The document discusses how organizations gain and maintain competitive advantages over time. It argues that while owning valuable resources, brands, technology, or data can provide an initial edge, the advantage is temporary unless these assets are utilized effectively. Throughout history, those who used their assets most optimally, whether it was resources, demand creation, available technology, or data, were able to stay ahead of competitors for longer. The key to sustained success is continually adapting to utilize the latest "edge" - whether that's resources, demand, technology, data, or whatever emerges next - more effectively than rivals.

1. the edge what gives successful organizations an advantage over competition?

2. … nothing lasts forever. ‘ the edge’ always changes

3. ownership  utilization owning the ‘edge’ is the first step; later, utilizing it becomes key

4. natural resources were the earliest

5. … oil, coal, ore, land… coal and cotton gave britain a head-start in the industrial revolution oil continues to be a bone of contention

6. … and gold (wealth) too the presence of capital drives commerce

7. soon, utilizing resources became key henry ford’s assembly line concept put them on top the race for ownership gave way to the race for optimum utilization

8. better banking used wealth better

9. the next ‘edge’ was ‘demand’ owning and utilizing resources efficiently took care of ‘supply’ marketing, or creating demand, assumed importance after that those who owned consumers, owned demand

10. strong brands help own consumers the need for strong brands gave rise to advertising

11. soon, demand had to be utilized better walmart utilized their consumer base effectively strong corporates diversified on the back of historical brand appeal

12. technology came next ibm used it’s headstart in technology

13. using available tech better went further the ipod was based on current technology nintendo’s wii used available technology to outrun competition

14. the internet was the new battleground early portals quickly gained ground google’s superior search engine and better interfaces won the battle, though

15. web2.0 uses the net better

16. so, what next?

17. factories, banks, brands, technology & the web generate & store…

18. … data.

19. data is the new ‘edge’

20. firms have led by owning data research agencies survive on the quality of their data technology firms have specialized in helping manage the data

21. so, harnessing data comes next

22. this is called analytics

23. capital one used massive consumer database to drive it’s ‘information business strategy, that took it ahead’ there have been some initial successes… pureplay analytics specialists are cropping up

24. … but there is a long way to go, yet.

25. use your data better  get ahead

26. [email_address] http://mobiusview.blogspot.com a presentation by mobius view