KBBrowning

Your article reminded me of a study done in the late '80s or early '90s by the Harvard Business Review.  The essence of the study was why Microsoft had a superior strategy because it focused on software and left commodity hardware production to others versus Apple which relied on hardware (commodity?) in order to succeed.  This study occurred at a time when MS was doing well and Apple was faltering.  

Your article does a good job of demonstrating the high value of knowing ones customers and having a clear, coherent strategy and being able to execute day in and day out.