The economic distress of America's inner cities may be the most pressing issue facing the nation. The lack of businesses and jobs in disadvantaged urban areas fuels not only a crushing cycle of poverty but also crippling social problems such as drug abuse and crime… A sustainable economic base can be created in the inner city, but only as it has been created elsewhere: through private, for-profit initiatives and investment based on economic self-interest and genuine competitive advantage.

Innovation is the central issue in economic prosperity.

Strategy is about making choices, trade-offs; it's about deliberately choosing to be different.

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.

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

The underlying principles of strategy are enduring, regardless of technology or the pace of change.

Strategic thinking rarely occurs spontaneously