How the Mighty Fall 强大企业的兴衰

Declinecanbeavoided.Declinecanbedetected.Declinecanbereversed.Amidstthedesolatelandscapeoffallengreatcompanies,JimCollinsbegantowonder:Howdothemightyfall?Candeclinebedetectedearlyandavoided?Howfarcanacompanyfallbeforethepathtowarddoombecomesinevitableandunshakable?Howcancompaniesreversecourse?InHowtheMightyFall,Collinsconfrontsthesequestions,offeringleadersthewell-foundedhopethattheycanlearnhowtostaveoffdeclineand,iftheyfindthemselvesfalling,reversetheircourse.Collins'researchproject-morethanfouryearsinduration-uncoveredfivestep-wisestagesofdecline:Stage1:HubrisBornofSuccess;Stage2:UndisciplinedPursuitofMore;Stage3:DenialofRiskandPeril;Stage4:GraspingforSalvation;and,Stage5:CapitulationtoIrrelevanceorDeath.Byunderstandingthesestagesofdecline,leaderscansubstantiallyreducetheirchancesoffallingallthewaytothebottom.Greatcompaniescanstumble,badly,andrecover.Everyinstitution,nomatterhowgreat,isvulnerabletodecline.Thereisnolawofnaturethatthemostpowerfulwillinevitablyremainatthetop.Anyonecanfallandmosteventuallydo.But,asCollins'researchemphasizes,somecompaniesdoindeedrecover-insomecases,comingbackevenstronger-evenafterhavingcrashedintothedepthsofStage4.Decline,itturnsout,islargelyself-inflicted,andthepathtorecoverylieslargelywithinourownhands.Wearenotimprisonedbyourcircumstances,ourhistory,orevenourstaggeringdefeatsalongtheway.Aslongaswenevergetentirelyknockedoutofthegame,hopealwaysremains.Themightycanfall,buttheycanoftenriseagain.