Profit from the Core: Growth Strategy in an Era of Turbulence

by Chris Zook, James Allen

Written by the leaders of Bain & Company's worldwide strategy practice, and based on a 10-year study of 2,000 companies, this book argues that a timeless strategic principle focusing on a central profit area remains the key source of competitive advantage and the only viable platform for successful expansion.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction

186 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Chris Zook is a business writer and partner at Bain & Company, leading its Global Strategy Practice.

Reviews

[Greg Stoll · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was OKish. (I'd give it 2.5 stars if allowed to) The main thesis is that your business should figure out what it's good at and focus on that. When you want to expand, focus in adjacent markets where you can leverage what you're good at. The book is very down on diverse conglomerates.

Which is all fine and such, but the book itself was kind of dull and repetitive. Also, being written in 2001, it has some amusing bits:
- It quotes Mitt Romney! (the book was written by people at Bain)
- It isn't so sure how Amazon's move to sell other things than books is going to work.
- The best part was the few pages on how Enron(!) does so well! There's also a few positive mentions of WorldCom.

So...yeah. Grain of salt indeed!

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good fundamentals, not much new here.

[Jamesdunning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joint first in my list of business books. Provides an excellent rationale as to why chasing every potential opportunity can be so dangerous and the merit of self-reinforcing focus.

[Lori Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read book on strategic frameworks for knowledge workers and entrepreneurs.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good frameworks and diagnostics for thinking about growth. A little dated in terms of company examples.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

These Bain and Company authors review successful attributes of leading companies. Most notably the focus on a single strategy.

[Bernhard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice stats to show what makes sense intuitively; Schuster bleib' bei Deinen Leisten!