Industry clockspeed and competency chain design : an introductory essay

Coping with the dizzying rate of change in the world today consumes much attention of industry and corporate leaders. Markets, technologies, and competitors all move more quickly than a decade ago and at light speed relative to a century ago. The half-lives of the leading business organizations seem to be shrinking as well, with each technological or organizational innovation unleashing another flood-tide of creative destruction. General Motors, IBM, and Sears each had their day in the sun, Microsoft is having theirs, but history provides one absolute in business as well as politics: All competitive advantage is temporary.