An important aspect of understanding your business ecosystem is knowing your position within it (positioning), whether you hold a higher or lower (subordinate) role, and whether your offerings are substitutes or complements. Netflix started as a DVD rental service. With the rise of online streaming, Netflix saw it as a replacement for DVD rentals. Kimbap and Ramen are complementary goods, but Ramen and Udon are substitutes. This is why, even when setting up a snack bar, paying attention to the menu is crucial. Complementary goods increase sales, while substitutes are more likely to lead to no change or even a decline in sales. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”
Some question the need for ethics and a mission in business, even when the company is profitable. A transaction involves meeting needs and recognizing values, both of which connect to “morality.” Trust underpins all transactions, and morality is its foundation. While anyone can err, it is our moral obligation to make amends. Though it may be tempting to disregard that morality by persisting in trade, there are decisions that, without an ethical framework, can lead to irreversible consequences. This is not merely a mistake. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”