What's wrong with being a sheep?

We have this tendency in the West to think that being second, or a fast follower, is in some way taboo. Uncool. You know, you're not allowed to copy other people's ideas -- as if the original idea was idependent of either historical or horizontal inputs. This is MY IDEA and nobody else contributed in any way to its genesis. This view treats "first" as the ultimate achievement. Fine, but it's only one take on things. Others may view it as overly risky and, perhaps, downright dangerous. Here, second is a far more attractive proposition.

Being second has its advantages: you can avoid the headwinds of being first with something that requires considerable change of behaviour on the part of the market. Being second is like cycling directly behind Lance Armstrong -- let somebody else do the hard peddling. You also avoid the risk of developing something that has a good chance of flopping.

Yet, how many business owners/CEOs will stand up and say proudly: "Our innovation strategy is to follow the leader?"

Innovation Strategies

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