Comments on: Play Your Own Game, On Your Own Pitch, And To Your Own Rules http://www.crosswiresblog.com/strategy/play-your-own-game-on-your-own-pitch-and-to-your-own-rules/ Cross Wires - Untangling the complexities of modern business to create a simple focus on profitable growth Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:29:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Stuart Cross http://www.crosswiresblog.com/strategy/play-your-own-game-on-your-own-pitch-and-to-your-own-rules/#comment-13 Stuart Cross Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:43:56 +0000 http://www.crosswiresblog.com/?p=339#comment-13 Martyn, I agree that new needs can be 'discovered' as well as analysed, but in both cases it won't happen by accident. Even when the opportunities are discovered, there is a requirement for the 'discoverer' to be looking out for something. An ex-boss of 3M once said that the company had stumbled on many of its great innovations, but, importantly, in order to stumble you first had to be moving. I agree entirely that many/most large companies are too defensive to make these changes, often until it's too late. Martyn, I agree that new needs can be ‘discovered’ as well as analysed, but in both cases it won’t happen by accident. Even when the opportunities are discovered, there is a requirement for the ‘discoverer’ to be looking out for something. An ex-boss of 3M once said that the company had stumbled on many of its great innovations, but, importantly, in order to stumble you first had to be moving.

I agree entirely that many/most large companies are too defensive to make these changes, often until it’s too late.

]]> By: Martyn Drake http://www.crosswiresblog.com/strategy/play-your-own-game-on-your-own-pitch-and-to-your-own-rules/#comment-12 Martyn Drake Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:34:14 +0000 http://www.crosswiresblog.com/?p=339#comment-12 Excellent article, well observed and well written. It's easy to see the potential for rule-changing in retrospect, but at the time it's usually a shot in the dark, and a big risk. That's why the bigger players struggle to do it - they have more to lose, more conservative ambitions, and tend not to feel the flames of failure licking at their feet (until it's too late). I'd submit though, that point 1 is generally "discovered" rather than analysed out, and that 2, 3 and 4 follow like dominos. The key I think is point 5. Sustaining an advantage from setting new rules means relentlessly pushing the envelope, expanding the market, and continuing to revolutionise the model. That becomes more difficult as the business becomes more successful. It relies on the drive of leaders like O'Leary, Dyson and Grove, the people they surround themselves with, and the culture they generate. If BA bought and integrated RyanAir, how long would it take before it lost its lead in the budget sector? Excellent article, well observed and well written. It’s easy to see the potential for rule-changing in retrospect, but at the time it’s usually a shot in the dark, and a big risk. That’s why the bigger players struggle to do it – they have more to lose, more conservative ambitions, and tend not to feel the flames of failure licking at their feet (until it’s too late).

I’d submit though, that point 1 is generally “discovered” rather than analysed out, and that 2, 3 and 4 follow like dominos. The key I think is point 5. Sustaining an advantage from setting new rules means relentlessly pushing the envelope, expanding the market, and continuing to revolutionise the model. That becomes more difficult as the business becomes more successful. It relies on the drive of leaders like O’Leary, Dyson and Grove, the people they surround themselves with, and the culture they generate. If BA bought and integrated RyanAir, how long would it take before it lost its lead in the budget sector?

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