Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies

Collins and Porras initiated their research for Built to Last in 1988 and published it in 1994, marking one of the first attempts to quantify business success scientifically. Even three decades later, many consider the book essential for entrepreneurs and managers. While its content has been scrutinized in the years after publication, it remains both important and relevant to its audience today.

The enduring impact of Built to Last on the business world is undeniable. Concepts like BHAGs (Big Hairy Audacious Goals) and the development of core ideologies introduced in the book have become integral to standard business practices. The work contributed to the establishment of Jim Collins’s management laboratory and laid the foundation for his subsequent research in the Good to Great series.

Historically, 1994 marked the cusp of profound economic and business transformations. The conclusion of the Cold War in 1991 prompted a worldwide shift towards globalization (US Department of State. “U.S. and German Economic Trends and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.” U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Germany). The 1990s witnessed a departure from the ethos that defined the “greed decade” of the 1980s, as employees and consumers increasingly prioritized ethical business practices and quality over mere cost-cutting (US State Department).