Quotes About Strategy

But in practice, very few markets are "perfect." Porter's five forces framework offers a way to think systematically about imperfect markets.

A distinct strategy will produce its own unique structure. One strategy might, for example, result in 20 percent higher costs but 35 percent higher price. Companies such as Apple or BMW lean in that direction. Another strategy might lead to 10 percent lower costs and 5 percent lower price. Companies such as IKEA and Southwest have chosen this kind of structure. Where the net result of the configuration is positive, the strategy has, by definition, created competitive advantage.

Why is current industry profitability what it is? What's propping it up? What's changing? How is profitability likely to shift? What limiting factors must be overcome to capture more of the value you create?

Porter's definition of strategy is normative, not descriptive. That is, it distinguishes a good strategy from a bad one. His focus is on content, not process. His focus is on where you want to be, not on the decision-making process by which you got there—not how, or even whether, you do formal strategic planning, nor whether your strategy can be captured in fifty words or less.

Strategy," Porter writes, "can be viewed as building defenses against the competitive forces or finding a position in the industry where the forces are weakest.

In this section of chapters, we'll cover five tests every good strategy must pass: A distinctive value proposition A tailored value chain Trade-offs different from rivals Fit across value chain Continuity over time

You know what the difference is between a dream and a goal?... A plan.

If you focus on sandbagging the beachhead, you can ignore the tsunami that's approaching. Try it any other way and you'll go crazy.

Accidents did not just happen. From time to time they were carefully plotted, calculated, and arranged to one's advantage-all, of course, under the cloak of happenstance.

Risk always looks different when you're beating the system than when you've been beaten.

Edward: You know what the difference is between a dream and a goal? he used to say to me. A plan.

It's just like nurses in a hospital tend to know more than the doctors most of the time; if you really want to get the answers to a question about court, you should spend more time buttering up the clerks than the judges.

There is no gain without an effort, some gain with lots of effort and wonderful gain with smart effort.

Working smart is harder than working hard. It's just less visible, and we care too much about what others see.

In order to develop the country's sports in line with the great leaders' ideas and plan of developing Juche-based sports, our Party directs great efforts to the work of the sports sector.

I couldn't beat people with my strength I don't have a hard shot I'm not the quickest skater in the league. My eyes and my mind have to do most of the work.

I am not a player...I'm the game.

No plan can prevent a stupid person from doing the wrong thing in the wrong place at the wrong time - but a good plan should keep a concentration from forming.

We may be very busy, we may be very efficient, but we will also be truly effective only when we begin with the end in mind.

The greater conqueror is he who overcomes the enemy without a blow.

We deliberate not about ends, but about means.

The proper course of action, when under attack, is usually to counterattack.

The one who anticipates the action wins. The one who does not, loses.

The best way to predict the future is to create it.