Re-shaping

By | December 10, 2008

John Hagel has talked about a type of strategy that embraces a network of networks to bring about something entirely new. He calls this a “shaping strategy.” Link.

This type of strategy, he says, uses positive incentives to “mobilize and focus thousands of participants in shaping specific markets or industries.”

Salesforce.com has reshaped and revitalized CRM with a shaping strategy, for example.

When you come into contact with Better Place, don’t you get the strong feeling that they’re casting a shaping strategy on the car industry?

I do.

  • http://www.unstructuredventures.com/uv Taylor Davidson

    Sometimes I feel Better Place's approach is so different from the auto manufacturer's approach that it's not even a shaping strategy…

    • http://brooksjordan.name brooksjordan

      I know what you're saying. Does that make it riskier?

      • http://www.unstructuredventures.com/uv Taylor Davidson

        An interesting thought. Would it be riskier to try to try to sustain the existing auto industry structure? Maybe Better Place is riskier in short-term, but in long-term it seems riskier to support the status quo…

        • http://brooksjordan.name brooksjordan

          No, that's not quite what I meant.

          Is it risky for Better Place to go *beyond* a shaping strategy, which is radical enough?

          • http://www.unstructuredventures.com/uv Taylor Davidson

            Maybe riskier, but has higher rewards :)