Jim Collins, a national best seller, wrote the book “Good to Great.” In this book, he and a research team analyzed hundred’s of companies with the goal of identifying what characteristics or attributes are found in companies that have gone from being “Good Companies” and made the leap to becoming “Great Companies.” One of the key points arising from his research is what is now called the “Hedgehog Concept”.
Rather than always trying to come up with fancy new corporate programs or marketing schemes the companies that made the leap to greatness were like the hedgehog, focusing their efforts on one simple concept.
Every organization that wants to be great must take the time to analyze their own three circles and focus on what fits in the intersection of all three. Once this focus is gained they will be well on their way to becoming great.
A few notes about the Hedgehog Concept:
- It takes years to develop.
- It should be the measuring stick for evaluating everything about how a company is run.
- Consensus decision making is negatively correlated with going from good to great.
- Finding your hedgehog concept is the intersection of the following three circles.
