Strategies for Competing with a Tech-Driven Insurgent
Dec 4, 2024
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Julian Birkinshaw, a professor at London Business School and author on business strategies, challenges the fear of tech-driven disruptions. He posits that many established companies are not only surviving but thriving against tech insurgents by implementing adaptive strategies. Birkinshaw discusses four key approaches that companies like J.P. Morgan and Disney utilize to compete effectively. He stresses the importance of proactive adaptability and experimentation in navigating technological challenges, debunking the myth of inevitable business failure.
The narrative of widespread corporate failure due to tech startups is exaggerated, as many traditional companies continue to thrive and adapt effectively.
Incumbent organizations employ varied strategies, such as direct competition and leveraging existing strengths, to counter the challenges posed by emerging tech firms.
Deep dives
Overstated Disruption Narrative
The narrative surrounding corporate disruption, particularly the idea that traditional companies are failing due to tech startups, is largely overstated. Research shows that only 17 out of the Fortune 500 companies did not exist 25 years ago, suggesting that many longstanding businesses continue to thrive despite criticisms. For instance, companies like J.P. Morgan, Procter & Gamble, and the New York Times have not only survived but have adopted effective strategies to adapt to the current market landscape. This challenges the perception that most industries are being radically transformed by digital newcomers.
Key Competitive Strategies for Incumbents
Incumbent companies employ various strategies to fend off competition from emerging tech firms, with four primary approaches identified. Some choose to 'fight back' directly by adapting to compete on equal footing, as demonstrated by the New York Times successfully transitioning to a digital subscriber model. Others adopt a 'doubling down' strategy, leveraging their existing strengths, exemplified by Disney's investments in high-quality content to bolster its market position against streaming competitors. Additionally, defensive strategies such as retrenchment and migration reflect how some firms stabilize by consolidating their positions or pivoting away from declining markets.
Navigating Industry Disruption
Understanding disruption involves recognizing both demand-side and supply-side changes that impact industries uniquely. Demand-side disruptions, such as streaming services changing consumer behaviors, require companies to be proactive and adaptable to maintain relevance. Meanwhile, supply-side disruptions, like the automotive industry's transition to electric vehicles, may progress more slowly, allowing incumbents time to adjust their strategies accordingly. Business leaders must weigh their options carefully, potentially experimenting with various approaches while ultimately committing to a clear strategic focus.
Looking at business news over the past decade (including a few HBR articles), you might assume that just about every traditional company has fallen — or will soon fall — to competitors from the tech industry.
But London Business School professor Julian Birkinshaw says that story of disruption and destruction is overblown. His research into Fortune 500 and Global 500 organizations shows that many industries haven’t been radically remade, despite the rise of a few tech giants like Amazon and Google.
Birkinshaw outlines the strategies that many incumbents, like J.P. Morgan, Disney, and Proctor & Gamble, are using to survive and thrive. He breaks down the benefits and drawbacks of four key strategies that incumbents typically use to compete with insurgents. And he explains how you can decide which strategy best fits your organization.
Key episode topics include: strategy, disruptive innovation, digital transformation.
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