Building the Best: Lessons from Inside Canada's Best Managed Companies

Robert W. Sexty is a professor of commerce and business administration
at Memorial University of Newfoundland. He is the author of Canadian
Business: Issues and Stakeholders.

Compiled by business writer Douglas Hunter and two Deloitte & Touche
consulting partners, Building the Best profiles 10 “best managed”
companies that were selected based on 10 criteria for management
excellence. The companies include such recognizable names as Boston
Pizza, Harry Rosen, PCL Construction, and Cirque du Soleil.

Each chapter profiles a company and illustrates a fundamental principle
of corporate success, such as “managing the risks associated with
growth” and “capitalizing on technology solutions.” At the end of
each chapter is an overview—dubbed “the Deloitte
perspective”—that identifies lessons illustrated by the company’s
profile and provides subject-specific guidance. Web addresses are given
for readers wishing to learn more about “Canada’s 50 Best Managed
Companies,” an awards program sponsored by Deloitte & Touche LLP, CIBC
Commercial Banking, the National Post, and Queen’s School of Business.


The profiles do provide some insight into successful businesses, but
those interested in the topic of “best practices” would benefit more
from reading the daily business media and the in-depth analysis provided
by numerous books on Canadian business and entrepreneurs.