The second conclusion is that a business cannot be defined or explained in terms of profit.
第二個結論是:我們不能單單從利潤的角度來定義或解釋企業。
The average businessman when asked what a business is, is likely to answer: “An organization to make a profit”.
當問到企業是什麼時,一個普通商人的答案通常是:“一個創造利潤的組織。”
And the average economist is likely to give the same answer.
經濟學家的答案也如出一轍。
But this answer is not only false; it is irrelevant.
但是這個答案不僅錯誤,而且答非所問。
Similarly, there is total bankruptcy in the prevailing economic theory of business enterprise and behavior: the theory of the “maximization of profits” — simply a complicated way of phrasing the old saw of “buying cheap and selling dear”.
同樣,今天有關企業及企業行為的經濟理論——利潤最大化的理論——其實只是換個更復雜的說法來說明“低價買進,高價賣出”的傳統模式罷了。
This theorem may adequately explain how Richard Sears operated.
這個理論或許可以充分反映理查德·西爾斯的經營方式。
But it is bankrupt precisely because it cannot explain how Sears, Roebuck — or any other business enterprise — operates, nor how it should operate.
但我之所以說它完全錯誤,是因為這個理論不足以解釋西爾斯公司或其他企業的運營方式,也無法說明應該如何經營企業。
This shows clearly in the attempts the economists themselves must make to salvage the theorem.
經濟學家在努力拯救這條定理時,清楚顯示了這點。
REFERENCE:
- conclusion 結論
- business 企業
- define 定義
- explain 解釋,反映
- in terms of 從…角度
- profit 利潤
- average businessman 普通商人
- organization 組織
- likely 通常,很可能
- economist 經濟學家
- not only 不僅
- false 錯誤
- irrelevant 答非所問的,不相關的
- similarly 同樣
- bankruptcy 破產
- prevailing economic theory 主流經濟理論
- behavior 行為
- maximization of profits 利潤最大化
- simply 其實
- a complicated way of phrasing 複雜的說法
- the old saw 傳統模式,老套說辭
- theorem 理論
- adequately 充分
- Richard Sears 理查德·西爾斯
- operate 經營
- bankrupt 破產
- bankrupt precisely 完全錯誤(total bankruptcy)
- Sears, Roebuck 西爾斯公司
- show 顯示
- clearly 清楚
- attempt 努力
- salvage 拯救
The Practice of Management
Peter F. Drucker
* 本書為第一部從實際執行層面立論的管理學書籍,第一部兼顧管理現有企業和創新未來企業的著作
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