Among all the things managers do$,$ nothing affects a company's ultimate success or failure more fundamentally than

how well its management team charts the company's direction, develops competitively effective strategic moves and business approaches, and pursues what needs to be done internally to produce good day$-$in$/$dayout strategy execution and operating excellence.

the degree to which the company is able to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage.

the ability of top management to develop a superior business model and to execute the company's strategy in the most col$-$effective manner.

top management's success in executing both the company's customer value proposition and profit proposition.

their ability to operate the company in a manner that both pleases customers and results in above$-$average profitability.