Michael Porter

“Billions are wasted on ineffective philanthropy. Philanthropy is decades behind business in applying rigorous thinking to the use of money.”

“A strategy delineates a territory in which a company seeks to be unique.”

“Health care historically has been a very siloed field that's organized around medical specialties - urology, cardiac surgery, and so forth - and around the supply of these specialty services. The patient is the ping-pong ball that moves from service to service.”

“Unfortunately, I'm an engineer. I'm always thinking about, what's the task and how do I get it done? And some of my tasks are pretty broad, and pretty fuzzy, and pretty funky, but that's the way I think.”

“The thing is, continuity of strategic direction and continuous improvement in how you do things are absolutely consistent with each other. In fact, they're mutually reinforcing.”

“The chief strategist of an organization has to be the leader - the CEO.”

“America used to be a uniquely productive, low-cost place to do business. We had efficient infrastructure. We had limited regulation. We believed in the market.”

“In America, the problems of poverty and low income, particularly for minorities, are disproportionately focused in the inner cities. Shining a spotlight on the businesses growing in these communities is proof that any community has the potential for entrepreneurship.”

“There's a fundamental distinction between strategy and operational effectiveness.”

“I'm really puzzled by why people in societies find it difficult to work collaboratively together with other people in societies.”

“The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do.”

“In a period of economic downturn, the overwhelming instinct is to pare back, cut costs, and lay off. If you do that, do so with your strategy in mind. The worst mistake is to cut across the board. Instead, reconnect and recommit to a clear strategy that will distinguish yourself from others.”

“The ability to change constantly and effectively is made easier by high-level continuity.”

“Good leaders need a positive agenda, not just an agenda of dealing with crisis.”

“Innovation is the central issue in economic prosperity.”

“Finally, strategy must have continuity. It can't be constantly reinvented.”

“Sound strategy starts with having the right goal.”

“The company without a strategy is willing to try anything.”

“The essence of strategy is that you must set limits on what you're trying to accomplish.”

“I think that, too many times, business has been seen as acting in its narrow self-interest rather than, essentially, contributing more broadly to society. I think a lot of that is unintentional; I don't think that many managers are deliberately trying to be unethical or are not trying to be sensitive to social needs.”