GEOStrategy

Insights

Strategy for a Competitive World

In 2008, the pie is not bigger. Every company is confronting the challenge of increasing market share at a time when competition is fierce, the cost of failure higher, and the buying power of customers static. In hyper-competitive markets that are slowing, it is critical to identify and exploit core competitive advantages, to create and execute a strategy that leads to a competitive advantage. Also, maintaining market share in North America is no longer good enough, competition is global and market presence must be as well.

With the dollar slipping against foreign currencies, the US has become a more cost-competitive location for manufacturing, R&D, software and corporate services. The US is now ahead of Canada and Australia from a cost perspective, but still trailing Mexico, China, India, and other developing countries. US manufacturing jobs have been lost not only to lower-cost locations (like China and SE Asia), but to technology. Increased automation of nearly all production processes combined with the higher skill sets required to operate, maintain, and change-out ever more complicated equipment means labor capabilities and labor costs are primary drivers for new manufacturing locations. This is especially true since global sourcing costs (raw material and equipment costs) are relatively constant from Asia to the Americas to the EU. In a globally-competitive environment, companies need to address customer demands, reduce costs and risk, and evaluate new geographic markets and industry verticals. How does the new economic reality in the US affect your business? Have you taken advantage of the competitive shifts in the market or continued to operate against a plan authored 4-5 years ago when the world was a radically different place?

Decision-makers need performance-focused strategies based on rigorous due diligence and customized research. Our firm is here to address your market and product strategy consulting needs by helping you

1. analyze and understand the competitive landscape ;
2. develop winning strategies that leverage your core competencies and inner strengths; and
3. align your competitive strengths with enduring market opportunities