Lord Sugar names new Apprentice

BBC News – Lord Sugar names new Apprentice

Have to say I didn’t think too much of any of the business plans in the end, but I think the right bloke won.

Good to Great (part 2)

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t – management book by James C Collins that aims to describe how companies transition from being average companies to great companies and how companies can fail to make the transition

Seven characteristics of companies that went “from good to great”

• Level 5 Leadership: Leaders who are humble, but driven to do what’s best for the company.
• First Who, Then What: Get the right people on the bus, then figure out where to go. Finding the right people and trying them out in different positions.
• Confront the Brutal Facts: The Stockdale paradox – Confront the brutal truth of the situation, yet at the same time, never give up hope.
• Hedgehog Concept: Three overlapping circles: What lights your fire (“passion”)? What could you be best in the world at (“best at”) What makes you money (“driving resource”)?
• Culture of Discipline: Rinsing the cottage cheese.
• Technology Accelerators: Using technology to accelerate growth, within the three circles of the hedgehog concept.
• The Flywheel: The additive effect of many small initiatives; they act on each other like compound interest.

That’s what he said – I’m interested in finding out what is needed to take Lancashire Care from good to great, or more like trying to do something about it.