Beyond Performance

About the Author

Scott Keller and Colin Price are renowned experts in the field of organizational behavior and transformational change. Keller, a director at McKinsey & Co., leads the firm's transformational change practice in the Americas. His work focuses on helping organizations achieve and sustain transformational change, emphasizing the importance of both performance and health. Keller has published numerous articles on change management and organizational behavior, and he is also a co-founder of Digital Divide Data, a social enterprise aimed at empowering disadvantaged individuals.

Colin Price, also a director at McKinsey, leads the organization practice worldwide. He has extensive experience advising some of the world's largest corporations, national governments, and charitable institutions. Price has authored several books, including "Mergers" and "Vertical Take-Off," which explore various aspects of organizational strategy and effectiveness. Together, Keller and Price bring a wealth of knowledge and practical experience to "Beyond Performance: How Great Organizations Build Ultimate Competitive Advantage," offering valuable insights into achieving sustainable success in today's dynamic business environment.

Main Idea

The central theme of "Beyond Performance" is the concept of balancing organizational performance with health to achieve sustainable success. Keller and Price argue that while performance metrics such as profitability and market share are crucial, they are not sufficient on their own. Organizational health, which includes factors like employee engagement, leadership effectiveness, and a culture of continuous improvement, is equally important. The book emphasizes that neglecting organizational health can lead to a decline in performance over time, even if short-term results are strong.

The authors introduce the "Five Frames of Performance and Health," a framework designed to help leaders manage both aspects simultaneously. These frames—Aspire, Assess, Architect, Act, and Advance—provide a structured approach to diagnosing an organization's current state, setting strategic goals, and implementing changes to improve both performance and health. The book draws on extensive research and real-world examples to illustrate how this approach can lead to long-term competitive advantage.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Part I: Why Performance Is Not Enough
3. Part II: The Five Frames
4. Part III: Putting It All Together
5. Conclusion

Introduction

In the introduction, Keller and Price set the stage by highlighting the challenges organizations face in maintaining long-term success. They cite research showing that only a third of companies that achieve high performance can sustain it over time. The authors argue that this is due to a narrow focus on performance metrics at the expense of organizational health. They introduce the concept of the "Five Frames of Performance and Health," which serves as the foundation for the rest of the book.