Judo Strategy

Why do some companies succeed in defeating stronger rivals, while others fail? This is a question that, sooner or later, all ambitious competitors must face.Whether you're a tiny start-up taking on industry giants or a giant moving into markets dominated by powerful incumbents, the basic problem remains the same: How do you compete with opponents who have size, strength, and history on their side?

The answer lies in a simple but powerful lesson: Rather than oppose strength to strength, successful challengers use their opponents' size and power to bring them down. This is the message at the heart of Judo Strategy. Based on extensive research by Harvard Business School professor David Yoffie and research associate Mary Kwak, Judo Strategy introduces a groundbreaking approach to competition that shows companies how to win against imposing odds.

Using vivid examples from companies ranging from Wal-Mart and Charles Schwab to Juniper Networks and Palm Computing, the authors demonstrate how managers can translate the core principles of judo — a martial art that prizes skill not size — into a winning business strategy. By mastering movement, managers learn to seize the lead and make the most of their initial advantage. By maintaining balance, they can successfully engage with opponents and respond to rivals' attacks. And finally, by exploiting leverage, managers can transform their competitors' strengths into strategic liabilities.

This book will help any company — large or small, new or old, virtual or physical — become a more effective competitor. In addition to developing the concept of judo strategy, it presents a defensive primer — in the form of "sumo strategy" — for companies facing judo attacks.Packed with the insights of world-class managers and strategists, Judo Strategy does double duty: it can help you become a giant-killer, while also teaching you to protect your hard-fought position from challengers in the wings.

1. An Introduction to Judo Strategy
• Part I: Principles of Judo Strategy
2. Movement: Don't Invite Attack, define the Competitive Space, and Follow Through Fast
3. Balance: Grip Your Opponent, Avoid Tit-for-Tat, and Push When Pulled
4. Leverage: Leverage Your Opponent's Assets, Partners, and Competitors
• Part II: Masters of Judo Strategy
5. Jeff Hawkins and Donna Dublinsky: Mastering Movement at Palm Computing
6. Rob Glaser: Maintaining Balance at RealNetworks
7. Halsey Minor and Shelby Bonnie: Maximizing Leverage at CNET Networks
• Part III: Responding to Judo Strategy
8. How to Beat a Judo Master: From Judo to Sumo Strategy
9. A User's Guide to Judo Strategy
• Appendix: List of Interviews

Interesting approach, but a bit simplistic.

Also, the examples are not the best (Palm Computing, anyone…