Businesses must reconnect company success with social progress. Shared value is not social responsibility, philanthropy, or even sustainability, but a new way to achieve economic success. It is not on the margin of what companies do but at the center. We believe that it can give rise to the next major transformation of business thinking.

The company without a strategy is willing to try anything.

A target should go with every goal. A target is the value that defines success.

The purpose of the corporation must be redefined as creating shared value, not just profit per se. This will drive the next wave of innovation and productivity growth in the global economy.

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

If your goal is anything but profitability - if it's to be big, or to grow fast, or to become a technology leader - you'll hit problems.

If all you're trying to do is essentially the same thing as your rivals, then it's unlikely that you'll be very successful.