Climb to the Stars - Latest Comments in Competition, Colleagues, or Partners?

Re: Competition, Colleagues, or Partners?

Stephanie — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 12:55:08 -0000

Sally -- I don't agree that conflicts are fatal. Conflicts can be resolved. And when they are, you usually find out that you've learnt a great deal.

Re: Competition, Colleagues, or Partners?

Sally — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 10:24:22 -0000

Conflicts are fatal. If you are going to open your own company, you need to be prepared for everything.

Re: Competition, Colleagues, or Partners?

Jérôme — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 13:39:51 -0000

That remembers me a book titled Competitive advantage by Michael Porter. I think that there isn't a unique response. It depends of the market and the number of competitors. I know a market, very close, where all competitors share their business according to their capacity : all invitations to tender are biased !

You will probably loose friends because they will see you only as a competitor but I think that if the market is big enough, you will mainly see each other as colleagues. On some big projects you will probably have to work together.

If you want, I can send you by mail a draft of everything an officer has to think of.

Re: Competition, Colleagues, or Partners?

Suw — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 15:56:16 -0000

It's good to see you talking about this in the open, Steph, because I think this is an aspect of going into business that most peole feel too scared to broach. As Peter said, there are many examples of "co-opetition", where companies co-operate despite also being in competition. I would like to think that more enlightened companies would consider such a move, but experience also tells me to be wary both when you are approached, and when you decide to approach. Co-opetition can be a great thing, so long as everyone is open, honest, and transparent.

Your new business is going to have an impact on your network - some people will undoubtedly feel unhappy or slighted somehow, but you'll attract other people who are interested in your work. It will even itself out. If you continue to be as positive and open as you normally are, though, I think you'll do just fine.

Re: Competition, Colleagues, or Partners?

Peter Childs — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 11:29:25 -0000

There was a great book written about ‘98 called Co-opetition that looked at the issue of competitors co-operating for mutual benefit. Very far sighted and useful

A lot depends on the management of companies in the field you’re interested in. If they are strategic they can be very easy to work with – but don’t get too comfortable – because they’re likely co-operating to exclude another party from the market you’re taking – possibly with the long term hope of taking it from you.

That gets to the core of business co-operation – as soon as you’ve chosen one partner you automatically exclude other partnerships, and just because you’re a partner now doesn’t mean you won’t be competitors later.

Good luck on your business.