Winstgericht

Winstgericht is a Dutch term meaning profit-oriented or profit-driven. It is used in economics and management to describe a stance, strategy, or organizational culture that prioritizes profit maximization in decision making. The opposite would be values-led, mission-driven, or purpose-led approaches, which weigh social or environmental goals as equal or higher priorities.

It manifests in strategic choices such as price setting, product mix, cost control, capital allocation, and performance measurement. Common indicators include net profit, return on investment, EBITDA, and earnings per share. Management incentives, governance structures, and budgeting processes are often aligned with achieving higher profitability.

Contexts and scope: applied to firms, business units, or public-private ventures; can apply to entrepreneurship or policy discussions about economic efficiency. In some contexts it coexists with sustainability goals; firms pursue profit while maintaining compliance and responsible practices.

Criticism: may promote short-termism, neglect of stakeholders, risk to long-term viability; tension with corporate social responsibility; regulatory and market pressures encourage balancing profits with other goals.