PART I
Expansion and Control
To achieve sustainable and profitable growth, we need to consider financial
indicators in the short term; in the medium term, we need to look at capa-
bility improvement; in the long term, we need to focus on the industry
landscape, the health of the business ecosystem, and the sustainability of the
industry. Business success will always be an issue of concern throughout our
company’s lifecycle. Management is about weighing the present against the
future, balancing the short term and the long term. – Ren Zhengfei
CHAPTER 1
Huawei’s Business Goal
A company must first have a clear business goal. Huawei’s business goal is
to make itself more competitive, build trust among its customers, and
survive market competition. These are actually the most basic goals of any
enterprise. Without any of the three, an enterprise will find it hard to sur-
vive. An enterprise should first ensure that its most basic goals are continu-
ously achieved, rather than seeking to meet a certain target or maximize
the interests of a certain group. In reality, any attempt to maximize inter-
ests will yield the opposite result.
Huawei pursues sustainable and profitable growth, rather than maxi-
mizing the interests of its shareholders or employees. Huawei only exists
to serve its customers. Financially speaking, this refers to the value created
for the company. For Huawei, a non-public company, value is not the
same as capital market valuation. Rather, it relates to the deeper essence of
value, reflecting the company’s current and potential capabilities to
make profits.
At Huawei, sustainable and profitable growth first means that business
performance is robust, with profitable revenue, healthy cash flow, and
light assets. Second, sustainable and profitable growth means the company
is constantly enhancing its core competencies. Third, it means building a
healthy and friendly business ecosystem. Business performance must be
steady and balanced if it aims to support the company’s long-term survival
and development. Huawei’s business model is one that maintains a long-
term state of hunger for the company and doesn’t seek to make big money.
Built on Value: The Huawei Philosophy of Finance Management by Weiwei Huang