Week 4 (02/08/2012) Creative Abrasion
What is creative abrasion?  I never realized there was an actual name to describe this type of creative development.  I really enjoyed reading the article by Katharine Meiszkowski titled “Opposites Attract:”.  It was a unique approach to be sure, and I can certainly appreciate the logic behind the concept of pitting two diametrically apposed individuals against each other in order to capture the entire spectrum of possibilities.

I believe when in a start-up setting, this is a great idea since you really need to look at all the possibilities and identify what attributes really bring out the strengths in your business and bring your concepts to the forefront of the current market.  Ultimately there will be “marriage” of both concepts which will likely place you in an ideal position to stand out among the existing competition.  

With respect to an intraperneurship setting this paradigm can also work quite nicely especially when trying to break out of a stale rut a lot of established companies find themselves in.  It’s a great way to brainstorm and get some fresh ideas kicking around.  It can stimulate new ways of looking at things and awaken creative thinking.

Strategy and the Internet
It is interesting how although the Internet has had a dramatic effect on how business is conducted, the basic forces Micheal Porter identified still apply.  

Rivalry among existing competitors has become more fierce since comparison shopping is only a mouse click away and with that ease of comparison comes price competition.  Differentiation has also become more difficult as competitors have easy access to your product and can quickly become fast followers.

The treat of substitutions has also been amplified since everything changes so rapidly and can instantly be launched on the Internet for the whole world to see.

Bargaining power of suppliers has taken on an entirely new concept due to the transparency of the Internet.  Suppliers can now reach consumers directly which can increase their profit margin and on the flip side, competing suppliers can easily adjust to pricing and products since they have access to the competitors website.
Barriers to entry are greatly reduced thanks to all the Internet technology and minimum capitol investments of bricks-and-mortar facilities, staffing, and physical assets.

Buyers have the corner on the market, as they can determine where the best prices are and whether items are in stock and how soon they can be delivered.  The bottom line is: The business with the best customer service overall will come out a winner.  

With the advent of the Internet,  “If you snooze you loose”.  In order to remain competitive, you have to carefully monitor the market and be ready to adjust to its constant state of flux.  Keeping that cutting edge is hard work and the ability to see changes coming and be ready to move on new technologies and products, is the key to staying ahead of the competition.