Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done

by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan

Book Overview

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - More than two million copies in print! The premier resource for how to deliver results in an uncertain world, whether you're running an entire company or in your first management job.

"A must-read for anyone who cares about business."--The New York Times

When Execution was first published, it changed the way we did our jobs by focusing on the critical importance...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0609610570
• ISBN13: 9780609610572
• Release Date: June 2002
• Publisher: Crown Currency
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.6" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Check your own personality for execution traits

What's left to say about this book on execution? With 130 online reviews many issues are covered already. One point's missing, though. Look at the reviews; they are divided into two camps. The reviewers either think this is a mediocre book with very basic ideas (management 101) or they see the light. The latter realize that there's no need for new acronyms or faddy words in the management-speak. "Execution" is about getting things done, being persistent and realistic, as well as managing the 3 core processes; strategy (why? and what?), operations (how?) and people (who?). Building a performance culture is never as easy as it sounds. Looking back a few years, try to recall a few of those companies with great media attention and grand strategic visions. Many of them failed. And many of them will fail again and again, because the heroes are strategic visionaries that never bothered to deal with the issue of execution; continually and personally making sure that things were actually done. You know, when all is said and done, usually more is said than done... If you found this book fascinating, you'll probably have some of the execution traits hidden in your personality preferences. If you want to check it out, you might visit some of free Internet sites for a test (e.g. keirsey.com). For a business, I believe it's paramount to make sure that you have a well-balanced team on all levels in the hierarchy. This also includes having enough executives with execution traits. Advice: Don't assume you have it; test it! Conclusively, this is a great book. I liked it so much that I even also bought the audio version! The reason for the audio version is that these execution ideas simply are needed to be absorbed over several readings (or listenings). Otherwise, you won't be able to start changing your behavior (which you can change, unlike your innate preferences). While commuting, I often turn the CDs on and find it inspiring to forget about traffic jams and just getting the views of Charan and Bossidy in their own voices. However, I do agree that the book easily could have been shorter. Peter Leerskov, MSc in International Business (Marketing & Management) and Graduate Diploma in E-business

Execute optimally!

This book describe a necessary leadership behavior in the Execution paradigm -- Insist on realism. As thinking is the basis of action, this concept requires more exploration and explanation. Prior to the introduction of Optimal Thinking into the corporate world, the pervasive motto was Think Positive. Optimism promotes persistence, but it is a poor strategy when the cost of failure or probability of failure are high. With the current integration of Optimal Thinking into leading corporations, the transformation from AnyCorp (consisting of any thinkers) to Opticorp (consisting of Optimal Thinkers) empowers the corporate culture to practice optimal realism. Optimal Thinkers accept what is out of their control, and optimize what is within their control. Using Optimal Thinking to ask questions like, What is within my/our control here? What are my/our options here? What is the worst event scenario? What is our optimal contingency plan? What is in our best interest? What is our highest priority? What are the best actions we can take to achieve it? What is the best thing you/we can do under the circumstances? empowers us to set clear priorities, and take the most constructive actions to follow through -- essential for optimal leadership and optimized execution. Execution-driven leaders who thrive on accountability and reward performance, must select the right people for the right jobs. This is achieved with Optimal Thinking. Read these two books, get your key people to read them too, and you will OPTIMIZE productivity.

One of the few books about a crucial topic for managers

I found this book to be extremely useful. Larry Bossidy's view is that the main function of a CEO is to manage the nexus between strategy, operations, and people. He outlines practical techniques to do this that are simple to implement, and may seem obvious to some, but will result in measurable performance improvement in your business. Your staff will be happier with clear goals and Rewards linked to Performance, communication will improve, and things will get done.Most companies I have seen, be they large or small, have a big gap between what the Board is trying to do strategically and what people actually do day to day. There are many examples of companies whose strategies sounded great but never really happened, resulting in catastrophic loss of value (eg the AOL Time Warner merger). This is the only management book out of hundreds I have read that tells you how to fill this gap, and make your business achieve its strategic goals.Others here have mentioned Jim Collins. While Built To Last and Good to Great were interesting case studies of successful large companies, they gave me nothing that I could implement immediately in my business. Larry and Ram's book let me bring world class business practices into my small company, as soon as I had finished reading it.

A different management book

This was an atypical management book - rather than focus on "the idea that changes everything" or "the next revolution", it dives into the nuts and bolts of getting things done. In today's economy, this is what we need.The authors bring distinct viewpoints: Larry Bossidy has the hardnosed viewpoints of a product of the GE management machine. He lived through the GE execution culture and reapplied it at the Honeywell. Ram Charan displays the broader view of a business school professor with extensive senior level consulting.The book starts with a self evident description of why execution is needed. It moves into the types of behaviors a leader should exhibit, and how they set up the framework for change. It concludes with the three major processes an execution oriented leader should run: people, strategy and operations.Yes - the book is generic, but it has to be to reach a broad audience. The concept of focusing on all 3 areas: people, strategy and operations is obvious, but important. In the context of calling them processes - it becomes a discipline. The general management focus and need for ongoing persistance is valuable to people of all levels.There are some interesting ties to other management gurus. Tom Peters - as outlandish as he may be - is also big on getting things done. Deming's quality approach is ultimately about application. Collins in Built to Last focuses on execution - the steady and stable leader trumps the charistmatic showpiece. The ideas developed here have been building for some time. Their time to come to the front of every executive's thought is now.The book does have a few knocks:- If Bossidy built such a great culture for success at Honeywell, why did it fall apart immediately after his exit?- Is there any hard research behind this? (With a former Harvard and Kellogg alum, you'd expect some)- There is much less focus on the customers than one would expect.Despite these small misgivings, this is most definitely a useful read for any manager or aspiring leader.

How, Why, and Why Not

This may well prove to be one of the most influential business books published in recent years. In it, Bossidy and Charan (with Charles Burck) focus on what effective execution involves. Having read or observed interviews of Bossidy, I realized while reading this book that his is the primary role in the collaboration. Mercifully, the reader is spared vague theories as well as buzzing words and overheated phrases. Anchored in a wealth of real-world business experience, the book's core insights could be of substantial value to literally anyone who currently has problems "getting things done", doing them well, and on-time. In the first chapter, the authors identify what they call "the gap nobody knows." That is somewhat hyperbolic. Obviously Bossidy and Charan are aware of it as are, presumably, countless other decision-makers in various companies which sustain profitability while attracting and then retaining "the best and the brightest" people, often from competitor companies. In any event, the authors correctly stress the importance of eliminating the gap between recognizing what must be done and getting it done. The authors focus on three former CEOs of major corporations, each of whom they hold in high regard: Richard A. McGinn (Lucent Technologies) G. Richard Thoman (Xerox), and C. Michael Armstrong (AT & T). However, McGinn was "clearly out of touch" with day-to-day operations during his last year as CEO. For whatever reasons, Thoman lacked two essential "building blocks": the right people in key positions on his management team, and, appropriate core processes by which to implement his strategy, one which the authors view as being sound. As for Armstrong, the ambitious growth strategy he pursued was "disconnected from both external and internal realities" such as the regulatory climate at that time and the AT & T culture which was resistant to the major changes which Armstrong's strategy required. These three examples illustrate that even those with exceptional intelligence, energy, and character can fail to achieve their worthy objectives. The authors acknowledge that "Shaping the broad picture into a set of executable actions is analytical, and it's a huge intellectual, and emotional challenge." Some organizations and their leaders succeed. This book explains how. Most organizations and their leaders do not. This book explains why.Some readers of this review may incorrectly infer from my comments thus far that this book was written primarily for and about senior-level corporate executives. For that reason, I reiterate that all of the observations, evaluations, and suggestions provided in this book are directly relevant to almost anyone in any organization (regardless of size or nature) who is expected to "get things done," whatever those "things" may be. I agree completely with Noel Tichy (author of The Leadership Engine) that every organization needs aggressive and productive initiative at all levels. Including the word "discipline" in