Cheap Strategy
Martin's "something from nothing" theme: how resource-constrained players build real advantage, Singapore, the Rotman School, Tennis Canada. The pattern in each case: a player who could not outspend anyone found a cheap, hard-to-copy basis of advantage.
The pattern in each case: a player who could not outspend anyone found a cheap, hard-to-copy basis of advantage.
- Singapore: no resources, no hinterland, chose incorruptible rule of law and reliability in a region where rivals wouldn't pay the political price of copying it (The Cant-Wont Test).
- Rotman / Tennis Canada: assets already owned (research, tournaments) that were not being used strategically, deployed, not acquired.
Two search vectors:
1. Underutilised assets, what do we already hold that we are not using strategically?
2. Cheap but uncopyable commitments, what would cost us discipline rather than capital, and cost rivals their identity to imitate?
For constrained organisations this question belongs before Where to Play, a sixth pre-question to the Strategy Choice Cascade. It is the antidote to imitating rich competitors' expensive How to Win choices with less money, the losing version of Playing to Play.
Our synthesis of Roger Martin’s published work, sources credited. Read the originals: they’re excellent.
Reading about method is not the same as running it. We install this system and build the capability that stays.
Turn strategy into executed strategy →