the required and optional readings for the Grow to Greatness course

REQUIRED READING

All of the following required reading, as listed in the Syllabus, is provided for free by the University of Virginia Darden School Foundation via the links below:

1. Edward D. Hess, “Growth is the Dynamic Confluence of Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and Values” Darden Technical Note UVA-S-0196. University of Virginia Darden School Foundation, Charlottesville, 2011.

2. Gosia Glinska and Edward D. Hess, “Eyebobs Eyeware, Inc.” Case Study UVA-ENT-0139. University of Virginia Darden School Foundation, Charlottesville, 2009.

3. Edward D. Hess, “3 Fellers Bakery,” Case Study UVA-ENT-0137. University of Virginia Darden School Foundation, Charlottesville, 2009.

4. Edward D. Hess, “Defender Direct, Inc.: A Business of Growing Leaders,” Case Study UVA-ENT-0115. University of Virginia Darden School Foundation, Charlottesville, 2009.

5. Edward D. Hess, Sanju Jacob and Monidipa Mukherjee, “Enchanting Travels,” Case Study UVA-ENT-0144. University of Virginia Darden School Foundation, Charlottesville, 2009.

6. Edward D. Hess, “C.R. Barger & Sons, Inc. (A)” Case Study UVA-ENT-0106. University of Virginia Darden School Foundation, Charlottesville, 2008.

7. Edward D. Hess, “C.R. Barger & Sons, Inc. (B)” Case Study UVA-ENT-0107. University of Virginia Darden School Foundation, Charlottesville, 2008.

OPTIONAL READING

In addition to the readings required on the syllabus, you might find the following of my books helpful:

1. Edward D. Hess, Grow to Greatness: Smart Growth for Entrepreneurial Businesses, Stanford, CA: Stanford Business Books, 2012, which is the book that this Course is based on.

2. Edward D. Hess and Charles F. Goetz, So! You Want to Start a Business?, Upper Saddle River, NJ: FT Press, 2008. This book was written for people who want to start a business. It focuses on the eight common reasons why start-ups fail and how to increase your probability of avoiding those mistakes.

3. Edward D. Hess, The Road to Organic Growth: How Great Companies Consistently Grow Marketshare From Within, New York: McGraw Hill, 2007. This book is based on a study of consistent high organic growth U.S. public companies and their defining characteristics—the six keys to their success. Company stories include Sysco, Stryker Corporation, Outback Steakhouse, Best Buy Co., Inc., TSYS, Tiffany & Co., and American Eagle Outfitters, Inc..

GOOD READS

Here’s my additional list of good reads:

1. Peter F. Drucker, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, New York: HarperBusiness, 1993.

2. Michael E. Gerber, The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It, New York: HarperCollins, 2001.

3. Neil C. Churchill and John W. Mullins, “How Fast Can Your Company Afford to Grow?” Harvard Business Review, 79, no. 5 (2001): 135-42.

Florin Muresan

Innovator & CEO

Everything In Life Is Touched by Digital Magic. I brought Digital Magic Into The World Through 29 Products I’ve Built and Sold World-Wide