From: cyberoid@u.washington.edu (Robert Jacobson)
Subject: INDUSTRY: Thanks to respondents for my industry analysis.
Date: 27 Sep 1995 07:37:37 GMT
Organization: Worldesign Inc., Seattle


From: cyberoid@u.washington.edu (Robert Jacobson)

Recently I was asked to complete an industry analysis for a private
investor of means.  She has now selected the firms in which she may
make an investment.  I've tried to notify every CEO who was kind
enough to speak with me that she's made her decisions, but if I missed
you, please accept my apologies for the oversight.

One conclusion I drew from my researches: we need more direction and
coordination in the industry.  Firms are using too many resources,
each trying to replicate the 85 percent of the technology that they
don't mproduce in order to demo the 15 percent that they do.  If some
of these firms would get together, they could cut their marketing
costs substantially and potentially end up with some killer "whole
products" (i.e., products that customers can buy intact, rather than
requiring costly integration).

This may be obvious, but it hasn't happened yet.  A strong investor
willing to take a leading role in several companies will eventually
accept the challenge; the industry will be better for it.

Bob Jacobson
Worldesign Inc.
Seattle