Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…and Others Don’t by Jim Collins

This book cuts straight to the heart of good leadership within an organization. Collins takes a look at a dozen companies that have managed to build large scale sustainable businesses and provides insight into their executive strategies and cultures. The big lesson: hire smart, motivated people, explain the goals, and then reward behaviors that contribute to long term success. Sounds simple but there are many counter-intuitive findings and there are many bad attitudes and behaviors that need to be unlearned.

 Of particular interest is a chapter entitled Technology Accelerators, in which he reveals the role technology (should) play in long-term business strategy. I found the chapter to be very relevant to software architecture. I encounter situations everyday where the lessons from this book can be applied. It’s a fast read with lots of great leadership stories.

Check out my Architect Bookshelf compilation for more recommendations for software architects.