Also, the HBR essay links to a similar discussion of how Pixar avoids being brainwashed by its own success (something I had always wondered about - they seem too consistently successful): "How Pixar Fosters Collective Creativity".
My impression is that people will frequently try to study the successes of others to try to imitate them, but as the article suggests, will less often study the factors that lead to their own success than factors that lead to their failure.
Harvard Business Review has posted something right up our alley: "Why Leaders Don't Learn From Success"
Also, the HBR essay links to a similar discussion of how Pixar avoids being brainwashed by its own success (something I had always wondered about - they seem too consistently successful): "How Pixar Fosters Collective Creativity".