Welcome to Stop Flying Blind, a blog on its way to becoming a book.

Everyone agrees that companies should focus on competing in the future rather than just reacting to what’s happening today. But how do you actually do that? How do you determine what a market’s going to be like when the market doesn’t yet exist? How do you predict what your competition’s likely to do before they even know it themselves? How do you spot the turning points that can change the rules of your industry, before anyone else sees them?
Most companies fly blind on these issues, but they don’t have to. By combining a variety of different perspectives — competitive analysis, market research, and advanced technology research — a company can map the possible futures, pick out the one most favorable to it, and help bring that future into being.

That’s what this blog is all about. I’m a consultant in Silicon Valley, and have been working in roles related to high tech strategy for most of my career, including long stints at Apple and Palm. I think most companies in high tech do a poor job of using external information in their strategic thinking. In this blog I’ll lay out my ideas on how to do it right.

Eventually this will all come together into a book. I’m posting new sections once a week, to gather comments and suggestions. Please tell me what you think, and what you’d like to see.
Thanks,

Mike

Note: This is one of two blogs I’m running. The other, Mobile Opportunity, is a look at the mobile and wireless marketplace and has general comments on high tech.