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Deadly Disease of Management: Emphasis on Short-term Profits

Deming Institute

In Warren Buffett’s 2010 annual letter to shareholders he mentions the advantage Berkshire Hathaway has because it doesn’t focus on short term results: At GEICO, for example, we enthusiastically spent $900 million last year on advertising to obtain policyholders who deliver us no immediate profits. In Profit Beyond Measure by H.

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An Activist Investor Lands in Your Boardroom — Now What?

Harvard Business Review

Contrary to the adverse experience of some governing boards, activist investors can actually prove to be a leadership asset on the board rather than a disruptive force—providing the boardroom is well-managed and led. In doing so, activist investors are not just benefitting from a company’s leadership.

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An Insider’s Account of the Yahoo-Alibaba Deal

Harvard Business Review

In May of 2005, Yahoo CEO Terry Semel, cofounder Jerry Yang, corporate development executive Toby Coppel, and I — I was then chief financial officer of the Silicon Valley internet company — went on what would turn out to be a fateful trip to China. Ma and the Alibaba leadership team would retain management control.