The Denny's Story: How a Company in Crisis Resurrected Its Good Name and Reputation [Hardcover]

Jim Adamson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 21, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0471369578 | ISBN-13: 978-0471369578 | Edition: 1

Acclaim for the Denny's Story "Every organization can benefit from the insights and experiences reflected in this thought-provoking book. By honestly confronting the issue of racism in the context of American enterprise, Jim Adamson provides a responsible and convincing rationale for diversity and simply doing what's right for customers, shareholders, and employees." --Floyd Hall, Chairman, President, and CEO, Kmart Corporation "Any company struggling with being racially inclusive in their employment and business practices should read this book. If Denny's can come from the back of the pack to emerge as a national leader in diversity, any company determined to change its culture to embrace all Americans--regardless of who they are or where they came from--can do it. The Denny's experience proves it." --Rev. Willie T. Barrow, Co-chairperson, Rainbow-PUSH Coalition "It is encouraging to see the aggressive steps taken by Denny's to address and repair its relationship with the African-American and minority communities. The company's responsiveness should serve as a model for other companies faced with a similar challenge." --Hugh B. Price, President, National Urban League "This is a true-life account that reads like a modern, corporate Cinderella story. Told in a candid and compelling manner by one of America's leading corporate turnaround experts, Jim Adamson, it's the inside scoop on one of America's most notorious episodes. Many of us will enjoy this book, but it provides a most important lesson to consider for Wall Street insiders and Fortune 500 execs." --Richard Bela, Esq., former President and CEO Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility Jim Adamson and Advantica are donating their portion of the royalties from this book to Save the Children to support its U.S. programs, which benefit thousands of economically disadvantaged children and their families.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Before 1991, most people thought of Denny's as a place to get lots of food--especially breakfast food--for little money. But that year, the restaurant chain became the symbol of continuing racism in America as tale after tale emerged of abominable treatment of black customers. The most famous involved six black Secret Service agents, who were left sitting without food in a Maryland Denny's while their white colleagues--and everyone else in the restaurant--were promptly served.

In truth, the problems with Denny's went far deeper than its contemptuous treatment of minority customers. It was a company that had recently gone through a hostile takeover and was reeling from its crushing debt. Into that morass stepped Jim Adamson, who at the time was heading Burger King. He also had experience turning around a struggling drugstore chain. Equally crucial was his experience as a military kid--he lived around the world and learned to appreciate and get along with people of different cultures. As a basketball player in Washington, D.C., and Hawaii, he'd often been the only white kid on the playground. So, although no white person can really know what it's like to be black in America, he at least knew what it felt like to be different.

All those experiences--business and personal--came into play as he took over at Denny's in 1995. Today the restaurant chain is not only profitable, for two years running it has been named by Fortune magazine as one of the 10 best companies for minorities to work for. Almost a fifth of its supplies are provided by minority contractors, and more than a third of its franchised restaurants are owned by people of color. The Denny's Story is a fascinating read, both for its recounting of financial tactics and the bigger lessons it holds for racially sensitive business practices. --Lou Schuler

Review

"This is a true-life account that reads like a modern, corporate Cinderella story. Told in a candid and compelling manner by one of America's leading corporate turn-around experts, Jim Adamson, it's the inside scoop on one of America's most notorious episodes. Many of us will enjoy this book, but it provides a most important lesson to consider for Wall Street insiders and Fortune execs."(Ric Bela, Former President and CEO of the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (January 21, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471369578
• ISBN-13: 978-0471369578
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 0.8 x 9.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,774,314 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cuts Closer to the Quick Than Mere Spin-Doctoring, July 31, 2000

By 

Azlan Adnan - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Denny's Story: How a Company in Crisis Resurrected Its Good Name and Reputation (Hardcover)

In the early 1990s, the Denny's Restaurant chain was faced with charges of racial discrimination that severely damaged its image. African-American customers were denied service or asked to prepay before eating. When, in 1994, Denny's settled two class-action lawsuits for US$54 million, a permanent shadow had been cast in its doorway.

Then, CEO Jim Adamson came on board. He kept the doors open and, in time, opened the minds of employees to a new way of doing business. He made inclusiveness and diversity central to the company culture. Now, every employee-from waiters to managers-receives specific training that emphasises respect for differences among people. What it took to turn the company around was hours and hours of hard work; thoughtful, innovative, and proactive programs; the willingness to lead and take risks; and most of all, an absolute commitment to do the right thing. Eventually, Fortune magazine ranked Denny's among the top ten companies for minorities in America.

The Denny's Story is the real-life account of how the company pulled itself out of a public relations nightmare and earned back the trust of its customers. Adamson explains the beliefs and strategies necessary for changing the heart of an organisation in serious distress that can be applied to any business. He provides an honest blueprint for dealing with crisis, arming the reader with the tools needed to alter management thinking, build a strong sense of unity, and keep employees happy in the process. Enlightening and instructive, The Denny's Story is a remarkable example of how teamwork, fairness, and keeping the customer satisfied will protect the good name of your company during any crisis you may face in the future.

Since 1995, Jim Adamson has been the chairman and CEO of Advantica, the parent company of Denny's restaurant. Formerly, he was CEO of Burger King. Robert McNatt is an editor of Business Week and a former reporter for Reuters. Rosemary Bray McNatt is an author who has previously worked as editor for the New York Times Book Review.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not by mere spin-doctoring is a 180-degree turnaround made, July 31, 2000

By 

Azlan Adnan - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Denny's Story: How a Company in Crisis Resurrected Its Good Name and Reputation (Hardcover)

In the early 1990s, the Denny's Restaurant chain was faced with charges of racial discrimination that severely damaged its image. African-American customers were denied service or asked to prepay before eating. When, in 1994, Denny's settled two class-action lawsuits for US$54 million, a permanent shadow had been cast in its doorway.

Then, CEO Jim Adamson came on board. He kept the doors open and, in time, opened the minds of employees to a new way of doing business. He made inclusiveness and diversity central to the company culture. Now, every employee-from waiters to managers-receives specific training that emphasises respect for differences among people. What it took to turn the company around was hours and hours of hard work; thoughtful, innovative, and proactive programs; the willingness to lead and take risks; and most of all, an absolute commitment to do the right thing. Eventually, Fortune magazine ranked Denny's among the top ten companies for minorities in America.

The Denny's Story is the real-life account of how the company pulled itself out of a public relations nightmare and earned back the trust of its customers. Adamson explains the beliefs and strategies necessary for changing the heart of an organisation in serious distress that can be applied to any business. He provides an honest blueprint for dealing with crisis, arming the reader with the tools needed to alter management thinking, build a strong sense of unity, and keep employees happy in the process. Enlightening and instructive, The Denny's Story is a remarkable example of how teamwork, fairness, and keeping the customer satisfied will protect the good name of your company during any crisis you may face in the future.

Since 1995, Jim Adamson has been the chairman and CEO of Advantica, the parent company of Denny's restaurant. Formerly, he was CEO of Burger King. Robert McNatt is an editor of Business Week and a former reporter for Reuters. Rosemary Bray McNatt is an author who has previously worked as editor for the New York Times Book Review.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brand new as described, July 18, 2009

By 

Seng Sok - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Denny's Story: How a Company in Crisis Resurrected Its Good Name and Reputation (Hardcover)

This is a brand new book as mentioned by the seller but the shipping took longer and the seller didn't send me any e-mail regarding the status of the shipment.