GeoPartnersResearch,Inc.Strategy-makinginaworldofcoevolutionJamesF.MooreGeoPartnersResearch,Inc.GeoPartnersResearch,Inc.WhatwasWhatis◆Marketswerebounded.◆Assetsweresimilar.◆Executivesstayedput.◆Leadingyourcompanywaskey.◆Moderaterateofbusinessevolution.◆Converging,globalbusinesssectors.◆Variedassets.◆“Freeagent”managers.◆Shapingnetworks&coalitionsisvital.◆Speedycoevolution.GeoPartnersResearch,Inc.“Itisthebaneofbeingthemarketleader.Thereareliterallyhundredsofcompetitorsouttheregoingafterthemarketleader.”RobertE.Allen,AT&TSeptember25,1996GeoPartnersResearch,Inc.Marketleadersunderattackbycommunitiesofrivals..◆Innovative,aggressive.◆Lowermargins,smallermarkets.◆Newtechnologyandideas.◆Risk-tolerantcapital.◆Thecommunityofcompaniesprovidesafullmenuofcomplementaryoffers,integratedbystandards.GeoPartnersResearch,Inc.Company..◆“Wehavebecomemuchmoredependentonothers.Infact,weexistbecausethereisexcesscapacityatpressesthataretheretoprintthosebigSundaypapers,andthatsitidlefortherestoftheweek.”◆TomCurley,USAToday(quotedintheNewYorkTimes,September26,1996)..NetworksandcoalitionsGeoPartnersResearch,Inc.Competition..◆Weliveinaworldofintensecompetition.◆Theonlysustainableadvantageisinnovation.◆Wecannotinnovatealone...CoevolutionGeoPartnersResearch,Inc.JimHensonandMuppets..GeoPartnersResearch,Inc.“Ithinktelevisionisgoingtobeimportant..andIwanttogetinvolved.”JimHenson,creatoroftheMuppets,andco-developerofSesameStreetGeoPartnersResearch,Inc.JimHensonestablishedtotalsystemleadership..◆WritersandactorsinEngland,creativedirectioninNewYork,distributioninHollywood--andaroundtheworld.◆Books,toys,andnon-commercialtelevisionkeptthecharactersinfrontoftheaudience.◆Featurefilmsandcommercialtelevisionprovidedmajorprofits.GeoPartnersResearch,Inc.Toinnovate,coevolve..◆Identifyopportuntiesfordramaticinnovation--newmarkets,newindustries.◆Gatherwithotherpowerplayers.Aligndreamsandvisions.◆Developacoreinnovationtrajectorywithfavorableeconomics.◆Shapethefuturetogether.GeoPartnersResearch,Inc.Fromcorecompetenciestoinnovationtrajectories..◆“InwhataspectsofthisbusinesscanIcontinuetoinnovateatahighrateforasustainedperiodoftime?”◆“HowwouldIdescribemy‘innovationtrajectory’orroadmap?”◆“HowcanImakesurecustomersandothersaroundmecoevolvewithmyinnovativecontributions?”[criticalityandembeddedness]GeoPartnersResearch,Inc.ABBhadaproblem..◆ABBCanadawasorganizedtoselldiscreteproducts:powergeneration,powertransmission,electricalequipment.◆Productswerebecomingcommodities.◆Customerswantedcompletesystemsolutions.GeoPartnersResearch,Inc.“ABBcontributestothesuccessofitscustomersbydevelopingmutuallybeneficiallong-termrelationships.”TheofficialstrategyofABBCanadaGeoPartnersResearch,Inc.Theshiftfrommarketleadertocoalitiondeveloper..◆Networkofhighlyinnovativewinners.◆Creatingnewvalue,newproductivity,andsolvingdifficultproblemsforcustomers.◆Aligned,mutually-reinforcinginnovationtrajectories.◆Coevolution.GeoPartnersResearch,Inc.“Moreandmore,puttingourprocessorsintheexistingsystemdesignswaslikeboltingahighperformancecarengineontothesuspensionofaVolkswagenBeetle.”FrankGill,IntelCorporation(reflectingonthesituationfacingIntelin1991)GeoPartnersResearch,Inc.“TheArchitectureLabsarepromotinganopenframeworkforinvestment--aframeworkthatinvitesotherstobringtheirinnovationtothepersonalcomputer...