Collins and Porras examined 18 exceptional companies and compared them to one of their direct competitors. After 6 years of research, they determined that there were consistent differences between them to differentiate a truly great company from a good one. The main thesis of the book is that these superior companies focused more on creating a great organization or company rather than on any specific task, ie - making profit, creating a product, making a business plan, etc.Specifically, these companies developed a core ideology - an inner culture, "the organization's essential and enduring tenets," their true character. This core ideology transcended even charismatic individual CEO's and leaders, their particular business model and their products. This was who they are as an organization that has lasted for some of these companies, over 100 years.
But as important as the core ideology is to these visionary companies, they are only part of the process. This core ideology never changes, but everything else can. That is the other side of the coin so to speak. These companies preserve the core ideology while stimulating progress in 5 specific ways - through big hairy audacious goals (BHAG's), cult-like cultures, try a lot of stuff and keep what works, home-grown management and good enough never is (a relentless drive to improve).
What astounded me was how biblical this process is. First off these visionary companies are what the church should be. The church should be the most impressive and amazing organization on earth. Second, the church has a core ideology that should never change - sound biblical theology found in the inerrant Word of God. This ideology should be preached consistently, taught effectively and implemented consistently in every area of the church as it is done in these companies. Third, and this is where so many churches have dropped the ball, the church should be stimulating progress in how we apply sound biblical theology. We should have BHAG's (after all, God has the most audacious power and ability to achieve amazing goals), Christians should have a fanatic commitment to the church as an organization and to one another, the church should be fearless in its ability to try any type of ministry that's consistent with sound biblical theology and keep what works, the church should be making the ultimate home grown management in faithful teachers and elders, and Christians should have a relentless pursuit of holiness and transformation above all others.
Collins made a very interesting observation that was part of his thesis. He called it the "Tyranny of the Or," that is embracing "the Genius of And." His point was that most companies and people make everything a binary decision. It is either this or that. You can make a profit or be altruistic to others. You can be values driven (driven by principles) or be pragmatic. But in reality, these companies figured out how to be both profitable AND altruistic, driven by values AND pragmatic. He writes this:
- We're not talking about mere balance here. 'Balance' implies going to the midpoint, fifty-fifty, half and half. A visionary company doesn't seek balance between short-term and long-term, for example. It seeks to do very well in the short-term and long-term. A visionary company doesn't simply balance between idealism and profitability; it seeks to be highly idealistic and highly profitable. A visionary company doesn't simply balance between preserving a tightly held core ideology and stimulating vigorous change and movement; it does both to an extreme. [italics his]
I find this same dynamic in a church. Often times the choice is between being very biblical or being very practical; being very conservative or being open to new people. But the reality is, we should be both deeply biblical AND very practical; soundly theological AND very pragmatic; cherishing traditions AND welcoming new ideas and people. Not because this book proved it, but because THE Book advocates these ideas. Collins and Porras simply made great observations about these biblical principles in companies.
If you're into books on organizational leadership, this is a great one.
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