Depending on your business and market there could be very good reasons for selecting anyone of these strategies. According to the research of Yoffie & Kwak (2001, Judo Strategy: Turning Your Competitior's Strength to Your Advantage, Harvard Business School Press, USA) however, small, new or developing companies should consider maintaining a deep focus on core business. If you choose to follow the path of differentiation, this could become increasingly difficult. Logically, the less core competencies (performing something consistently well at a good price) you need to develop to compete in your market(s), the more resources you have to focus on bringing your competencies to a level beyond that of your competitors. In saying this, keep your planning flexible and your market knowledge current as there are obvious risks in putting all of your eggs into one basket.
We see this flexible focus on the mat, good players have a shortlist of skills that they drill to perfection, develop entries for, combination techniques with and defensive techniques from. In the case of throwing they may have between 2 and 4 of these 'tokui waza', or favourite techniques and a further half a dozen small or supporting techniques. Whilst there are always exceptions to the rule, those that do not focus their training often don't develop the critical 'polish' on any one technique to be consistently successful as they fight.
To help you focus you efforts, start by asking yourself the following: what is my business? Who are my customers? How do I best give them what they need and want? And how can I do all this as efficiently as possible?
Until next week
Simon at your service
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