Smart Rivals: How Innovative Companies Play Games That Tech Giants Can't Win

A fresh, research-based look at how companies can better compete, on their own terms, with tech giants—from a Harvard Business School professor and a former Bloomberg journalist.

Companies are fighting the wrong battle. The consensus has been to learn the best practices from tech giants and then imitate them. But new paths for growth aren't created by imitation; they're forged by radical differentiation.

In Smart Rivals, Harvard Business School professor Feng Zhu and former Bloomberg journalist Bonnie Yining Cao show business leaders how to create competitive advantages by offering product features and benefits that tech giants and other competitors cannot match in the digital/AI age.

Taking readers on a global journey, Zhu and Cao showcase a variety of companies—including Domino's, Nike, and Sephora—and fascinating case studies, such as Belle, the leading women's footwear retailer in China; EbonyLife, Nigeria's top media conglomerate; and Telepass, Italy's popular electronic toll payment service. Through these diverse examples, they illustrate how companies identify their path for growth in the digital age by leveraging their unique capabilities.

Drawing on original research and insights gleaned from leaders in a wide range of industries, Smart Rivals is a blueprint for uncovering your company's hidden strengths. It will help you spark innovative solutions and capabilities—including new products, services, strategies, and advantages—that mere imitation could never provide.

About the Authors

Feng Zhu, MBA Class of 1958 Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, is an expert on competitive strategies, digital transformation, and innovation. He codirects the Platform Lab at the Digital Data Design Institute at Harvard.

Bonnie Yining Cao is an award-winning former journalist for Bloomberg. She has written extensively about companies in tech and traditional industries in the United States and emerging markets. She is currently pursuing her PhD in business administration at Harvard Business School.

Reviews

"Smart Rivals is an essential playbook for traditional businesses navigating the digital age, offering concise insights and actionable strategies that will enable them to thrive amidst technological disruption. A must-read for any business leader seeking to stay ahead in today's fast-paced marketplace." —Mo Abudu, founder and CEO, EbonyLife Media; philanthropist; and former human resources management consultant

"In Smart Rivals, Feng Zhu and Bonnie Cao masterfully capture what it takes for innovative companies to thrive in a marketplace dominated by tech giants. Their strategic frameworks and real-world examples are a treasure trove for any organization aiming to survive and thrive despite the odds. Whether you're an established player being disrupted or are yourself a startup, Zhu and Cao will provide you with crucial insights into how companies can rally their people, purpose, and strengths to outwit seemingly unstoppable competition." —Hubert Joly, former Chairman and CEO, Best Buy; senior lecturer, Harvard Business School; and author, The Heart of Business

"With rigorous research and real-world examples, the authors brilliantly map out the terrain that will allow traditional businesses to thrive in the digital age." —Marco Iansiti, David Sarnoff Professor of Business Administration and codirector, Digital Initiative, Harvard Business School; coauthor, Competing in the Age of AI

"Smart Rivals is a fascinating read, revealing how businesses can leverage their unique advantages to thrive in an era of constant technological change. Highlighting the importance of digital transformation, including the rise of AI, as a blessing rather than a curse, Feng Zhu and Bonnie Cao have written a powerful guide for business and government leaders alike." —Makan Delrahim, Partner, Latham & Watkins LLP; former Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust Division, US Department of Justice

"Smart Rivals fast-forwards traditional strategy to today's battle with the tech giants. It's the new playbook for this new competition!" —Kathleen M. Eisenhardt, Stanford W. Ascherman, MD, Professor, Stanford University School of Engineering; coauthor, Simple Rules

Dimensions: 16.51 x 1.91 x 24.13 cm