How quickly will competitors move?
The question is not whether competitors will notice a golden opportunity-they always do-but when they’ll spot it. There are good reasons why worthy rivals might be slow to see and seize an opportunity: an opportunity may fall in a strategic blind spot; rivals may lack incentives because the market is too small or cannibalizes existing business; they may have just committed to an alternative opportunity; lack necessary resources; or be hobbled by financial distress or a major merger. Competitive gaps, like unmet customer demand, are fleeting. A competitor’s management turmoil or strategic myopia might last a year, but probably won’t last forever.
