Business Quote by Peter Senge
“A well-managed business will have a high return on invested capital. But that's a consequence. It's not a way to manage a business.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Fifth Discipline, 1990
Financial returns are results, not the method of managing a business.
In simple terms: Focus on management practices, not just profits.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize effective management.
Themes
management
finance
performance
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
leadership
business
When to use this quote
- strategic planning
- process improvement
- leadership development
- budgeting
Key Concepts
systems thinking
organizational learning
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you measure management effectiveness?
- What non‑financial metrics matter most?
A Different Perspective
Profit focus can distract from sustainable practices.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)