Enduring Success
Enduring Success addresses a key question in business today: How can companies succeed over time? To learn the source of enduring greatness, author Christian Stadler directed a team of eight researchers in a six-year study of some of Europe's oldest and most stellar companies, targeting nine that have survived for more than 100 years and have significantly outperformed the market over the past fifty years. Readers may wonder, "Why European companies?" Yet, Europe is the ideal place to seek the key to long-term success; half of the Fortune Global 500 companies that are 100 years old or older can be found in Europe, as can 72 of the 100 oldest family businesses in the world.
Fifteen years after Collins and Porras' Built to Last, this new book incorporates fresh insights from management science and provides the first non-US perspective on long-range success. Through Stadler's study, a counterintuitive story emerges: the greatest companies adapt to a constantly changing environment by being intelligently conservative. Enduring Success provides a coherent framework, grounded in five principles and practical concepts, for business leaders who are prepared to learn from the history of some of the world's greatest institutions. Please visit the author's YouTube channel www.youtube.com/user/StadlerChristian for more discussion of the book.
"Contrary to much of the modern management literature, Christian Stadler's study is based on the observation of historical facts over sufficiently long periods to be sure that the reasons for sustainable business success (or failure!) have become visible. A must read!"—Arie de Geus, Bestelling author of The Living Company
"Christian Stadler's analysis of business history is a source of inspiration for the future. As an executive, its perspective and insights keep you humble. Moreover, it is delightful reading."—Jeroen van der Veer, Former CEO of Shell
"Christian Stadler defines clear principles for persistent business achievement; ones that Nokia continues to adopt in driving for success."—Jorma Ollila, Chairman of Nokia
"Christian Stadler's suggestions are surprising, sometimes provocative. A great inspiration for consultants and leaders who want to make enduring success a reality."—Burkhard Schwenker, CEO, Roland Berger Strategy Consultants
"Without understanding the lessons of history, we are doomed to repeat them. Enduring Success provides well-reasoned grounding in those lessons in a world that is increasingly turbulent and risky, and where the longer term view is more important than ever."—Chris Zook, Head of Global Strategy Practice, Bain & Company, Bestselling author of Profit from the Core
"By identifying and acting on behaviors that increase longevity, humans have greatly extended the average life span. If human life expectancy lengthened through identification of longevity factors, why can't companies'? This work will help organizations identify strategies to enable longer 'lives.'"—Vicki R. TenHaken, Professor of Management, Hope College, Former Executive Vice President of Strategy, Herman Miller, Inc.
"This book presents core concepts that explain why implementation lies at the intersection of environment, strategy, and organization. Stadler explains these principles with terrific examples. I really enjoyed reading about each company and this helped to expand my thinking. I cannot say that for most business books that I read."—Sayan Chatterjee, Professor of Policy, Case Western Reserve University and author of Failsafe Strategies
