In Search of Excellence

In Search of Excellence sold over 3 million copies in its first four years and captured the imagination of the business world. Tom Peters and Robert Waterman, two little known McKinsey consultants became "household" names in the business world. By studying 43 successful companies, they sought to determine what it was that made an excellent business. The book has continued to be a best selling success, despite critics pointing out that two-thirds of its "excellent" companies have since faded in performance. So what is it about this book that ensures its enduring success? Does it have any relevance since its first publication in 1982?

Peters and Waterman used the 7 S Model, developed by McKinsey, as their framework for analysing successful companies. The model itself is a very useful tool and "In Search of Excellence" shows how it can be applied. Secondly they developed eight attributes which they felt best characterised what made an organisation excellent. These 8 factors have become very well known but, as Peters and Waterman confess, were not new.

Through "In Search of Excellence", both the 7 S model and the 8 attributes first became popularised, then gained importance through that popularity. It may well be that the continuing value of the book is that it brought, and continues to bring, important messages to the world of business.

What is the 7 S Model?

The model is a way of ensuring that you look at both the "hard" and the so called "soft" aspects of a business. Investigations into how well organisations work often focus, almost exclusively, on strategies and structures. In contrast, the 7 S model goes beyond this, analysing a network of significant factors, with shared values at the centre.

1. Structure
2. Strategy
3. Systems
4. Shared values
5. Skills
6. Style
7. Staff

As Peters and Waterman then explained: "Our findings were a pleasant surprise. The project showed, more than we could have hoped for, that the excellent companies were, above all, brilliant on the basics. Tools didn't substitute for thinking. Intellect didn't overpower wisdom. Analysis didn't impede action. Rather, these companies worked hard to keep things simple in a complex world. They persisted. They insisted on top quality."

From this analysis Peters and Waterman drew the 8 attributes they felt best represented what an excellent organisation does. The best organisations stress:

1. A Bias for Action.
Getting on with the job in hand, not subject to paralysis by analaysis. They come up with answers and they implement them.
2. Closeness to the Customer.
They learn from the people they serve. They listen intently and regularly to their customers.
3. Autonomy and Entrepreneurship.
They foster many leaders and innovators throughout the organisation. They encourage creativity and tolerate mistakes.
4. Productivity through People.
Their people are the root source of quality and productivity, not their capital investment.
5. Hands-on, Value Driven Focus.
It's clear what the company stands for. Shaping the values of the organisation is important to an excellent organisation
6. Sticking to the Knitting
They stuck reasonably closely to the business they know.
7. Simple Form, Lean Staff
Form and structures were elegantly simple, and top-level staffing is particularly lean.
8. Simultaneous Loose-Tight Properties
They were both centralised and decentralised. For the most part, autonomy is pushed to the lowest level and encouraged. However, through their core values, they maintain a centralised way of doing things

In Search of Excellence was first published in 1982. It's often quoted and referred to, so even if you haven't read it, you'll almost certainly have heard about it. Why not take time to read this book. Or, if you read the book some time ago, it may be time to re-read and re-discover.

Some Suggestions to Get the Most From This Book.

Perhaps the success of "In Search of Excellence" was the way it popularised some good ideas. It also launched the career of Tom Peters as a dynamic and motivational speaker. On the Happy Manager site we've used much of Tom Peter's challenging and often provocative material. Why not read some of these articles alongside "In Search of Excellence"?

Define Leadership Excellence? Easier Said than Done!
Career Goal Setting Nothing Great Was Ever Achieved Without Enthusiasm.
What Makes a Happy Company?

We've also collected short video clips of Tom Peters from various articles around the site in our Business Videos for the Busy Manager

Or why not look at our other recommended Tom Peters books....

Interested in Other Leadership Books?

Interested in other books on leadership and management? Then click on the blue header on our Happy Manager bookshop link, in the left hand margin (UK visitors click on the red box). You'll find many of the books on offer with up to 30% off list price.

If you found this page useful or interesting please share it by adding it to your favourite social bookmarking site:

And be sure to subscribe to our RSS feed for regular updates from the Happy Manager!

Back to Bookshop from In Search of Excellence

Back to Top

	Enter your searchtermsSubmit search form
	Web www.the-happy-manager.com

If you have any comments or views about this page, we'd love to hear and share them. Please let us know here.

Back to Top

|Home Page| |Site Map| |Site Search| |Contact Us| |What's New|

|Free Articles| |Free Tools| |Bookshop||Legal Statement| |XML/RSS|