In 2003, Accenture set out to understand the true nature of high performance. Having worked with thousands of corporate and government clients around the world, we have long understood the special characteristics that enable organizations to outperform their peers—but could this be empirically researched and applied to others? Our groundbreaking—and ongoing—research program to determine the key ingredients of high performance provides unprecedented insights into the characteristics and practices that make organizations outperform their peers. The results are clear: High performance is definable, quantifiable—and achievable. High Performance Business Defined Thus far, our professionals have studied more than 6,000 companies, including more than 500 that meet our criteria as high performers. As described in Going the Distance: How the World's Best Companies Achieve High Performance, Accenture defines high-performance businesses as those that: - Effectively balance current needs and future opportunities.
- Consistently outperform peers in revenue growth, profitability and total return to shareholders.
- Sustain their superiority across time, business cycles, industry disruptions and changes in leadership.
And how do high performers achieve these feats? Our research has identified the "how" as the building blocks of high performance: - Market Focus and Position results in better decisions.
- Distinctive Capabilities results in better practices.
- Performance Anatomy results in better mindsets.
High-performance businesses continually balance, align and renew the three building blocks of high performance, creating their competitive essence through a careful combination of insight and action. Find out more: - Building Blocks of High Performance Business: Overview
- See the big picture with the Outlook special report, Paths to High Performance.
- Explore all our High Performance Business research, including the industry and business function components, on High Performance Business Research-based Knowledge.
- Visit High Performance Business Client Successes for our experience by industry and subject.
- Listen online or offline to the High Performance Business Podcast Series.
- Read The Wall Street Journal High Performance Business articles sponsored by Accenture.
- Read the Harvard Business Review High Performance Business articles sponsored by Accenture.
- Don't miss Research and Experience: We have what it takes to deliver high performance, Accenture's 2007 annual report.
- Learn about the BusinessWeek 50 Forum: Accenture partners with BusinessWeek and prominent CEOs from the annual ranking of the best performers from the S&P 500 to present our research findings.
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