Operating Principle

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Durable Advantage Is Fading, Build a Pipeline of Transient Ones

Durable Advantage Is Fading, Build a Pipeline of Transient Ones

Durable Advantage Is Fading, Build a Pipeline of Transient Ones

In fast-moving markets, the goal isn’t one lasting moat—it’s a continuous supply of temporary ones.

In fast-moving markets, the goal isn’t one lasting moat—it’s a continuous supply of temporary ones.

In fast-moving markets, the goal isn’t one lasting moat—it’s a continuous supply of temporary ones.

Strategy becomes launching, exploiting, and retiring advantages as they form and erode.

Strategy becomes launching, exploiting, and retiring advantages as they form and erode.

Strategy becomes launching, exploiting, and retiring advantages as they form and erode.

McGrath argues competitors and technology move too quickly for most moats to hold. Winning shifts from defending one fixed advantage to spotting, exploiting, and deliberately disengaging from transient advantages.

Operating Question

What trade-off or assumption must be made explicit here?

What trade-off or assumption must be made explicit here?

What trade-off or assumption must be made explicit here?

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Why It Matters

Strategy becomes launching, exploiting, and retiring advantages as they form and erode.

Supporting Evidence

Rita McGrath, “The End of Competitive Advantage”.

Research Notes

Treat as an operating heuristic and assess the applicable context, limits, and counterarguments.

Practical Actions

Identify an over-defended advantage; plan its retirement; fund the next advantage now.