Introduction

Abstract

As the main title suggests, it is an overview of competition in business. It is a personal view of the process of thinking about and making business decisions, and finally implementing them. To illustrate the discourse, I discuss recent business developments and practices. To provide some backbone to this fairly open-ended matter, I examine the characteristics and merits of some conventional doctrines for the analysis of competition. Finally, when pressed by lack of acceptable choices or by personal pride, I introduce new methods of analysis.

Life is short; the craft hard to master; the occasion fleeting; experience misleading and judgment difficult

(Hippocrates)