Hypercompetition Managing the Dynamics of Strategic Maneuvering

Discussion Group Questions1. Is there any such thing as a sustainable competitive advantage in a world where change is rapid and radical? What is the impact of low-priced generics, rapid imitation, technological change, deregulation, the Internet, globalization, industry convergence, value migration, and other recent trends on sustainability of advantages?2. If advantages can't be sustained, how do firms create shareholder value? Even if hypercompetition causes margins to fall, can hypercompetitive strategies create growth?3. Is it possible to constantly disrupt the rules of competition in the price and quality arena?4. How can hypercompetitors redefine the predominant definition of quality in a market? How do they radically redefine the way products are priced?5. If rapid learning by competitors erodes your business know-how (your core competencies), then does it make sense to leverage your core competencies?6. Should firms spend more on adding new competencies and building their weakness than on leveraging their strengths?7. Should hypercompetitors attack the strength (the key know-how) of an industry leader? Shouldn't they attack the weakness of the leader? What gives decisive victory?8. Do barriers to entry really exist? Or are they barriers only if we lack the imagination to find a way around them?9. With so many industries converging, is it possible to build barriers around any market or market segment?10. Does hypercompetition in the strongholds arena mean that many more industries will converge? If so, what does this mean for Wall Street's preference for "pure play" companies?11. How can you predict which will win -- brains or brawn?12. What happens if a firm has both brains and brawn? Is it really unbeatable?13. What makes a firm really good at disrupting the rules of the game and the current playing field? Where does the intent and imagination come from?14. Does an internally consistent organization with a tightly fitting set of the old seven S's stand a chance in a hypercompetitive world? Which is more important in hypercompetition, efficiency or adaptability?15. Are the New 7S's a sustainable advantage? How to you beat a good hypercompetitor?D'Aveni, Richard A. is the author of 'Hypercompetition Managing the Dynamics of Strategic Maneuvering' with ISBN 9780029069387 and ISBN 0029069386.