The Enduring Logic of Industrial Success

Large managerial enterprises have been the engines of growth and innovation in modern economies for more than a century. This essay lays out the logic and the nature of the competitive battles that ensue once an industry has been transformed by a first-mover company (companies defined by their large-scale investments in production, marketing, and management). History's lessons are clear: first movers quickly dominate their industries and continue to do so for decades. Those who fail to invest cannot compete--internationally or at home.