STRATEGYMonths to result

Designing Out Partners

Create and commoditize partnerships

Problem it solves

unclear strategic direction

Best for

High-growth markets with intense competition

Not ideal for

Niche markets with limited competition

Overview

Why this framework exists

The Designing Out Partners framework involves creating partnerships to establish a whole product, then commoditizing those partnerships to reduce costs and increase efficiency. This strategy prioritizes market share and profitability over partner relationships.

Core principles

3 total
  1. Create partnerships to establish a whole product
  2. Commoditize partnerships to reduce costs and increase efficiency
  3. Prioritize market share and profitability over partner relationships

Steps

3 steps
  1. Recruit partners to create a whole product
    Identify potential partners and create a whole product that meets customer needs.
    Pro tipFocus on creating a seamless user experience and reducing distribution friction
    WarningBe aware of the potential for partners to become competitors
  2. Institutionalize the whole product
    Establish the whole product as the market leader, then commoditize it to reduce costs and increase efficiency.
    Pro tipUse marketing and sales efforts to promote the whole product and establish it as the standard
    WarningBe prepared to adapt to changing market conditions and competitor strategies
  3. Commoditize the whole product
    Reduce costs and increase efficiency by commoditizing the whole product.
    Pro tipFocus on reducing distribution friction and increasing customer adoption
    WarningBe aware of the potential for commoditization to reduce profit margins

Checklist

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Examples

2 cases
Microsoft's partnership strategy

Microsoft has used partnerships to establish itself as the market leader in the software industry.

OutcomeMicrosoft has maintained its market leadership and continued to grow its market share.
Intel's commoditization strategy

Intel has used commoditization to reduce costs and increase efficiency in the microprocessor market.

OutcomeIntel has maintained its market leadership and continued to grow its market share.

Common mistakes

2 traps
Not adapting to changing market conditions
Failing to respond to changing market conditions and competitor strategies can lead to loss of market share and profitability.
Not prioritizing market share and profitability
Failing to prioritize market share and profitability can lead to loss of market leadership and reduced competitiveness.

Origin story

How this framework came to be

This strategy is based on observations of successful companies in high-tech markets, such as Intel and Microsoft, which have used partnerships to establish themselves as market leaders.

Source

Traced to primary
Source · BOOK
Inside the Tornado: Marketing Strategies From Silicon Valley's Cutting Edge
Geoffrey A. Moore · 1995
Open source →

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