Harvard Business Review

JUNE 8, 2012

Fair or not, Microsoft has long had a reputation for being a fast follower. They deserve credit for not only successfully competing in the brutal gaming arena with breakthrough product innovations Xbox 360 and Kinect, but also by breakthrough business model innovation via Xbox Live.

Media 16

Media Company IPO Business Model 16

Harvard Business Review

SEPTEMBER 29, 2011

The net pioneer that reinvented retailing and redefined "word-of-web" recommendations has devised a new innovation ecosystem. Amazon's presence will intensify the innovation tempo in every market touched. As clever as Amazon's technological innovations have been, Bezos's flair for ecosystem innovation is even more impressive.

Innovation 14

Innovation Technology Software Fast Follower 14

Harvard Business Review

AUGUST 8, 2013

The persona of the next-generation CIO is evolving from Chief Infrastructure Officer through Chief Integration Officer and Chief Intelligence Officer to Chief Innovation Officer. For a CIO or other technology leader to make the move successfully from infrastructure to innovation, three key building blocks must be in place.

CIO 9

CIO Succession Fast Follower Chief Information Officer 9

Harvard Business Review

NOVEMBER 22, 2010

The theme of the big event was "Technology-led Transition and Innovation-driven Development," which sounds broad. But don't count them out for long; if there's one thing Chinese companies are good at, it's implementing a "fast follower" strategy. This last article is the one that really grabbed my attention.

NGO 15

NGO Chemicals Energy Hotels 15

Harvard Business Review

NOVEMBER 22, 2010

The theme of the big event was "Technology-led Transition and Innovation-driven Development," which sounds broad. But dont count them out for long; if theres one thing Chinese companies are good at, its implementing a "fast follower" strategy. This last article is the one that really grabbed my attention.

NGO 15

NGO Chemicals Guidelines Telecommunications 15

Harvard Business Review

MARCH 12, 2012

The topic — part of a series on innovation sponsored by Singapore's Economic Development Board and coordinated by Harvard Business Review — was "What's the Right Entry Point for Emerging Markets: Target Customers at the Bottom or the Middle of the Pyramid?". IKEA is a great example of this.

Marketing 15

Marketing Hedge Chief Technology Officer Supply Chain 15

Harvard Business Review

MARCH 4, 2014

So are a lighting retrofit, a boiler overhaul, innovation to reduce energy use of your products, and much more. In my experience, most companies are risk-averse and like to fashion themselves as great “fast followers.” Those more engaged organizations will be more innovative and have a leg up in a hotter, scarcer world.

Supply Chain 9

Supply Chain Company Short-term Fast Follower 9

Harvard Business Review

NOVEMBER 14, 2012

That doesn't mean they will change or even that they are predisposed to change; it simply means that competitors in those industries will likely lose if they can't change at least as fast as their customers. The goal is assuring that the firm's ability to innovate is effectively aligned with the customers' willingness to value them.

Consensus 10

Consensus Welch Retail CEO 10

Harvard Business Review

APRIL 18, 2012

This convergence hypothesis is reassuring on many fronts.

Globalization 15

Globalization Banking Restructuring Politics 15

Harvard Business Review

JUNE 1, 2015

The contrast could not be clearer: Amazon – fearlessly making big, risky bets like a serial entrepreneur; and Microsoft, eschewing disruptive innovation in favor of remaining the “ fast follower ” it has always been, wringing profit from previously proven technologies.

Company 8

Company Software Long-term Short-term 8

Harvard Business Review

JANUARY 23, 2014

Are you competing on the basis of on-going product or technological innovation? For example, new product development may be the lifeblood of a consumer products company—and thus need to be cultivated and resourced carefully—while in a low-cost producer, or fast follower company, product development may be only a nice-to-have activity.

Ulrich 8

Ulrich Cost Efficiency Consultative 8

Harvard Business Review

AUGUST 31, 2011

I am writing today, however, to praise corporate innovation. Further, while some start-ups legitimately have the potential to change the world, many more are fast followers looking for a "quick flip." Corporate innovation? I imagine most teenagers don't dream of working on innovation inside a big company.

Innovation 15

Innovation Health Care Entrepreneur Fast Follower 15

Harvard Business Review

JANUARY 26, 2011

President Obama gave a stirring speech last night, saying "We need to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world." He used the word "innovate" more times in his State of the Union than any other U.S. But the obstacles to boosting innovation in the US are far higher than the President acknowledged.

Policies 15

Policies Innovation Fast Follower Long-term 15