Symbiosis in LOs LO11522

Dr. Ivan Blanco (BLANCO@BU4090.BARRY.EDU)
Fri, 20 Dec 1996 12:13:04 -0500 (EST)

Replying to LO11321 --

> Date: Sun, 08 Dec 1996 19:12:41 -0500
> From: RMTomasko@aol.com

<<<< Some stuff deleted here >>>>

> Does anyone know of instances where a company's strategy
> deliberately/explicitly included the objective of strengthening its
> competition? Or is this something that only tends to happen as a
> by-product of something else?
>
> Does Coke have a plan to strengthen Pepsi, Nokia for Motorola, GE for ABB,
> Panasonic for Sony, L.L. Bean for Eddie Bauer and Lands End? Should they?
>
> I've heard some of the ideas discussed on this thread dubbed "strategic
> altruism" by business researchers. I'm all for altruistic behavior, I
> just wonder to what extent it is cause, and what extent it is
> effect/by-product?

Even considering all the mistrust that might exist between companies, even
those that are exactly in the same market, there has to be a little sense
in business where we understand that we might benefit by helping a
competitor build its strength. I wouild not call this process strategic
altruism because it is more business sense that anything alse. For
instance, most of the products within the Isuzu (a Japanese car maker)
line are sold in some countries under the brand name Chevrolet (an
American car maker). I would say that Chevy executives would want to help
Isuzu build its strengths. The same goes fro Ford and Mazda, ABC and
ESPN, etc.

BTW, I reserve the term altruism for the relationship between human beings
as such, and not to refer to the relationship between compamies, although
I say that organizations are people. A contradiction? Probably!

Thanks,

-- Ivan,

--

*************************************************************** R. IVAN BLANCO, Ph.D. Voice 305 899-3515 Assoc. Prof. & Director Fax 305 892-6412 International Business Programs Andreas School of Business _________E-Mail Addresses________ Barry University Bitnet: Blanco%bu4090@Barryu Miami Shores, FL 33161-6695 Internet: Blanco@bu4090.barry.edu <<<<< ---------------- >>>>> We were so poor in my family that one year we spent Christmas just hugging, enjoying the greatness of being together, and reaffirming our love for each other. Eramos tan probres en mi familia que en unas navidades las pasamos solo abrazandonos, disfrutando que estabos todos juntos, y reafirmando el amor que sentiamos los unos a los otros. =====================================

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