Billy, Alfred, and General Motors: The Story of Two Unique Men, a Legendary Company, and a Remarkable Time in American History
, subject: Billy Durant, Alfred Sloan, and the formation and management transformation of General Motors, 2006
This book sets Billy Durant and Alfred Sloan side by side to separate two kinds of work at General Motors: building the company and transforming it.
About the book
The book contrasts Billy Durant, a charismatic salesman and visionary entrepreneur, with Alfred Sloan, an analytically minded manager who systematized operations. Published in 2006, it runs to 336 pages.
Why read it
Best if you want to see how two men with different roles shaped General Motors, and to read Alfred Sloan's own account of Henry Leland's perfectionism.
Key themes
- Building a company versus transforming it
- Leland's perfectionism in Sloan's words
Evidence and original sources
Sources: official Founders episodes — #121, #147
This record is supported by 4 public evidence rows linked to original Founders episodes.
- Billy Durant and Alfred Sloan (General Motors) — This episode is built around William Pelfrey's book comparing Billy Durant and Alfred Sloan's roles in building and transforming General Motors.
- Sam Colt — Host quotes a book he read a few months earlier to give Alfred Sloan's account of Henry Leland's perfectionism, connecting it back to lessons from the Colt factory.