Perspectives on Strategy from the Boston Consulting Group by Carl W. Stern (Editor), George Stalk (Editor)

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A collection of the best thinking from one of the most innovative management consulting firms in the world

The Boston Consulting Group is an innovator in business strategy worldwide. In fact, BCG and its founder, Bruce D. Henderson, may be best known internationally as the creators and architects of the discipline of business strategy. Innovative business concepts originating at the firm include "cash cow," "experience curve," "segment-of-one® marketing," "time-based competition," and "capabilities-based competition." Now, for the Þrst time, BCG’s most influential writings are gathered in a comprehensive collection, offering serious-minded readers access to BCG’s thinking on the theory, development, and practice of business strategy.

"The majority of products in most companies are cash traps. . . . [They] are not only worthless, but a perpetual drain on corporate resources."

"Use more debt than your competition or get out of the business."

"Displacement of high-cost competitors by lower prices benefits the customer."

"As a strategic weapon, time is the equivalent of money, productivity, quality, even innovation."

"When brands become business systems, brand management becomes far too important to leave to the marketing department."

"The winning organization of the future will look more like a collection of jazz ensembles than a symphony orchestra."

"Most of our organizations today derive from a model whose original purpose was to control creativity."

"Dumping should be encouraged. It is a gift from the nation that provides the products."

"Taxes should be levied when, and only when, individuals disinvest in order to consume. Capital still at work should not be taxed at all."

Author Biography: CARL W. STERN is President and CEO of The Boston Consulting Group. He has been with BCG for seventeen years, and his clients have included leading international consumer packaged goods companies, financial services, and manufacturing companies. He holds an MBA from Stanford Business School.
GEORGE STALK Jr. is a senior vice president with The Boston Consulting Group, head of BCG’s innovation and marketing initiatives, and comanager of BCG’s Toronto office. He is coauthor of the critically acclaimed Competing Against Time, and Kaisha: The Japanese Corporation. His articles have appeared in numerous business publications, including the Harvard Business Review. He holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School.

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'Most of our organizations today derive from a model whose original purpose was to control creativity.' p>'When brands become business systems, brand management becomes far too important to leave to the marketing department.'

'Use more debt than your competition or get out of the business.'

[Business] competition is a battle royal in which there are many contenders, each of whom must be dealt with individually. Victory, if achieved, is more often won in the mind of a competitor than in the economic arena.'