Peak Performance: Business Lessons From The World's Top Sports Organizations [Hardcover]

The world’s best sports organizations reveal how their teams keep on winning – and how any business can use their methods to get to the top and stay there.

Teams such as the Australian Cricket Team, FC Bayern Munich, the All Blacks and Williams Formula 1 have all experienced unparalleled success in their sports, maintained year after year even as individuals on the team come and go. In today’s highly competitive global market place these teams can remain in contention only if all the key elements are perfectly balanced and executed, from branding and marketing to training, selection and youth development.

In their search for the principles of excellence the authors analysed the highly effective organizations which carry out the operations behind the scenes which enable the teams to achieve these astonishing levels of success, amassing hard evidence and interviewing key inspirational players both on and off the field.

Icons such as Michael Jordan, Frank Williams, Franz Beckenbauer, Sir Donald Bradman, Sir Peter Blake and Jonah Lomu are among the many figures who assisted them in their research.

The result is the elite theory of Peak Performing Organizations (PPO). The authors have identified consistent practices for nurturing peak performance and key techniques which will unlock effectiveness – lessons which can be applied to all business to achieve sustainable success.

Combining compelling stories of sporting endeavour and innovatory business theory grounded in explicit data, this exciting book is indispensable reading for managers, directors and business students.

An in-depth study of Procter & Gamble, the consummate peak performer, shows peak performance theory in action in business.

The world's best sports organisations reveal how their teams keep on winning – and how any business can use their methods to get to the top and stay there.

These organisations have all experienced unparalleled success in their sports, maintained year after year, even as the team players themselves come and go. The teams can remain in contention in today's highly competitive global market place only if all the key elements are perfectly balanced and executed – from branding and marketing to training, selection and youth development.

To analyse the highly effective organisations behind these astonishing records of global domination, the authors set off on a sports fan'' dream journey around the world, amassing hard evidence and interviewing key inspirational players both on and off the field. Normally inaccessible icons such as Michael Jordan, Frank Williams, Franz Beckenbauer, Sir Donald Bradman, Sir Peter Blake and Jonah Lomu are among the many figures who assisted them in their search for the secrets of excellence.

The result is the elite theory of Peak Performing Organisations (PPO). By studying the teams' very different organisational stories, the authors have identified consistent practices for nurturing sustained peak performance and the key techniques which will unlock effectiveness – lessons which can be applied to all businesses to achieve sustainable success. Kevin Roberts, CEO of Saatchi and Saatchi, is already championing this theory and using its principles to reposition his company world-wide, and an in-depth study of Procter and Gamble, the consummate corporate peak performer, shows the theory in action.

Combining compelling stories of sporting endeavour at the highest levels of human performance with innovatory business theory grounded in explicit data, 'Peak performance' offers an exciting new way of thinking which supersedes traditional organisational theory.

The authors are affiliated with the Waikato Management School at the |University of Waikato in New Zealand.

Professor Clive Gilson holds a chair in human resource management. He has published numerous journal articles and is Editor of the Electronic Journal of Radical Organisation Theory.

Professor Michael Pratt is dean of the Waikato Management School and a specialist in management accounting, auditing and leadership.

Dr Kevin Roberts is the CEO of Saatchi and Saatchi worldwide. He is a board member of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union.

Associate Professor Ed Weymes designed the executive MBA programme at Waikato University. He is now Director for the Centre of Executive Education at the University.