The History of Boston Consulting Group BCG began not as another management consulting firm but as a pioneer of bold, new approaches to running a company. Helping organizations make the changes needed to seize competitive advantage—and to win—has always been BCG’s raison d'être. Since 1963, we have been helping leaders and their organizations build lasting advantage. The independent spirit handed down from Bruce Henderson, BCG's founder—always challenging the status quo—has given the firm the courage to look beyond the obvious to find solutions for more than 50 years. Bruce Henderson’s Ideas and BCG Perspectives When BCG adopted “strategy” as its specialty, it ignited a revolution that would transform business management forever. From the beginning, Bruce Henderson’s passion for ideas was the firm’s mark of distinction. His ideas and writings reveal a visionary who excelled at challenging the status quo, a brilliant thinker, and a man of action, driven by a strong sense of purpose. In 1964 he developed a new approach to marketing a consulting firm: Perspectives, brief and highly provocative essays on strategy. BCG published these essays in a user-friendly brochure format—they were small enough to fit comfortably in an executive’s coat pocket. At first the Perspectives series merely excerpted ideas from other publications that had appeared in less user-friendly forms. But soon Henderson and his colleagues were delivering their own new ideas—such as the growth share matrix and time-based competition—and these proved far more appealing than what executives were seeing elsewhere. THE GROWTH SHARE MATRIX The growth share matrix, created in 1968, helps companies decide how to prioritize different businesses by their degree of, and potential for, profitability. Learn more about the growth share matrix TIME-BASED COMPETITION The concept of time-based competition, first introduced by BCG in the 1980s, is a demonstration of the power of time management. Learn more about time-based competition These breakthrough ideas that BCG developed—and continues to develop today—have become business canon and have helped establish our reputation in the marketplace. And the core values established by BCG played a major role in shaping the firm into what it is today—while continuing to guide our work on a daily basis. Impact When Bruce Henderson founded BCG, he envisioned that it might someday change the world. Through collaboration with clients, orchestration of strategy, and recognition of distinctive organizational dynamics, BCG consultants have guided industry leaders toward recognizing and responding to their changing world, helping them to capitalize on emerging opportunities, and seizing the competitive advantage. With true insight and the ability to transform it into action, BCG has driven real change in organizations and fulfilled Henderson’s vision. BCG has not only transformed the way the world does business but also fundamentally changed the game. Inside the Journey What is it about us that has enabled us to sustain this level of performance for so long? The first is a remarkably enduring set of values and aspirations; the second has been our willingness to evolve and adapt in pursuit of those aspirations. We're always searching for what is powerful, for what will really make a difference. We believe that being good is not good enough. The timeless sense of purpose and the constant call for renewal will be the thread that connects us across decades and across generations. RICH LESSER Global Chair We have changed the whole nature of American business. And tomorrow we can change the world, too. BRUCE HENDERSON Founder and CEO, 1963-1980 Share ABOUT BCG PEOPLE & VALUES CAREERS FOLLOW US Belgium | EN © 2021 Boston Consulting Group Careers Contact Subscribe Alumni About Offices Privacy Policy Terms of Use Sitemap Boston Consulting Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity / expression, national origin, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state or local law, where applicable, and those with criminal histories will be considered in a manner consistent with applicable state and local laws. Our History LOG IN