Selected Q&A: Integrity and Reputation
💡 Key Quotes
- “So-called ‘keeping one’s word’ or integrity or doing the right thing only shows itself when you need to pay a price”
- “Reputation is not just talk — only when a price must be paid do you know who truly keeps their word”
- “Companies lacking integrity most likely won’t end well”
- “Principles should not be time-dependent”
- “Integrity and honesty — integrity. This is what all great enterprises have in common”
❓ Selected Q&A
Q: In industries with unspoken rules, if you don’t follow them, costs will be much higher. What should you do?
A: So-called “keeping one’s word” or integrity or doing the right thing (本分) only shows itself when you need to pay a price. 本分 means if it’s 1.0 thick, you say it’s 1.0 thick, period. (2013-02-26)
Q: Is reputation something you talk about?
A: Reputation is not just talk — only when a price must be paid do you know who truly keeps (upholds) their reputation. Principles should not be time-dependent. (2012-11-17)
Q: How should we understand “Only when you need to pay a price do you know if you’re someone who keeps your word”?
A: Haha, correct answer, one point. Only when you need to pay a price do you know if you’re someone who keeps your word. Anyone can “talk” about reputation, but when they need to “uphold” it, many people fall short. (2015-08-14)
Q: What happens to companies without integrity?
A: Companies lacking integrity most likely won’t end well. (2015-08-14)
Q: What is the “funnel” for selecting companies?
A: Integrity and honesty — integrity. This is what all great enterprises have in common, and it’s also the biggest “funnel” for filtering out problematic companies. (2010-10-22)
Q: Is it true that corporate culture, like personality, is very hard to change once formed?
A: Haha, correct answer, one point. Only when you need to pay a price do you know if you’re someone who keeps your word. (2015-08-14)
Q: How should we understand that “we have zero tolerance for dishonesty”?
A: Do the right things, then do things right. We have zero tolerance for such dishonest practices. (2010-09-22)
Q: Is it right to excessively delay payments to suppliers?
A: You’re right, excessively delaying payments to suppliers is wrong, and ultimately the wool comes from the sheep’s back (someone always pays). (2010-03-24)
💡 The Essence of Integrity
Duan Yongping believes that integrity is not a strategy but a principle:
- Integrity comes at a cost: True integrity only reveals itself when you need to pay a price
- Integrity is a principle: Principles should not be time-dependent; they shouldn’t change with circumstances
- Integrity is a moat: An integrity-based corporate culture is the hardest competitive advantage to replicate
- Dishonesty has consequences: Companies lacking integrity most likely won’t end well
🔗 Related Notes
Related Concepts 本分 · 企业文化 · 利润之上的追求 · Stop Doing List Related People 段永平 Related Companies 步步高 · OPPO Related Topics 本分 · 如何判断一家好公司
诚信与信誉篇精选
💡 核心金句
- “所谓’讲信誉’或叫诚信或本分都是在需要付出代价的时候才能体现出来”
- “信誉不是讲讲而已，只有需要付出代价的时候，才知道谁是讲（守）信誉的”
- “不诚信公司大概率不会有好下场”
- “原则是不应该有时间性的”
- “正直和诚信——integrity。这是所有great企业的共性”
❓ 精选问答
问：在有潜规则的行业中，如果不用潜规则，成本会高很多，怎么办？
答：所谓”讲信誉”或叫诚信或本分都是在需要付出代价的时候才能体现出来。本分的意思就是1.0的厚度就说是1.0的厚度，句号。（2013-02-26）
问：信誉是讲出来的吗？
答：信誉不是讲讲而已，只有需要付出代价的时候，才知道谁是讲（守）信誉的。原则是不应该有时间性的。（2012-11-17）
问：只有当你需要付出代价的时候才知道你是不是个守信誉的人，这句话怎么理解？
答：呵呵，回答正确，得一分。只有当你需要付出代价的时候才知道你是不是个守信誉的人。“讲”信誉谁都会，但当需要”守”信誉的时候很多人就不行了。（2015-08-14）
问：不诚信公司会有什么下场？
答：不诚信公司大概率不会有好下场。（2015-08-14）
问：选企业的”漏斗”是什么？
答：正直和诚信——integrity。这是所有great企业的共性，也是出问题的企业的最大”漏斗”。（2010-10-22）
问：企业文化和人的性格一样，一经形成后是很难改变的，这句话对吗？
答：呵呵，回答正确，得一分。只有当你需要付出代价的时候才知道你是不是个守信誉的人。（2015-08-14）
问：对不诚信的事我们只有0容忍，这句话怎么理解？
答：作对的事情，然后是把事情做对。对这种不诚信的事我们只有0容忍。（2010-09-22）
问：过长压供应商款是对的吗？
答：你说得对，过长压供应商款是不对的，而且羊毛一定要出在羊身上。（2010-03-24）
💡 诚信的本质
段永平认为，诚信不是一种策略，而是一种原则：
- 诚信是有代价的：只有在需要付出代价的时候，才能体现出真正的诚信
- 诚信是原则：原则是不应该有时间性的，不能因为情况变化而改变
- 诚信是护城河：诚信的企业文化是最难被复制的竞争优势
- 不诚信必有报应：不诚信公司大概率不会有好下场
🔗 相关笔记
相关概念 本分 · 企业文化 · 利润之上的追求 · Stop Doing List 相关人物 段永平 相关公司 步步高 · OPPO 相关主题 本分 · 如何判断一家好公司