Marvin Bower Quotes

Decisions should be based on facts, objectively considered.

The course of business shapes public opinion.

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

Leading fosters a working atmosphere that stimulates an open exchange of ideas and fosters dissent. People should show a genuine concern for one another and treat one another with fairness, as peers and friends. With such an atmosphere it should be a pleasure to come to work.

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

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.

It follows that acceleration in the rate of change will result in an increasing need for reorganization. Reorganization is usually feared, because it means disturbance of the status quo, a potential threat to peoples vested interests in their jobs, and an upset to established ways of doing things. For these reasons, needed reorganization is often deferred. With a resulting loss in effectiveness and increase in costs.

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

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

If you are not willing to take pain to live by your principles, there is no point in having principles.