In response to David's comments:
> In a non-monopolistic economy, I don't think either is
> possible for longer than it takes to copy and reproduce whatever is
> creating the advantage. ... in an environment of freely
> and instantly available information, this advantage is only fleeting and
> cannot be sustained.
This suggests that competitive advantage only comes in the form of
explicit information. What about tacit knowledge? Knowing how to do
something and understanding why it works is sometimes a lot more important
than knowing what to do. This is why the Japanese have such an edge on us
when it comes to learning through partnerships. They recognize the
underlying tacit gems and they exploit them. We don't seem to be as good
at it.
--
Iris Tiemessen ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Doctoral Candidate : Western Business School :
: London, Canada N6A 3K7 :
: (519) 679-2111 Ext. 5197 :
: IBERDROW@SMS.BUSINESS.UWO.CA :
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