Quotes from Marvin Bower

Basic philosophy, spirit and drive of an organization have far more to do with its relative achievements than do technological or economic resources, organizational structure, innovation and timing.

Decisions should be based on facts, objectively considered.

Business leaders shape public opinion.

A business of high principle attracts high-caliber people more easily, thereby gaining a basic competitive and profit edge.

Convinced that behavior and conduct are every bit as important as skills and expertise, I sought to build the firm into an enduring, values-based institution.

There is no such thing as business ethics. There is only one kind -- you have to adhere to the highest standards.

The course of business shapes public opinion.

A business of high principle generates greater drive and effectiveness because people know that they can do the right thing decisively and with confidence.

People should be judged on the basis of their performance, not nationality, personality, education, or personal traits and skills.

A business of high principle generates greater drive and effectiveness because people know that they can do the right thing decisively and with confidence.

The most frequent cause of failures in business is not people who answered the right questions incorrectly, but people who answered the wrong questions correctly. I have seen many companies "incrementalize" themselves into a corner, through a series of small—what appeared optimal—decisions, often based on erroneous assumptions.