Knowledge-based SMEs and SMBs (small fish) need to read "The Networked Enterprise (TNE) - competing for the future through Virtual Enterprise Networks (VENs)" with its numerous real examples and proven techniques to find out how to use VENs to develop strategic partnerships with BIG FISH (large enterprises) to propel them to the next level of competitive success. BIG FISH must also use TNE to gain enhanced access to innovation, agility and alternative risk/reward and cost models by partnering with small fish via VENs.

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The most common approach to business collaboration (Planned Collaboration) involves prior analysis of the participants to try to identify shared interests in collaboration (e.g. as complementary players in a collaborative supply network). Another more radical approach (Serendipitous Collaboration) involves putting a random mix of companies in a room and seeing what develops. Guess what - Serendipitous Collaboration works really well provided you have a good process for uncovering synergies!

Thanks to Cory Sorice for pointing me to an article, Heres an idea: Let everyone have ideas, in the New York Times, March 26 which reports on Rite-Solutions a technology company who have created a vigorous marketplace for ideas inside their company in what Tim O’Reilly calls an “architecture of participation”.

High Definition TVs should be a huge success yet so far they have been an unmitigated failure - a great example of the launch of a high tech product whose supporting ecosystem was not sufficiently mature.