Bottom Quote by Arie de Geus
“Since today's companies are totally dependent on a continuing human membership that produces a superior intellectual output in comparison to the competition, then there is inevitably a fight over the right to the bottom line.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Living Company, Arie de Geus, 1997
Companies rely on human talent to stay ahead, leading to competition over profit and control of that talent.
In simple terms: Human talent drives competition.
Key Takeaway
Invest in people, protect value.
Themes
competition
human capital
profit
strategy
Mood
analytical
strategic
Type
business
leadership
When to use this quote
- talent acquisition
- salary negotiations
- innovation incentives
- shareholder disputes
Key Concepts
resource dependency
organizational behavior
economic theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How can firms foster collaboration over competition?
- What policies protect talent while encouraging growth?
A Different Perspective
May ignore non‑financial motivations and collaborative possibilities.
