Sacred Cows Make the Best Burgers: Developing Change-Driving People and Organizations

by Robert J. Kriegel, David Brandt

Sacred cows--outdated and costly business practices such as the reports that are never read or a slow-down of innovative ideas--exist in every company. Inspired by insights gained from more than 450 programs conducted with all types of organizations, the authors of SACRED COWS MAKE THE BEST BURGERS show how corporations can kill off the sacred cows that are crippling them.

Genres: Business, Leadership, Buisness

320 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1997

Reviews

[Dennis Henn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The authors may have milked the idea dry by the halfway point of the book.
The best parts of the book are the many examples from the business world of how sacred cows trample our business pastures and how sending the cows to the butcher can enhance our business. Nothing in the book can make you more visionary. Some parts may enable you to be more reactionary. So recruit a visionary if you hope to succeed. Know that we are creatures of habit who memorialize the good old days. The church, particularly, labors under this enshrinement.
Best chapters may be Turning Resistance into Drivability and Motivating People to Change.

[Xavier University Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

business model for nontraditonal business or at least change process within an agency. provides a good insight into the stuff that holds us back from creating and embracing changes to organization structure

[John Robben · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would prefer to give this 3.5- there’s some good stuff I this book and it’s an easy read.

[Michael Watts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Familiar concept. Now dated, but still applicable

[Sandie Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting perspective on business models, I rather enjoyed it, probably because I have a few of my own sacred cows 🐄

[Julianne Dunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recently finished "Sacred Cows Make the Best Burgers: Developing Change-Driving People and Organizations", recommended by Bob Gee for my #2014ReadingChallenge. While this was published in the 90s, the main premise is still very relevant. We all have holy habits that we accept as unchangeable and we don't regularly re-evaluate their usefulness and efficiency, both as individuals and as organizations. Like most business books, the case studies are outdated and I know that some of these businesses have since closed. It would be interesting to see an update from the authors that analyzes what caused those businesses to fail and if those causes were related to this book's principles.

[Adrian Royce · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sacred Cows has some good messages in it but has a feeling of datedness leading to what amounts to be a shallow read nowadays. Issues brought about by "sacred cows" are now being very effectively dealt with by other strategies not touched on in the book. The sacred cows also tend to overlap making the first part of the book overly long. That being said it is a very easy read and on some levels entertaining. The text should be revised by its authors to make it more relevant in the modern corporate world.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's amazing when you read from a book and wonder how they got all the inside info our your own company. The benefit of this book is to encourage constructive challenges to the corporate lethargic actions strapped to habit for no reason. It's ok to challenge the norm, in fact for health we have to.

[Hillary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone who wants to lead or change an organization. Business examples are old now, but the concepts still apply. Easily applicable across businesses.

[Unit of Raine · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the better change/management books I've read. While the examples are slightly dated, the advice is still good.

[Jim Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is really a great read whether you are a business owner or you want to be a valuable member of a team within a business.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining and insightful read that provides some ideas for dealing with obstacles in corporate culure.

[Shahid Khan]

Interesting read, few lessons learned and applied to this day to delight customers.