Time - The Forgotten Dimension In Defense

Speed Determines Winners

Among technology companies, time is the critical, omnipresent competitive dimension with leading companies focusing on a time-to-market metric. In the computer industry where I grew up, being first-to or early-to-market often determined the ability to set standards or win the largest customers creating a network effect unlocking disproportionate investment returns. Today’s tech giants have their roots in being a first mover as Microsoft did in establishing an operating system for IBM’sIBM -1.1% personal computer or AmazonAmazon 0.0% did with its vision for becoming the online everything store. As the National Defense Strategy of 2018 stated, “Success goes to the country that..better integrates…and adapts its way of fighting…Our response will be to prioritize speed of delivery, continuous adaptation, and frequent modular upgrades.” In other words, speed matters.

Among technology companies, time is the critical, omnipresent competitive dimension with leading companies focusing on a time-to-market metric. In the computer industry where I grew up, being first-to or early-to-market often determined the ability to set standards or win the largest customers creating a network effect unlocking disproportionate investment returns. Today’s tech giants have their roots in being a first mover as Microsoft did in establishing an operating system for IBM’sIBM -1.1% personal computer or AmazonAmazon 0.0% did with its vision for becoming the online everything store. As the National Defense Strategy of 2018 stated, “Success goes to the country that..better integrates…and adapts its way of fighting…Our response will be to prioritize speed of delivery, continuous adaptation, and frequent modular upgrades.” In other words, speed matters.

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