The company without a strategy is willing to try anything.

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.

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.

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

Competitive strategy is about being different. It means deliberately choosing a different set of activities to deliver a unique mix of value.

If a strategy meets a goal: It's working. If a strategy meets a target: It's a success.

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