The Oldest Company in the World

This article about the Edmonton based construction company PCL  got me interested in the longevity of companies, and the world’s oldest business. Kongo Gumi, a temple builder, existed for 14 centuries but closed about 6 years ago in Japan. The company says the flexibility in selecting leaders was the main key is their longevity. Choosing the right person for the job – not the person that’s up for it.

A lot also has to be said about the respect for Japanese tradition, as Japan is home to 8 of the 11 oldest companies in the world, with the 4 oldest being hotels: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_oldest_companies

The image above is of Nisiyama Onsen Keiunkan, a hotel in Japan, and the current oldest company in the world.