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Because its purpose is to create a customer, the business enterprise has two - and only these two — basic functions: marketing and innovation. Marketing and innovation produce results; all the rest are 'costs'.
Peter Drucker
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote emphasizes that the core functions of a business are marketing and innovation, while other activities are merely expenses.

Peter Drucker's quote highlights the essential roles that marketing and innovation play in a business's success. He argues that these two functions are critical for creating and maintaining customers, suggesting that the primary focus of any enterprise should be on activities that generate value and results, while all other functions may be seen as unnecessary costs to the business.

Themes

BusinessMarketingInnovationCustomerSuccess

In practice

Example use cases

In a business conference discussing the importance of staying relevant in the market.

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