63 pages 2 hours read

Jim Collins

Good to Great

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2001

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Before Reading

Reading Context

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What are the qualities associated with effective leadership? Why is teamwork important within the workplace?

Teaching Suggestion: Jim Collins’s Good to Great explores key elements that can be implemented to take companies from good to great. Among these key elements are effective leadership and teamwork. Consider permitting students to answer the questions before reading the articles to inspire discussion. Then consider creating a list of the elements in each article for students to compare as they read the book.

  • This article explores the characteristics of good leaders.
  • This article analyzes examples of teamwork in various business models.

Short Activity

Identify the qualities and strengths that are typically associated with a great company. Consider these points in your discussion:

  • What factors may identify a company as great?
  • What are the qualities of an effective leader?
  • Is teamwork important in the work environment? Why or why not?
  • Is there a connection between passion and profit?
  • What is the most important pursuit of a company?

·        What is the role of adversity within a team?