Shaping Strategy in a World of Constant Disruption | Technology | Media and Entertainment | Telecom | Center for Edge Innovation

Redefining the terms of competition for a market sector, an industry or an entire global ecosystem is a tall order. It means attracting thousands of participants, galvanizing their efforts and retaining their commitment for the long haul.

In this Harvard Business Review article,“Shaping Strategy in a World of Constant Disruption” (October 2008), authors John Hagel III (director, Deloitte Consulting LLP and co-chair, Deloitte LLP's Center for Edge Innovation), John Seely Brown (independent co-chairman, Deloitte LLP's Center for Edge Innovation) and Lang Davison (director, Deloitte Consulting LLP, and executive director, Deloitte LLP's Center for Edge Innovation) provide a road map for the daunting task of shaping strategy as technology-driven infrastructures constantly change.

The article explores a unique opportunity for companies to mobilize global ecosystems to dramatically transform industries and markets. Shaping strategies can redefine the terms of competition for markets, sectors and industries, while creating benefits for both shapers and participants. The article can help readers:

Assess their organization’s ability to be a shaper
Determine the relative strengths of the shapers they might support, plus define their own roles within the shaper’s ecosystem
Rethink the process of strategy development

According to the authors, almost any company will benefit from an attempt to shape strategy, but not every business is ultimately a “shaper.” By participating in other firms' shaping strategies, a company may find plenty of opportunities to create value.

Read the full article (PDF).

About Deloitte LLP's Center for Edge Innovation
The Center for Edge Innovation conducts original research and develops substantive points of view for new corporate growth. The Silicon Valley-based Center helps senior executives make sense of and profit from emerging opportunities on the edge of business and technology. The Center focuses on the boundary, or edge, of the global business environment where strategic opportunity is the highest. It is led by authors and business strategists John Hagel III, John Seely Brown and Lang Davison.

As used in this document, ‘Deloitte’ means Deloitte LLP (and its subsidiaries). Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries.