What America Does Right

What America Does Right examines successful American companies and organizations to identify their winning management practices and organizational cultures. Through extensive research and interviews, Waterman profiles businesses that have maintained excellence through innovation, employee empowerment, and customer focus. The book presents case studies from companies across industries, documenting their specific approaches to leadership, operations, and human resource management. Waterman analyzes how these organizations cultivate employee engagement, adapt to change, and sustain competitive advantages in their markets. The text includes practical frameworks and real-world examples that demonstrate effective organizational strategies in action. It outlines key principles that have enabled American enterprises to thrive, from decentralized decision-making to results-driven cultures. This work challenges the narrative of American industrial decline by highlighting the fundamental strengths and adaptability of U.S. business practices. The examples serve as both a validation of successful American management philosophies and a blueprint for organizational transformation.

Readers appreciate Waterman's focus on successful American companies and management practices that worked in the 1990s. The case studies of companies like Merck, Dana Corporation, and Motorola provide actionable insights into employee empowerment and organizational effectiveness. Common criticisms note that the examples feel dated, with several profiled companies later experiencing major setbacks. Some readers point out that the book presents an overly optimistic view and doesn't critically examine potential downsides of the featured management approaches. Review highlights: "Good historical perspective but limited modern relevance" - Amazon reviewer "The principles still apply even if the companies don't" - Goodreads reader Ratings: Amazon: 3.8/5 (12 reviews) Goodreads: 3.5/5 (24 ratings) The book has limited recent reviews online, with most dating from the 1990s when it was first published. The majority of current discussion appears in academic management courses rather than general business readership.

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🔷 Robert H. Waterman Jr. co-authored "In Search of Excellence" (1982) with Tom Peters, which became one of the best-selling business books of all time, staying on the New York Times bestseller list for three years 🔷 "What America Does Right" (1994) was written as a counter-narrative to the widespread pessimism about American business competitiveness against Japanese companies in the early 1990s 🔷 The book features in-depth studies of 12 American companies that were thriving during a period when many believed U.S. business was in decline, including Merck, Rubbermaid, and ServiceMaster 🔷 Waterman conducted over 300 interviews with employees at various levels across the featured companies to gather material for the book 🔷 The research revealed that successful American companies shared a common trait of treating their employees as assets rather than costs, a revolutionary concept for many businesses at the time