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The Other Yellowstone Ecosystem
Published
10 years agoon
Just as natural resource-based bio-ecosystems operate in a complex natural balance, business ecosystems require deliberate, conscious management and shepherding of their resources to thrive.
Evolving Ecosystems and the opportunities they create
By Greg Ruff WHITE SPACE STRATEGY
If we could create totally closed natural ecosystems and isolate them from outside influences, then they would, in theory, reach a natural balance and continue that way indefinitely.
However, a closed ecosystem is impossible in a global world, where everything and everyone is mobile. We’ve seen accelerating effects of migration from noxious weeds to new species of predatory fish crowding out other species on our natural ecosystems for decades. This phenomenon is as old as the postulated human migration from Asia to America 20,000 years ago across the Bering land bridge.
Business ecosystems experience the same kind of challenges when new business species – new technologies, processes or business models – are introduced into the ecosystem. Some businesses successfully coexist, some thrive as the new entrant causes the market to grow, and some go extinct when they fail to adapt.
The participants in business ecosystems can make conscious choices about how to develop strategies and tactics to coexist with newly introduced business species. They can make the choice to compete head to head, to expand the market beyond the new competition’s focus, to adapt to the new model, to find a niche and reinforce their position there, or even to move to or create a new market.
When Home Depot and Lowes entered the Bozeman business ecosystem, some established local businesses chose to adapt to the new business model and ultimately added additional value to the market.
One, Kenyon Noble, built a new “warehouse store” location to provide a selection and pricing to match the competition. With Kenyon’s history and reputation for service, it was able to compete and actually increase the size of the market. Another, Owenhouse Ace Hardware, added a second location for convenience and larger selection, and maintained their high-service reputation.
There are also larger-scale examples. When the iPad was announced, another company called KNO was already designing a folding, book-like tablet for education. Recognizing it couldn’t compete with Apple’s brand and hardware, KNO quickly shifted to developing its software and content (the key element of education sales) to run on the iPad, and is now the leader for K-12 educational and textbook iPad software.
In each case, by carefully understanding the markets and the impact of new entrants, these companies were able to devise specialized strategies to compete with the new species, offer unique, differentiating value, and at the same time expand the market.
The key here is to understand how to adapt and grow the ecosystem by offering new value in the form(s) most important to the customers. That new value can be as simple as location, convenience, selection, service, brand and relationships. The most important tenet, however, is to operate as an ecosystem, not a war zone.
Greg Ruff has consulted to Fortune 500 companies and startup businesses on management, market and growth strategies since 1987. He first visited Big Sky in 1993 and recently relocated here. In this column, he writes about how business- and bio-ecosystems can mutually benefit from creative thinking.
Megan Paulson is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Outlaw Partners.
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February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
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Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
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March 23 (Saturday) 6:00 pm - April 23 (Tuesday) 8:00 pm
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169 Snowy Mountain Circle
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We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
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We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.
Sundays, April 14, 21 and 28, 2024
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Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome
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Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome to come, if you don’t know who to bring come alone this is a great mixer event! This is an event hosted by Big Sky OUT as we work to provide queer safe spaces throughout the community.
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25 Town Center Ave. Big Sky, MT 59716