December 8 Webinar on The Changing Competitive Environment

You are invited to participate, without charge, in a webinar on December 8th on the topic The Changing Competitive Environment. George F. Brown, Jr., Blue Canyon’s CEO and CoFounder, and David G. Hartman, Blue Canyon China Practice Director, will present. The webinar will begin at 1:00 pm (central time) and will last about one hour, including time for questions and discussion. Click here to register and access the presentation materials.

The webinar will focus on the emerging competition from firms from China and other emerging markets. Inspired by the saying “the early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese,” we’ve characterized these competitors as Second Mouse firms -- a phrase that reflects their fast follower and fast learner competencies.

Chinese Second Mouse companies have already become a major force in global markets and span many industries. To provide only a few examples-- Huawei in telecommunications, Haier in appliances, Sany in construction equipment, Geely in automobiles, and Mindray in medical equipment.

Here are a few statements from recently published articles by Brown and Hartman on this topic, reflecting themes that will be covered in detail during the webinar:

• “It is as close to a sure thing as exists in business to assume that the ranks of top competitors will soon include Chinese companies.”  Industry Week, January 2011.
• “China’s ‘fast learner’ competencies have spawned new firms that can compete in global markets with an offer of ‘almost as good products at very attractive pricing’.” Sales and Service Excellence, May 2011.
• “The broad middle markets of China, dominated by Chinese fast learner Second Mouse firms, have provided the economic resources and the laboratory for product development to make these firms serious competitors in the middle markets of the west and in the elite markets of China dominated thus far by western firms.”  Chief Executive, September 2011.
• “Here is the question that we think belongs on the top of your firm’s strategic agenda: ‘Do we need to bring what they do very well in China into our company?’” Business Excellence, August 2011. 
• “A laser-like focus on costs, methods that take advantage of a relationship-based business culture, and responding to the needs of less sophisticated and less world-wise customers are key elements of the Second Mouse business model.” Industry Week, (forthcoming).
•  “The challenge of competing with China’s Second Mouse firms is not going to go away; even if some of them change their business model to emphasize leadership in innovation, there are many more Chinese firms waiting in the wings to fill the gap as providers of ‘almost as good products at a great price point’.”  Industry Week, (forthcoming).

We hope you will join the December 8th webinar and contribute your own insights on the topic of the changing competitive environment -- a subject which we believe will be a critical consideration in growth plans for most companies in 2012 and beyond.