Date post: | 13-Sep-2014 |
Category: |
Business |
View: | 3,211 times |
Download: | 0 times |
New Metaphors for CompetitionAli Anani, PhD
I dedicate this presentation toAbdi Osman Jama
Abdi has inspired and triggered many ideas withhis concise commentsand solid feedback.
Plants compete forObscuring resources
Water
LightNutrients
Air
Businesses Compete for
Customers
Talents
Raw Materials
New Markets
Competition is a commonthread
Avoidance Strategy
Herbivores specializeby eating different plants or different parts of the same plants.
So, businessesmay target different customers
A pack of hyenas can attack and kill a large herbivore. A single hyena could not engage in with a large prey individually
Or, Adopt Grouping Strategy
A pack of small businesses may group to attack and kill a large “businvore”. A single business could not do it on its own.
Or, Adopt Grouping Strategy
To avoid competition with their offspring, plants use animals, wind and other mechanisms to disperse their seeds or spores away from the parent plants
Spread Out Strategy
Businesses spread out in other countries and within the same country (such as increasing bank branching)
Spread Out Strategy
Eclipsing Strategy
Universal adaptive strategy theory (UAST)
Regeneration
MaintenanceGrowth
Universal adaptive strategy theory (UAST)is an evolutionary theory is based on the trade-off that organisms face when the resources they gain from the environment are allocated between.
Resource Bifurcation
Universal Business adaptive strategy theory (UBAST)
Regeneration
MaintenanceGrowth
Universal adaptive strategy theory (UAST)is an evolutionary theory is based on the trade-off that business face when the resources they haveare allocated between.
Resource Bifurcation
Universal Business adaptive strategy theory (UBAST)
Increasebusinessgrowth
Inhibit Growthof others
Grow Independently
MutualismGrowth
Resource Bifurcation
MutualismGrowth
Mutualism is defined as an interaction "between two species or individuals that is beneficial to both". Mutual beneficial relationship between plants and fungi, known as mycorrhizae serves as a great example. The plant is assisted with nutrient uptake, while the fungus receives carbohydrates.
MutualismGrowth
Mutualism in business is profitable. One example is developing software for windows and developing windows to host more-demanding software
When a plant detects competition from neighboring plants, it initiates a set of responses
InhibitGrowthof others
Growth
Some plants elongate and grow toward the sun to obscure neighboring plants from sunlight.
InhibitGrowthof others
Growth
Denying resources of survival have been used by businesses
InhibitGrowthof others
Growth
Minnetonka liquid-soap-in-a-pump idea was protected by denying competitors supplies of pumps
InhibitGrowthof others
Growth
The company signed a one-year contract to buy all the production capacity of the two main producers of pumps
InhibitGrowthof others
Growth
Chemical warfare among neighboring plants
Some plants release toxins into soil to reduce growth or kill adjacent plants
InhibitGrowthof others
Growth
Chemical warfare among businessesSome businesses spread toxic rumors that their competitors’ products have serious side effects as men losing their fertility should they use a certain product.
InhibitGrowthof others
Growth
Mature “nurse” plant may facilitate germination, establishment, growth of juvenile plant of a different growth form
Increasebusinessgrowth
Growth
Business may find creative ideas to promote other businesses so that may feedback on the growth of their own business.
Increasebusinessgrowth
Growth
Example, selling raw material to a chocolate factory. Improve the package, sales of chocolate go up and so selling of raw materials increase.
Increasebusinessgrowth
Growth
Some plants, like cactus, where water is scarce do not grow very close together
Increasebusinessgrowth
Growth
Businesses tend sometimes to crowd in each other in areas with limited income. Better if they relocate.
Increasebusinessgrowth
Growth
Competition in plants serves as a greatmetaphor for handlingbusiness competitionHedging Strategy Eclipsing Strategy Mutualism Strategy Cutting-off Supplies Strategy
Are examples of possibilities.