article thumbnail

Desperately Seeking Simplicity

Harvard Business Review

I heard it in a session led by Professor Michael Porter and Dean Nitin Nohria of the Harvard Business School who were sharing a research project on declining American Competitiveness. An example was a discussion session of tired-looking European finance ministers, defensive and elusive about the speed of acting on the Euro crisis.

article thumbnail

The Basic Principles of Strategy Haven’t Changed in 30 Years

Harvard Business Review

Almost every time I teach the basic concepts of strategy — the five forces framework or the principles of competitive advantage — I get the same question. To get a higher return than the average competitor, you must have an advantage or you must compete in an unusually attractive sector.

article thumbnail

The Comprehensive Business Case for Sustainability

Harvard Business Review

Driving competitive advantage through stakeholder engagement. Michel Porter and Mark Kramer pioneered the idea of “creating shared value,” arguing that businesses can generate economic value by identifying and addressing social problems that intersect with their business. That conventional wisdom has now reversed.