John and Downsouth:
Today, however, it is not uncommon to see zero-inventory business models, outsourced labor, and increased use of technology to enhance productivity. Now, information creates competitive advantage. Effective use of information to identify, attract, retain, and foster relationships with customers can help a firm gain a competitive edge..."
In other words, companies need to spend on technology in order compete and grow profits. It has more to do with technology and less to do with economic cycles in my opinion.
John and DS, I thought that John's post and Downsouth's response to it were critically important. However, I didn't understand them <g>.
Could both of you please expound on:
1. How to identify companies which are successfully using information to gain a competitive edge.
2. How to identify in advance whether Mr. Market is likely to perceive that a product cycle is turning up or down. (It seems that here, as in many other cases, perception is everything.)
3. What "effective use of information to identify, attract, retain, and foster relationships with customers" has to do with product cycles as analyzed by DS in his post. (I am not educated in this, so I am missing what may be obvious to others.) BTW, this question is last because I figured that you would get so caught up in the education part of the analysis that you probably wouldn't answer #1 and #2 if I put this one first <g>.
Regards, Lynn |
