Free Essays on Built To Last

â€Å"Built To Last†: A Study in Visionary Business Most theories of management are based on a structured set of definitive principles from which executive business strategies are intended to proceed. Such practical organizational guidelines as the formation of a coherent and focused mission, the endowments of a talented leader and a trained attentiveness to the development of a single, visionary product are commonly incurred in the theoretical discourse. Collins and Porras, however, have conducted a study regarding the historical, economical and philosophical impetus behind those corporate entities which we have come today to recognize as visionary. Classified as visionary for both their unique virtuosity in their chosen discipline(s) and for their status as culturally pervasive icons of perpetuating importance, the major corporations included in the study are selected for their capacity to illustrate the factors that make a visionary company. In order to accomplish this, the business theorists employ a case by case study in which visionary companies are marked by one of any number of factors against close competitors in their respective fields. The methodology is intended â€Å"to identify the underlying characteristics and dynamics common to highly visionary companies†¦and to translate these findings into a useful conceptual framework† (Collins, 12). This goal is also intended to be buffeted with an effective conveyance of the principles in an executable way that may be taken on by future associates to would-be visionary companies. Each case which the writers consider in order to accomplish this two-fold goal is centered around determining what fundamentally sets the visionary company apart from the control company. In each case, the data yielded is proposed to offer a framework for the route to visionary status. The study incorporates thirty six companies; eighteen visionary and eighteen control organizations. As a study on the dive... Free Essays on Built To Last Free Essays on Built To Last â€Å"Built To Last†: A Study in Visionary Business Most theories of management are based on a structured set of definitive principles from which executive business strategies are intended to proceed. Such practical organizational guidelines as the formation of a coherent and focused mission, the endowments of a talented leader and a trained attentiveness to the development of a single, visionary product are commonly incurred in the theoretical discourse. Collins and Porras, however, have conducted a study regarding the historical, economical and philosophical impetus behind those corporate entities which we have come today to recognize as visionary. Classified as visionary for both their unique virtuosity in their chosen discipline(s) and for their status as culturally pervasive icons of perpetuating importance, the major corporations included in the study are selected for their capacity to illustrate the factors that make a visionary company. In order to accomplish this, the business theorists employ a case by case study in which visionary companies are marked by one of any number of factors against close competitors in their respective fields. The methodology is intended â€Å"to identify the underlying characteristics and dynamics common to highly visionary companies†¦and to translate these findings into a useful conceptual framework† (Collins, 12). This goal is also intended to be buffeted with an effective conveyance of the principles in an executable way that may be taken on by future associates to would-be visionary companies. Each case which the writers consider in order to accomplish this two-fold goal is centered around determining what fundamentally sets the visionary company apart from the control company. In each case, the data yielded is proposed to offer a framework for the route to visionary status. The study incorporates thirty six companies; eighteen visionary and eighteen control organizations. As a study on the dive...

The History Behind Sociology

The History Behind Sociology Although sociology has its roots in the works of philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, and Confucius, it is a relatively new academic discipline. It emerged in the early 19th century in response to the challenges of modernity. Increasing mobility and technological advances resulted in the increasing exposure of people to cultures and societies different from their own. The impact of this exposure was varied, but for some people, it included the breakdown of traditional norms and customs and warranted a revised understanding of how the world works. Sociologists responded to these changes by trying to understand what holds social groups together and also to explore possible solutions to the breakdown of social solidarity. Thinkers of the Enlightenment period in the 18th century also helped set the stage for the sociologists who would follow. This period was the first time in history that thinkers tried to provide general explanations of the social world. They were able to detach themselves, at least in principle, from expounding some existing ideology and to attempt to lay down general principles that explained social life. The Birth of Sociology as a Discipline The term sociology was coined by French philosopher Auguste Comte in 1838, who for this reason is known as the â€Å"Father of Sociology.† Comte felt that science could be used to study the social world. Just as there are testable facts regarding gravity and other natural laws, Comte thought that scientific analyses could also discover the laws governing our social lives. It was in this context that Comte introduced the concept of positivism to sociology - a way to understand the social world based on scientific facts. He believed that, with this new understanding, people could build a better future. He envisioned a process of social change in which sociologists played crucial roles in guiding society. Other events of that time period also influenced the development of sociology. The 19th and 20th centuries were times of many social upheavals and changes in the social order that interested the early sociologists. The political revolutions sweeping Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries led to a focus on social change and the establishment of social order that still concerns sociologists today. Many early sociologists were also concerned with the Industrial Revolution and the rise of capitalism and socialism. Additionally, the growth of cities and religious transformations were causing many changes in people’s lives. Other classical theorists of sociology from the late 19th and early 20th centuries include Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim,  Max Weber, W.E.B. DuBois, and Harriet Martineau. As pioneers in sociology, most of the early sociological thinkers were trained in other academic disciplines, including history, philosophy, and economics. The diversity of their training is reflected in the topics they researched, including religion, education, economics, inequality, psychology, ethics, philosophy, and theology. These pioneers of sociology all had a vision of using sociology to call attention to social concerns and bring about social change. In Europe, for example, Karl Marx teamed with wealthy industrialist Friedrich Engels to address class inequality. Writing during the Industrial Revolution, when many factory owners were lavishly wealthy and many factory workers despairingly poor, they attacked the rampant inequalities of the day and focused on the role of capitalist economic structures in perpetuating these inequalities. In Germany, Max Weber was active in politics while in France, Emile Durkheim advocated for educational reform. In Britain, Harriet Martineau advocated for the rights of girls and women, and in the U.S., W.E.B. DuBois focused on the problem of racism. The Modern History of Sociology The growth of sociology as an academic discipline in the United States coincided with the establishment and upgrading of many universities that were including a new focus on graduate departments and curricula on â€Å"modern subjects.† In 1876, Yale University’s William Graham Sumner taught the first course identified as â€Å"sociology† in the United States. The University of Chicago established the first graduate department of sociology in the United States in 1892 and by 1910, most colleges and universities were offering sociology courses. Thirty years later, most of these schools had established sociology departments. Sociology was first taught in high schools in 1911. Sociology was also growing in Germany and France during this period. However, in Europe, the discipline suffered great setbacks as a result of World Wars I and II. Many sociologists were killed or fled Germany and France between 1933 and the end of World War II. After World War II, sociologists returned to Germany influenced by their studies in America. The result was that American sociologists became the world leaders in theory and research for many years. Sociology has grown into a diverse and dynamic discipline, experiencing a proliferation of specialty areas. The American Sociological Association (ASA) was formed in 1905 with 115 members. By the end of 2004, it had grown to almost 14,000 members and more than 40 â€Å"sections† covering specific areas of interest. Many other countries also have large national sociology organizations. The International Sociological Association (ISA) boasted more than 3,300 members in 2004 from 91 different countries. The ISA sponsored research committees covering more than 50 different areas of interest, covering topics as diverse as children, aging, families, law, emotions, sexuality, religion, mental health, peace and war, and work. Sources About ASA. American Sociological Association, 2019. Statutes of the International Sociological Association. International Sociological Association.