the days of gold backed currency.

Andrea D'Andrea Tyson is better, but as a former Clinton advisor, is not objective in her analysis.Alternative economic opinions are far and few between and what opinions they do tout, does not agree with the numbers stated in their own Figures of the Week.

While BW has the potential for great reporting based on their resources, they have let their editorial priorities get in the way of serious business reporting.For serious Business readers and students, I recommend going to alternative sources.

And yes, I will let my subscription lapse this year.
... Read more

Asin: B00005N7P3
Sales Rank: 78
Subjects:  1. Business   

Harvard Business Review
by Harvard Business Review
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list price: $118.00 -- our price: $118.00
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"Process is God" might well be the motto of this management resource. The Harvard Business Review is all about best practices and better practices and being front and center with the latest and greatest ideas about how to run anything from a railroad to a recovering dotcom. Although the magazine's eagerness to adopt buzzwords makes it a target for jargon watchers, it is at heart conservative and cautious. What is the key to success, according to the Harvard Business Review? Lead, motivate, innovate! And then use the performance measurement tool of the month to make sure that the leading, motivating, and innovating worked, you know, just to be on the safe side. --Edith Sorenson ... Read more

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Reviews (15)

Not Cutting Edge
This is my third year as a subscriber - sometimes I wonder what I have missed before that. HBR is not about being the first to print the latest management trends or techniques. The majority of the articles involve a ton load of research spanning years and in some cases decades. The research covers numerous companies so that there is a justifiable amount of truth to what is being written. It would be tomfoolery to adopt these techniques and assume that they will automatically apply to your company or department without some sort of additional or complimentary technique. However HBR covers many of the different management styles with practical examples. Then occasionally they revisit an article that they printed eons ago, giving you a fresh insight on how accurate or even inaccurate they were in their research. Each month there is a fictional Case Study that tries to mimic the real world. At the end of each Case Study authorities in the case study field give their professional views on what should be done. Occasionally these fictional studies do reflect your own corporate trials and tribulations. There is the `HBR at Large' section and `Best Practice' covers real world practices and their thoughts on them. HBR will teach you a lot. You should know that you probably wouldn't read every article every month. You're looking at 125-175 pages per month and about 100+ pages of content per month - fine print!. Why Buy: Quite possibly the most impressive magazine to have on your desk when anyone steps into your office. It's inevitable, almost everything involves money and business - HBR greatly improves your odds with the business part. As a gift for the business minded person (corporate or entrepreneur) in your life - male, female, romantic, non-romantic.

The HBR Equity - Coffee Table or Boardroom?
HBR is a good read there is no question.It has a history of ground breaking articles published, granted.I thoroughly enjoy it, when I can get it in Poland. Every graduate from a reputable management school should receive a free year's subscription.Most of these readers would renew at the regular price, IMHO.

That acknowledged, I am a public relations practitioner and I have a gripe with HBR.There is not a whole lot representing my profession besides culture change and some interesting HR cases, which I could audit at any university if I so wanted. This makes HBR a soft read for my needs.

I teach public relations to 5th year students at the state university, link MBO and financial results with PR management same as any department would be required.In my capacity as an instructor, I encourage my students to offer counsel and read through P&L's.I encourage them to look at problems with detailed financials and prepare their proposed programs with an understanding of the corporate audience.I encourage research, not only polling publics outside the company but also to take a pulse of the company itself: much like a professional doctor would do with a patient when diagnosing a problem before beginning a procedure.

Granted, there are very few case studies I can use to promote sound PR management thinking rather than the over-predominant "technical" thinking of PR as an extension of a creative communications artform.(O, how I wish for a case with figures like something in Marketing Logistics or Financial Management!) For my money, in PR, there is nothing but artistry and the name of the HBR.I concur with another reviewer, mnetzley, who suggests that the level of presentation between the covers has fallen to the level of a Harlequin romance for business managers: dumbed-down anecdotes, and stories masquerading as case studies, IMO.

For illustration, there was a communications case a couple of years ago dealing with Crisis and the corporate need for good communication.One of the reviewers assessed it right in the post mortem: trouble began before the problem arrived.But this begs two questions: Why wasn't the problem identified before the crisis appeared; and why wasn't THAT tool presented for learning rather than the case itself?It was a nice case as far as it went but it was for the coffee table and not the boardroom.

And that seems to be the level of the HBR these days. Of course, I expect more from the HBR so your mileage may vary.But isn't the cachet of HBR the avant-garde?For me to rate it higher than a three at this stage, I feel I would be doing a disservice to the old magazine that published ground-breaking articles while humouring a brand equity that has lost its vision to its own magnificence.

Great Gift Idea
I'm buying this for my son for Christmas, but I should have been a better businessman.The Harvard Review web site is selling subscriptions for [...], so I paid [...] more than I should have.
[...] ... Read more

Asin: B00005U5EB
Subjects:  1. Business   

U.S. News & World Report
by U. S. News & World Report
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list price: $205.40 -- our price: $24.97
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Where's The News?
When I initally subscribed to USN&WR, I found it to be a well-written news weekly. However, recently, the publishers/editors changed the format of the magazine. Rather than devoting the magazine to delivering news, they have made nearly every issues consist of a "special report" with news filling out what remains ofthe magazine.

These "special reports" range from ranking America's Best Hospitals to a report on ocean ecosystems. The chance that even the slimmest of majorities of these reports will hold your interest is slim. You'd be better off with a subscription to a traditional newspaper, like the Wall Street Journal.

The best in the U.S., but it can be better
This is the best weekly news magazine in the U.S., but only because the competition is so weak, and it could be so much better. First, it covers mostly headline stories; second, it emphasizes U.S. news and carries only token amounts of world news; third, it presents too many "special reports" and feature articles, at the expense of news reporting. On the plus side, the writing is generally clear, informative, and balanced. The only reason I subscribe to The Economist, rather than to U.S. News & World Report, is because I want to know what's going on in the whole world. If U.S. News can give just half of their attention to the other ninety-five percent of the world, I will switch subscriptions in a heartbeat.

The Best News Weekly, Period.
I received "U.S. News" as a gift subscription from a friend who knows me well. I was initially suspicious of a mainstream weekly news magazine, as most of them seem to be stilted leftist rags bent on exploiting suffering people to sell copies. I couldn't have been more wrong about "U.S. News". It is a treasure of unbiased, even-handed, and authoritative reporting and editorials. I had previously read "Newsweek" and "Time", and found them to be insufferably biased (especially "Time") and written at the level of a sixth grader in the case of "Time" or a ninth grader in the case of "Newsweek". Yes, each of those two occasionally produces informative and important articles, but with no regularity or predictability.

"U.S. News" is not glitzy or exciting to read, but what it lacks in glamour it makes up tenfold in quality, authoritative reporting of truly significant stories. It caters to an educated audience, but it is always careful to be concise, yet factually, logically, and analytically detailed in all content. Neither politically correct, nor offensive, the editorial tone is truly that of a tolerant, fair, and balanced publication, while simultaneously keeping highbrow pretensions in check (which is the biggest fault of "The Economist") and never condescending to the readers.

The editors of "U.S. News" do a fabulous job of honesty. Editor-In-Chief Mortimer Zuckerman frequently closes the magazine with the last page. Always balanced, his commentary is always well reasoned and worth reading even when you disagree with him. (For a perfect example of balance look to his editorial on Clinton's autobiography, "Life in the Rearview Mirror", July 12, 2004.) Michael Barone is another columnist always worth reading. His political and social commentaries are both insightful and thought-provoking. I am looking forward to reading his new book. Finally, my favorite of the routine contributors is John Leo. Leo's column, "On Society" is the best analysis of America with both faults and greatness deftly dealt with in some of the most beautiful prose ever written in an editorial column. I can't tell you how many of Leo's columns I have cut out, saved, and re-read over the years. He is a truly inspired thinker and writer.

Certainly there are faults in any magazine with the breadth and depth of coverage that "U.S. News" has, but all the same, it is the one source of news about current events that I find trustworthy above all others.

Thank you John, Michael, Mort and all the rest who make "U.S. News" the premier news publication in the world today. ... Read more

Asin: B00005N7TZ
Sales Rank: 118
Subjects:  1. News & Politics    2. Business News   

Forbes
by Forbes Magazine
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Many magazines publish lists, ranking best and worst and most improved, but Forbes alone can claim its readership is on the list. Each year, the magazine names the richest people and the biggest companies, and those very folks subscribe to this nervy and sly business pub. Forbes covers global business stories with insight, solid sourcing, and the sort of groupie zeal usually reserved for fanzines. No merger, new ad campaign, or lawsuit goes unnoticed and stories always focus on the movers who are shaking things up. Read Forbes to make sense of today's volatile market--or just for the sheer pleasure of reading good reporting. --Edith Sorenson ... Read more

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Watch out for the subscription department
The content of this magazine is equivalent in quality but has a different focus and style than the other major business publications.The editorial pages are best ignored unless you have views that coincide with the publisher.
The main problem with Forbes is the over-aggressive subscription department. Shortly after you subscribe, you'll receive weekly notices that your subscription will expire and you need to renew immediately. If you don't renew three months ahead of expiration, they will stop your subscription and you will miss some issues for which you paid but they will refuse to give you credit.

Excellent
I am young businesswoman and I have found this magazine informative, invaluable and inspiring. I recommended it for anyone who takes pleasure in reading about the triumphs of the most intelligent and resourceful men and women of our time.

Not as good as it used to be
i've been a Forbes reader for more than 20 years. They used to be the best; especially in exposing crooks.but in the last two or three years, they have started mixing political content into the news pages. Their columnists are interesting and have every right to express an opinion - and that's where i expect to find the opinions. but news articles are tending to look more like product placements, written to support a certain point of view instead of to tell both sides of a story impartially. It has becoome the moral equivalent of Fox for business. Fine if you want to read politics, but not where you go for the whole story. ... Read more

Asin: B00005N7QA
Subjects:  1. Business & Investing    2. Management    3. Commerce    4. Business