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Rita Gunther McGrath, associate professor at Columbia Business School and co-author (with Ian C. MacMillan) of MarketBusters: 40 Strategic Moves That Drive Exceptional Business Growth (Harvard Business School Press, 2005), has identified a kind of consumer-concentricity as a long-term market driver. "One of the trends I think is most interesting is the deployment of technologies that allow customers to customize their own experiences or design their own products," she says. "Today, you can get personalized M&Ms, Nikes manufactured just for you, and even personalized postage stamps with your own picture on it."
And, as McGrath points out, some exotic markets are emerging with distinct supply chain challenges. She notes that core producers will find that not only do they have opportunities to accessorize, but that systems can be developed to further personalize their offerings. "Just look at the thousands of offers to further enhance the experience of owning an iPod—everything from battery enhancements to players to socks. Making sure that you have the right accessories and complements in stock will be essential."
To read the entire article at www.businessempowered.com, click here.
The EC is trying to "level the playing field" with its moves against Apple, "which has created a dominant position in the portable music player arena," maintains Rita Gunther McGrath, a professor at Columbia University's School of Business in New York City and the author of MarketBusters: 40 Strategic Moves that Drive Exceptional Business Growth.
To read Pricing Probe Could Keep Apple in Legal Spotlight for a Long Time at MacNewsWorld, click here.
"Usually one company takes the more dominant role," said Rita Gunther McGrath, an associate professor at the Columbia Business School. "They often have momentum and the decision-making ability. ... There tends to be winners and losers."
For the entire Star Ledger article Big question: Will one firm end up on top? click here.